Board of Directors

Bernard Depasquale completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours in 1983 at the Elder Conservatorium, a Graduate Diploma in Arts Administration at the University of South Australia in 1993 and a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice with Honours at Flinders University in 2003.

He performed as a professional musician with his wife Sarah in the much-loved chamber ensemble, the Tea Rose Duo, for over 20 years performing around Australia and overseas.

Bernard moved to Melbourne in 2004 where he worked as Head of Administrative Services at the Melba Conservatorium and has been CEO of the Australian Music Examinations Board since 2008.

Bernard’s experience in music, commerce and education adds to the valuable opportunity and experience that Melbourne Youth Orchestras offers to young and developing musicians.

Board Member since 2014. Chair of the Education and Artistic Committee.

Violinist Monica Naselow is Principal 2nd Violin of Orchestra Victoria and an Instrumental Specialist teacher at the Victorian College of Arts Secondary School (VCASS). She is a current member of the Australian World Orchestra and serves as a volunteer member of the Artistic and Education Committee on the Board of Melbourne Youth Orchestras.

Monica began violin lessons at the age of four with Suzuki Method in Sydney, completing her Bachelor of Music degree at Sydney Conservatorium of Music as a student of Professor Goetz Richter. She participated in Sydney Youth Orchestra, Australian Youth Orchestra and Sydney Sinfonia with Richard Gill, and in 2000 was awarded a Queen’s Trust of Australia Scholarship to pursue orchestral training in Switzerland at Zurich Opera House Orchestral Academy.

In 2002, Monica joined the 2nd violins of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, performing in festivals and concert halls throughout Europe, Asia and the USA under conductors such as Mariss Jansons, Bernard Haitink, Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Riccardo Chailly. Monica was Principal 2nd Violin of the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra, and a mentor for the Concertgebouw Academy program.

Returning to Australia in 2012, Monica held positions with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and was Concertmaster and Education/Outreach officer with Darwin Symphony Orchestra before moving to Melbourne in 2019.

Hugh Crosthwaite is a member of the Victorian Bar. He specialises in disputes about employment and government decision making.

Hugh also holds a Bachelor’s degree in music and maintains an active practice as a composer. Hugh’s compositions have been premiered by some of Melbourne’s finest musicians and his recordings have appeared on The ABC, PBS, Triple RRR and 3MBS among others. In addition to his work with Melbourne Youth Orchestras, Hugh has past governance experience with the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival and KAGE Physical Theatre.

James de Rozario is an experienced string teacher and music educator. Originally hailing from Perth, he studied violin at the WA Conservatorium of Music and later gained a Graduate Diploma in Education from Monash University.

Working as an itinerant teacher for several years, James performed regularly in WA as a freelance artist. In 1999 he was appointed Head of Strings at Scotch College Perth and later conducted with the WA Youth Orchestra Association.

James moved to Melbourne in 2005 to take on the role of Head of Strings at Scotch College Melbourne and in 2020 moved to Xavier College as their new Head of Music.

As an experienced clinician, James has presented workshops on string education within schools and at conferences. He has been heavily involved in the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) and has served as Victorian State President, National Treasurer and National President.

James has worked in many of the MYO Programs including as tutor and conductor for both the Saturday morning program and for Summer Camps.

Shannon is an experienced fundraising professional with over 14 years’ experience. Her speciality is creating sustainable fundraising programs built on strong relationships with funding partners. Shannon has a passion for inspiring the community to deliverable sustainable and ongoing revenue to support the not for profit sector. She has a varied skill set which includes direct marketing, major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, bequests and engagement.

Shannon is currently the Fundraising Manager of St John Ambulance Victoria.

Board Member since January 2017.

Grant’s role has had many titles over the last 40+ years. However, all seems to come down to assisting decision makers have effective and efficient conversations about whether the decisions they are making, and have made previously, are providing sufficient certainty that intended outcomes will be achieved.

Grant has set up and run a number of businesses, was Manager of Risk Management for BHP and has, for the last 15 years worked at Board and Executive levels, advising many large organisations across the world on how they can understand and deal with uncertainty as a fundamental part of making sound decisions. Nowadays he chairs two other Not-for-Profit organisations, is secretary to an Arts Association and works generally in that sector, on a pro-bono basis.

Board member since 2020 and Chair of the Finance, Risk and Investment Committee.

Fiona is a People & Culture leader with over 20 years’ experience in human resources, partnering with executives in disciplines such as recruitment & selection, employee evaluation and learning & development to grow talent and capability.

After completing her tertiary studies, Fiona worked in Asia for one of the region’s largest communication companies, before returning to Melbourne where she works within the property industry.

Fiona holds a Bachelor of Music from The University of Melbourne, where she studied piano performance with Mack Jost, and postgraduate studies in business management from Monash University. She runs a successful private piano studio and is a Board Director of the Victorian Music Teachers’ Association and member of the Australian HR Institute.

Emer has nine years’ experience working in fundraising and development roles and over 25 years’ involvement in the not-for-profit sector as a program manager, researcher, policy advisor, campaign and event manager.

Using a ‘strategy first’ approach, Emer has supported organisations across education, the arts, health and human rights to attract committed, long-term investors and supporters.

Emer studied community development and applies human rights, inclusion, and justice frameworks to her fundraising strategies. She believes that mobilising individuals and their networks in the pursuit of an organisation’s core mission and values is at the core of her work.