About our Teacher
Chris Maunders
With over a decade of experience in harmonica tuition, Chris Maunders became the first person in Australian history to complete a Bachelor of Music on the harmonica. This extensive study took place at Melbourne’s prestigious Victorian College of the Arts (VCA, Melbourne University), and in this period he won Australia’s largest harmonica competition, the “Tamworth Golden Harmonica” in 2012. Chris then continued his studies at the VCA completing the Honours program.
The thesis he wrote focused on chromatic harmonica technique and its teaching methods. This paper became a first of its kind for the academic world and the harmonica community alike.
As a professional jazz musician, Chris has been mentored by some of Australia’s leading instrumentalists including Andrea Keller, James Sherlock, Ronny Ferella, Eugene Ball and David Jones, whom Chris has performed alongside in various musical settings.
In 2017, Chris Maunders decided to add a new addition to the course of his career and chose to develop his Harp’s a Breeze harmonica program. Chris’ initial intentions were to reintroduce the 10-hole diatonic harmonica back into the Australian education system, where it once existed in the early to mid-20th century.
This would ensure an affordable music program is offered to schools, allowing them to incorporate music into their curriculum, or furthermore strengthen their pre-existing music program.
Chris was lucky enough to design his program under the guidance of top Australian music educators, resulting in a totally engaging and interactive musical experience for his students.
Since then, Harp’s a Breeze has educated thousands of students across Australia, and his acclaimed program has been in collaboration with the Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Victoria, Vision Australia and Darebin Council.