CATHERINE MCKAYDance Minor Tutor
Catherine has been dancing since she was five years old. She was trained in modern jazz for 13 years up to Grade Advanced 2 and also danced competitively in jazz for 9 years. In 2003, she competed in Australia with one of her dance academy teams and won the contemporary section.
She's been dancing the Hip hop genre for the last seven years- three years at Auckland Academy of Dance where she is now the Hip Hop tutor, two years at Excel School of Performing Arts studying and touring with the 2007 tour team, and the last two years taking classes and dancing with various Hip Hop Crews.
In Catherine's two years at Excel, she was awarded "Most Committed Dancer" in 2006 and "Most Outstanding Performer" in 2007.
Her dancing has led her to being in a Video clip “Dance Baby" by new New Zealand rap duo Crossbreed.
She is very happy to be back at Excel teaching dance minor and being part of the Excel family again.
GLEN CHILD Drum Major Tutor
Drum Minor Tutor
Glen achieved a Drumtech Diploma before furthering his study at the Thames Valley University (Longon College of Music), where he achieved a Bachelor of Music with Honours.
Glen worked for various schools teaching drums and then developed his own private business teaching 25 hours a week. In 2003 he became an accredited Gigajam approved tutor, teaching through the Gigajam Interactive Music School (UK). He then went on to train other Gigajam tutors in teaching, business and marketing.
As a professional musician, Glen has played for many live shows such as 'Oliver', 'Mikado', & 'Me and My Girl', to name a few and has performed with a long list of bands ranging in style from Jazz Funk, to Rock and Hip Hop. He established and mangaged his own functions band 'Metropolis' that played extensively throughout the UK and abroad. Along with his recording work, Glen comes to EXCEL with an impressive talent for music, as well as teaching experience and outstanding management and organisational skills.
RONNIE EKETONE (Music Director)
Band Tutor
Sequencing Tutor
Vocal Harmony Tutor
Band Arrangement Tutor
Worship Leading
Ronnie has always had an appreciation for music from a very young age but it wasn’t until being accepted as part of the 1996 intake at EXCEL, that a passion for playing and producing music was realized. He studied as a Drum Major and was part of the Excel touring team of 1997.
In 2002 based in Glasgow, he underwent training in using Logic Pro and created some musical arrangements for Tu Meke Productions Limited that were used for projects that were distributed throughout parts of the UK and Africa. Returning to New Zealand in 2003, he became the Worship Leader and Music Director at Valley Road International Church where he continues to attend today. In 2005, he played drums on Raylee Bradfields self titled EP and travelled to Tasmania to support her in concert in 2006.
In 2007, he was offered the role as Music Director at EXCEL overseeing the music department at the school. Able to play Drums, Bass, Keys, Guitar as well as a love for singing, he was a good fit for the position and has enjoyed being able to input into young peoples lives in the place where he started his own journey in music and his Christian faith.
Email Ronnie at ronnie@excel.ac.nz
TERE NGAERUAITIGuitar Major and Minor Tutor
Sound Minor and Studio Technician
Tere has worked as a professional musician for the past 20 years and brings a wealth of experience to the school.
Having had the privilege of working with some of the finest musicians in the country, including Max Stowers, Ardijah, and Asis, he continually strives to perfect his craft and to be proficient in all musical genres.
As well as being a sought after studio guitarist working on numerous album projects/TV sessions, he is also known as one of the best music programmers around, providing tracks for the late Phillip Fuemana (Urban Pacifica, Dei Hamo, Adeaze, T-Sistas) and for EXCEL.
Tere is passionate about seeing his students achieve their goals and helping them develop into the best that they can be.