Mr Tony Toppi

Head of Keyboard

Email: tony.toppi@stleonards.vic.edu.au

Tony is a Melbourne-based pianist, accompanist, conductor, composer, arranger, orchestrator, keyboard programmer, teacher, Italian coach, examiner, and teacher. Tony’s performance experience extends beyond 25 years. As a pianist, he has worked as an accompanist, pit orchestra member, chamber musician, and solo artist. Most recently, Tony has been engaged in several performances with the Melbourne Opera Orchestra, playing for one of Australia’s leading ladies, Silvie Paladino.
 
As an experienced musical director and theatre accompanist, Tony has worked with many theatre companies in both the professional and non-professional circuits. These companies include The Rob Guest Endowment, The Opera Studio, The Production Company, TML Enterprises Pty Ltd, Melbourne Opera, StageArt, and CLOC.
 
Tony is regularly in demand as a teacher, examiner, adjudicator, masterclass facilitator, and accompanist. He has delivered piano masterclasses in schools to VCE Music students as well as for the Bernstein Masterclass series hosted by Bernies Music Land. Tony has adjudicated for the Ringwood Eisteddfod’s piano section, the Australian Youth Classical Music Group regional section, and for school music festivals in and around the bayside area.
 
Tony has held leadership roles including Head of Music at Emmaus College, Head of Creative Arts at Mentone Girls’ Grammar, and currently Head of Keyboard at St Leonard’s College. His passion for education extends to his own learning journey. Currently, Tony is a PhD candidate with the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Under the guidance of Professor Geoffrey Lancaster, Associate Professor Jonathan Paget, Mr Stewart Smith, and Professor Craig Speelman, Tony’s research focus concerns music and emotion in the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.