On The Podium 2025/26 Results
MetSO Inaugural
On the Podium Results
Winner : Stuart Rhine-Davis
Stuart is the esteemed winner of the
Inaugural MetSO On the Podium Program -
2026 placement both with MetSO / Bruce Herriman &
MetSO Chamber / Ronald Thomas AM
After due consideration,
our adjudicators have chosen to extend
MetSO’s On the Podium 2025/26 offers to
an additional 2 placements with the wonderful
Ronald Thomas AM / MetSO Chamber :
Thus, Congratulations also go to :
Joshua Sumich &
Roland Dankbaar
Stuart Rhine-Davis
MetSO On The Podium 2025/26 Winner : Stuart Rhine-Davis
Stuart Rhine-Davis Bio :
Stuart Rhine –Davis has had a long and illustrious career, teaching Music in all three educational systems in West Australian Schools for forty-three years. Commencing his music education in England, Stuart immigrated to Australia with his family at the age of eight and quickly settled into life and music education in Perth.
This began in earnest when he attended Mt Lawley Senior High School, and he has never looked back. Stuart turned professional in his late teens and performed in many ensembles around Perth including the Karrinyup Symphony Orchestra (MetSO) with David Helfgott, under that baton of Frank Arndt. Classically trained, Stuart’s musical interests have been highly eclectic ranging from the classics through to Jazz and Contemporary Electronic Music.
Stuart plays a variety of instruments; composes and arranges for ensembles and contemporary bands; produces and manages performers; conducts several ensembles, performs professionally and is often called upon to advise educational bodies including the School Curriculum and Standards Authority. He is also highly sort after by many schools as a panel member for Yr 12 Moderation and has been guest Eisteddfod adjudicator on several occasions.
Stuart’s conducting experience includes multiple Specialist Music Orchestras, Concert Bands, Jazz Bands, Choirs and small group ensembles as well as professional and community groups including the Auckland Philharmonia, WA Hills Orchestra, WA Doctors' Band, Elite Canberra Schools' Concert Band and the Karrinyup Symphony Orchestra in 1983.
Stuart is a foundation staff member of Ellenbrook Secondary where he has held the position as Head of Arts and Director of Music over the past nineteen years.
Stuart is also a recipient of the Premier’s Australia Day Honours Award 2006 for Active Citizenship for his work in association with the RSLWA and has been a Finalist in the Premier’s Teacher of the Year Award (2006), a National Excellence in Teaching Awards State and Territory winner (2007), and a National Finalist in the National Excellence in Teaching Awards (2007).
He is highly regarded and respected by his peers, his school community, parents and students and has a local, national and international reputation. Stuart’s abilities and achievements have also been recognized and acknowledged in both Federal and State Parliament, having been named as a Teacher of Excellence.
Stuart is married to his wife Anne and has two sons André and Jarod who are graduates of UWA and Curtin University.
Stuart is excited to be returning to his Orchestral roots as part of the METSO family as a Percussionist after a 43 year hiatus and is extremely grateful to be selected to take part in the “On the Podium” program under the mentorship of both Bruce Herriman and Ronald Thomas AM for the 2026 season.
Congratulations to
Joshua Sumich and Roland Dankbaar
MetSO On the Podium 2025/26 - Joshua Sumich
MetSO On the Podium 2025/26 - Roland Dankbaar