One living tree brings forth buds
Shinichi Suzuki 1969
Children are the buds and we provide them the tree from which they blossom. We believe playing an instrument is one of many ways to allow a child to learn to grow using music education as their foundation.
The Strings Program at Lindfield Public School (LPS) aims to offer an inspiring and holistic string education to all participating students. Weekly one-on-one tuition, combined with weekly string ensemble playing, allows the students to learn how to play (technique), what to play (solo and ensemble repertoire), and the skills needed to really enjoy belonging and contributing to a group.
The Strings ensembles are open to all interested students from Year 1 through to Year 6. There are five ensembles at LPS – Mozart, Amadeus, Bach, Vivaldi and Ravel – ranging from beginner to advanced players.
Children have the option of learning violin, viola or cello and automatically become part of the school’s Strings ensembles. Each ensemble rehearses once a week and the students also attend a weekly tutorial with an experienced instrumental teacher. Tutorials are provided after school hours, at the school, or students may choose to learn outside of school. All members of the ensembles must have weekly tuition.
Under the careful guidance of our dedicated conductors Adrian Mansukhani and Mark Stevens, the ensembles have had some exciting musical experiences. Each year all ensemble members attend the annual Music Camp with members of the school’s Band Program. Highlights include performances at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Combined Strings Festival of Instrumental Music and performances at our own annual school Music Spectaculars. Regular visits within the community, for example to local childcare centres, are an important component of our program. Individual performance opportunities exist for all our string players at our regular String Concerts. Families and teachers enjoy seeing students perform at their different levels at these fun events. We also have an enrichment program for our senior players from the Vivaldi Ensemble where they perform weekly for the other ensembles in the latter half of each year.
Integral to our aim of providing all Lindfield Public School students with an opportunity to play a string instrument is our instrument hire service. We aim to provide all children beginning in the program with the are ability to hire from our bank of instruments.
The String Committee is an active group of parents who are keen to foster an enthusiasm for music and performance and to enable the students in the String Program to make a significant contribution to the musical culture of the school. These parents generously give their time to coordinate ensembles, conductors, instrument hire, tutors, finances and performances. It would be impossible to function without their help. All parents will be asked to assist with various activities through out the year, however, if you have any capacity to take on a larger role within the Strings Program please contact the committee at the address below.
Strings Fees
| 2026 Semester 1 Fee | 2026 Semester 2 Fee | |
| Mozart | 200 | 290 |
| Amadeus | 290 | 290 |
| Bach | 290 | 290 |
| Vivaldi | 290 | 290 |
| Ravel | 165 | 165 |
Please refer to invoices in My School Music parent portal.
The Strings Program requires a financial commitment, as it is an extra-curricular activity for which the school does not receive funding to operate. Thanks to the effort of our parent-volunteers, our costs are kept as low as possible. The Ensemble fee covers our conductors’ fees, sheet music and associated costs, hence prompt payment is required by Week 4 of each semester.
There are also other participation costs throughout the year such as Music Camp, and for the more experienced Ensembles, the Festival of Instrumental Music.
LPS Strings program has registered with the NSW Government as a provider under the Creative Kids scheme. Parents with eligible vouchers will be able to apply these vouchers against Semester Fees, giving a $50 saving. Vouchers can be obtained through Service NSW https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/active-and-creative-kids-voucher
Note that vouchers can only be redeemed against one activity.
Creative Kids vouchers will be accepted for Semester fees. Please fill in below form if you have a Creative Kids voucher to redeem.
Please note that Ensemble fees are charged per semester (ie 2 terms) unless otherwise stated.
Instrument Hire
We charge a refundable bond at the beginning of your hire period that is returned after the instrument has been returned. We also require hirers to sign an Indemnity Form, which is here: Instrument Hire Indemnity Form
Below is a list of current size ranges and fees. Please note the fees are subject to review and may change from time to time as they are set in order to recover maintenance and administration costs.
| Instrument | Size range | 2026 hire fee per semester | Bond |
| Violin | 1/10 to 3/4 | 140 | 100 |
| Viola | 1/4 to 1/2 | 140 | 100 |
| Cello | 1/8 to 3/4 | 165 | 300 |
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Rehearsal Times and Performance dates
| Ensemble | Conductor | Day | Time | Location |
| Mozart Ensemble | Mr Adrian Mansukhani | Mondays – commencing in Term 2 | 3.10 – 4.10 pm | Music Room |
| Pre-Amadeus Bridging course | Mr Adrian Mansukhani | Mondays – Term 1 only | 3:10 – 4:10 pm | Music Room |
| Amadeus Ensemble | Ms Katrina Papallo | Mondays | 3.10 – 4.10 pm | Hall |
| Bach Ensemble | Mr Mark Stevens | Mondays | 4.15 – 5.15 pm | Music Room |
| Vivaldi Ensemble | Mr Adrian Mansukhani | Mondays | 4.15 – 5.15 pm | Hall |
| Ravel Ensemble | Mr Mark Stevens | Mondays | 5.15 – 5.45 pm | Hall |
For 2026, we are exploring external festival opportunities for our strings ensembles as well as hosting a “Sunday Strings Showcase” at the School Hall after the music camp.
| Group | Date | Location |
| Years 3 & 4 | Tuesday 26 May to Wednesday 27 May (1 night) | Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen |
| Years 4 & 5 | Monday 25 May to Wednesday 27 May (2 nights) | Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen |
Private Tutorials
If you choose to use a program tutor, we will allocate the tutor and location and time for the lesson, however you will communicate and manage payments directly with the tutor. We agree on a rate with tutors so it is the same for all of our tutors. For 2025 the rate was $46 per 30 minute lesson. The committee is reviewing rates with an expectation to increase for 2026.
Strings Committee 2025
| Musical Director | Adrian Mansukhani |
| Conductor | Mark Stevens |
| Conductor | Katrina Papallo |
| Conducting Assistant | Julia Jiyoon An |
| Convenor | Tara Stockwell |
| Instrument Co-ordinator | Helen Henderson |
| Tutor Co-ordinator | Daphne Chan |
| Treasurer | Sin Cie Foo |
| Mozart Rep | Volunteer Needed |
| Amadeus Rep | Volunteer Needed |
| Bach Rep | Sarah Hall |
| Vivaldi Rep | Philip Nelson |
| Ravel Rep | Hyunji Kim |



