Who We Are

MusicSA History and Corporate Structure

 MusicSA has operated in South Australia for 26 years and is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.

MusicSA is governed by a Board of Directors and led by a CEO, and has delivered more than two decades of successful outcomes for the South Australian contemporary music industry.

Our Staff

Christine Schloithe

Chief Executive Officer

Christine is a highly accomplished multi-industry professional with extensive local, national, and international experience in music, festivals, major events, cultural tourism, performing arts and government.

Her professional background spans national and international touring, producing, artist liaison and production, and she has tertiary qualifications in technical production and post-graduate qualifications in festival and event design and management.

She is skilled in facilitating strong creative outcomes, supporting artists and makers, and developing complimentary stakeholder and partner relationships.

Christine works closely with the MusicSA Board and Staff, key stakeholders and government to raise the profile of the South Australian contemporary music industry, champion its successes and to build, activate, and strengthen the sector.

Blake Taylor

Administration Manager

 Blake is an accomlished administrator, specialising in finance and system.

His background is primarily in the arts, producing  local and national tours and managing several local theatre companies. 

Outside of MusicSA Blake also works as an Actor.

Contact for Systems Administration, Invoicing, Finance.

Blaket@musicsa.com.au

Gareth Lewis

Program Manager – Special Projects

Gareth is a student of festivals and venues and has worked in the events, live music and hospitality industries for over 20 years. Gareth has managed and booked clubs, graduating to owning multiple venues and through General Admission Entertainment and helping bring dozens of major touring festivals to life in Adelaide including Parklife, Soundwave and Groovin’ The Moo, whilst curating many of their own events, from HomeBrewed Festival to A Day on the Cans. Gareth is co-owner of the recently SA Music Hall of Fame-inducted UniBar ADL and co-founder, Booker and Event Director of Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival, now the largest hybrid event of its type in Australia.

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Chelsea Sinnott

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Originally from Adelaide, Chelsea owns and runs Upstairs Music, a dedicated artist management, bookings and touring logistics agency. She has spent the last 15 years working in the global music capitals of Sydney, London and Berlin.
 
Chelsea’s most recent work includes management for Nathan Ball, coordinating bookings for Benedict Cork, and overseeing tour logistics for Kerala Dust.

Prior to leaving Australia, Chelsea worked with Sounds Australia for 12 months as an Export Development Officer in a maternity cover position. 

As MusicSA’s new Industry Development Manager, Chelsea will be pivotal in developing and advancing initiatives to support and grow the local music industry. She will focus on whole-of sector engagement and is tasked with leading an industry development program aimed at enhancing the skills, expertise, and capacity for artists, venues, audiences and local music businesses.

Sebastian James

Industry Development Coordinator

Originally from regional SA, Sebastian understands how hard it can be to learn about the industry from outside of Adelaide and what regional support MusicSA can provide. He started out as a songwriter and performer and currently works as Artist Manager for 27 Music, representing artists such as Molly Rocket, The Tullamarines, Teenage Joans, and rising new talent Estee. His previous band projects include Pinkish Blu and The Mondays and has currently started a new project, Haliday. Sebastian works with booking agents, venues, events, publishers, labels and media and has strong networks nationally that will benefit local artists and businesses.

Dale Taylor

TRAINING COORDINATOR

Dale Taylor, a seasoned, award winning and accomplished multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer, with over 23 year’s experience in the music industry. Specialising in music production, mixing, and mastering, Dale has worked with artists in various genres, collaborating locally, nationally and internationally. Including performances at SXSW.

Beyond his achievements as a musician and producer, Dale is also a dedicated educator, with a passion for sharing his extensive knowledge. Twice nominated for ARIA’s Music Teacher of The Year. He has an unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians.

Dale is an esteemed member of the Music Education Roundtable, a board comprising music educators from diverse institutions such as Schools, Universities, and TAFE. Dale has played a pivotal role in the development and operations of The Riff Café, NSS, and Music SA, showcasing a multifaceted commitment to both individual artists and the broader music community.

Currently, as he embarks on a new phase in his artistic journey, releasing music under the alias “The Decibel Cartel,”. 

 

Effie Karapilafis

Digital Content Coordinator

Coming Soon

 

Our Board of Directors

John Glenn

Board Director / Chair

From an initial career in music performance, John has had roles in financial, project and logistical management for a variety of government, non-profit and private entities. He was Operations Manager of Sydney Symphony, GM of Sydney’s State Theatre, and GM of the Venue Management Association (Asia and Pacific). John was Executive Producer – Venue Utilisation at Queensland Performing Arts Centre before returning to his hometown in the role of Executive Producer – Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Commercial Ventures from 2014-2017. John then returned to Queensland Performing Arts Centre in the role of Director – Programming.

Most recently John was Chief Operating Officer of GWB Entertainment and is currently a creative consultant and advisor. John serves on the Board of the Darwin Entertainment Centre.

TIM HASLAM

Board Director / Treasurer & Deputy Chair

Tim Haslam is an experienced Chartered Accountant, working with highly regarded South Australian business services firm Perks. His main focus is providing strategic advice and solutions on accounting, tax and financial management issues to private businesses and individuals.

Combined with a diverse range of skills drawn from a career in finance spanning Adelaide, London and Sydney, Tim also has extensive knowledge and experience in the Australian music industry. Several years with the Secret Sounds Group (incorporating Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival) were invaluable in gaining a rich understanding of the music business. As a musician also, Tim has tickled the ivory for decades as a solo performer, accompanist and with numerous bands across the country.

Angus Crawford

Board Director / Secretary

Angus Crawford is a qualified lawyer and muso at heart. Honing a unique combination of skills, he works for NewLaw firm Sprintlaw.

He is also a musician, playing in some of Adelaide’s most cheery, colour-clad bands. His passion for music has led to opportunities to play shows to crowds of thousands and have his music heard online by millions – all originating from humble Adelaide, South Australia. He lives and breathes the SA music scene.

Angus’ professional background and experience as a musician gives him a unique perspective on the music industry. He has seen first-hand the impact that support from non-for-profit arts organisations can have on the careers of emerging musicians.

EMILY DREWNIAK

Board Director

Philanthropy specialist with expertise in building relationships, delivering successful
strategies and bringing to life partnerships with impact.

Emily has delivered strategic and sustainable approaches for fundraising practice, successfully negotiated partnerships and initiatives to build engagement, generate income and meet organisational goals, whilst growing a sustainable culture of giving.
 
Currently, Head of Development Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, delivering all facets of the philanthropic program, corporate partnership and sponsorships. Previously, at Country Arts SA, Scotch College Foundation, St
Peters College Foundation, and Flinders University.
Dedicated to education, arts, music and culture, heritage and environment and First Nations programs.

Craig Swann

Board Director

For over 25 years, Craig’s passion has been using technology to connect people and music – through innovative, intimate and interactive experiences. Currently, as Founder of Looplabs, he is focused on developing new interactive music products and experiences that break down barriers to making music – while connecting the world. Craig has received special recognition at SxSW for development of the web’s first drag’n’drop interface and has won the prestigious Webby Award. Craig believes in prototyping the future – that making is breaking – and that if it’s not fun, exciting or affecting lives it’s not worth doing.

Craig Lock

Board Director

Craig Lock began working in the music industry in 2010 and founded Five Four Entertainment with business partner Ross Osmon. Starting life as a weekly promoter of local bands in small venues Five Four Entertainment has since grown into into one of SA largest concert and festival promoters in South Australia. They run various large scale music festivals in SA including Spin Off Festival and St Jeromes Laneway Festival. In 2019 they also opened Lion Arts Factory a purpose built 500 capacity music venue located on North Terrace and just recently, opened the new Hindley Street Music Hall.

In 2018, Craig also founded Plus One Co, a promoter of bespoke themed club nights. The company runs 600+ events per year in venues across Australia, NZ and Japan. Craig also has extensive experience in artist management having previously managed nationally and International successful artists Tkay Maidza, City Calm Down and Japanese Wallpaper. Craig is passionate about the South Australian music industry and is a strong advocate for its economic and cultural value to the state. 

Sharni Honor

Board Director

Sharni Honor is a wildly passionate woman of the music and arts industries in South Australia. She is the creator of award-winning travelling backyard festival series, The Porch Sessions, co-director of regional festival Porchland, and co-director of creative space and live music venue Summertown Studio. This is in addition to the recent creation of record store and label, Porch Records which is thriving beneath the roof of Summertown Studio. Her own back catalogue of industry work extends across WOMADelaide and Adelaide Festival and a plethora of national festivals, including Panama Festival in Tasmania.

In 2019, Sharni was named one of the InDaily 40 under 40 people in business and entrepreneurship and at just 29 years of age, she has now worked in music for over a decade. Sharni lives and breathes music and strives to create space for the incredible people that make it and is thrilled to be a Director of the MusicSA Board.

CARLA LIPPIS

Board Director

Carla Lippis (AKA ‘The Satanic Liza Minelli’) is an award-winning singer, band-leader and composer known for her intense performances that range from the emotional vulnerability of the torch song to the screaming rage of Avant Rock. She helms the dystopian Rock band Mondo Psycho who have featured at Dark Mofo, Womadelaide and Darwin Festival, and who launched their self-titled album in 2023.

Her recent compositional work includes Restless Dance Theatre’s 2024 Adelaide Festival production ‘Private View’, and Windmill Theatre’s ‘Rella.’ She regularly performs in the hit Rock show ‘The 27 Club.’ Also known for her Cabaret work, she has worked in London’s West End as the principal singer at the historic Cafe de Paris, and as the host of notorious nightclub The Box. She has also served as Diva for the venerated circus troupe La Soiree.

Her international music touring resume includes concerts alongside Calexico, Kiss, Mötley Crüe and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and her stint as vocalist for Italian post-folk group Sacri Cuori includes recording collaborations with M Ward & Marc Ribot. Other appearances include multiple solo shows at Adelaide Cabaret Festival, State Opera’s ‘How To Kill Your Husband’, Edinburgh Fringe & Festival variety shows ‘Midnight Marauders’ and ‘Club Cumming’, and ‘Jonny Woo’s All-Star Brexit Cabaret.’

We are non-profit

The South Australian Contemporary Music Company Limited T/AS Music SA is listed on the Register of Cultural organisations with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Status and as such can accept tax deductible donations. Please contact Christine Schloithe, Chief Executive Officer on (08) 8104 1101 for details.