Meet our staff:

ANGIE USSHER

Angie Ussher started her musical career when she was in primary school, which led to pursuing it through high school and adult life. After performing at many Opera House events, along with the Olympic and Paralympic Opening Ceremonies in 2000, she was convinced that performing would be a major part of her life.

She has spent the last 20 years performing in over 50 musicals and plays, as well as directing and choreographing several others. In 2022, Angie and her husband Stuart announced their all abilities production company VTP Presents.

Her passion for teaching started 16 years ago when her eldest son, while still a baby, used to sit in his bouncer and listen to students singing. Since then she's had two more sons, both born into the musical world. She started teaching for herself in 2011 and claims she "hasn't looked back since"; she still teaches students today that she started with then. She has completed her Bachelor of Music and began her Masters of Education [Special Education] in 2021. Angie is also the vocal teacher at Maitland Christian School.

|Vocal, Theory and Performance|

Stuart Ussher started his dance and drama career from a young age while living in Sydney. He began dancing at the Lisa Thornburrow school of Ballet and began completing his dance exams. He also began drama lessons at O’Grady Drama. Stuart’s love of the performing arts continued to grow after he moved to the Hunter Valley. Stuart was presented the opportunity to expand his performance skills after joining the Maitland Musical Society in 2010.

Stuart’s love of dance led him to co-owning his own local dance studio from 2009-2012, where he choreographed many of his favourite styles, such as Ballet and Tap. Since then, he has moved on to Choreographing for local Musical Productions and helping his wife Angie with the running of VTP and VTP Presents.

STUART USSHER

TYLER D-B

Tyler D-B has always had a passion for music, ever since the age of 3. Growing up with the likes of The Wiggles and Jesus Christ Superstar, his diverse musical taste has led him to where he is now. Over his 13 years of schooling, he has spent 10 of those years taking piano, saxophone or vocal lessons, the former taking the first six and last two years. He has also been able to teach himself guitar, bass, drums and percussion during this time.

Since 2013, Tyler has been part of 13 different musicals, over half of those with VTP or MMS. He has also been associated with musicals and musical groups during school, including primary choir, school chapel and HSC assistance. Ever since joining VTP in 2017, he has helped out with every production and event that has come up, from being the MD for Showman, Mamma Mia, and the upcoming Six concerts, to organising the recent trivia night, as well as performing and running audio at the end-of-term concerts.

At VTP, Tyler runs the alot of the technical outlets of the company. On top of this, he has also just started a self-titled company (tylerdb.net) where he offers music and film services.

Daniel began his musical interest sitting on the floor at pre-school singing to the piano. Since then, he’s been involved in choirs, orchestra ensembles, and musical theatre all through school. Being a singer, pianist and a trombonist, there was always something to be involved in. After school, Dan attended the Conservatorium of Music at Newcastle University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Hons). He has been involved in many community and educational music settings such as a tutor at Pan Pacific Music Camps, including when he toured with their wind orchestra to the USA. He was also the Director of Music for the Australian Youth Choir.

As well as teaching music, Dan has a passion for musical theatre having been a part of many theatre companies in the Newcastle and Maitland areas. He has been a stage performer, orchestra members and Musical Director for several productions with Maitland Musical Society including Nunsense, The Music Man and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

After a bit of a break Dan is looking forward to getting back into teaching music with VTP. Dan will be teaching Piano, Singing, Trombone and Trumpet but spaces are limited. *Wednesday availability only

Lucy Watson has always been a keen musician and performer. Starting out playing Violin and attending drama lessons at Maitland Repertory Theatre, it wasn’t long before Lucy’s love for the performing arts grew. She then began voice lessons at VTP under the tutelage of Angie and her love of Musical Theatre and composition started.

Flash forward to now, Lucy is 17, in year 12 at the Hunter School of Performing Arts studying Music 2, Music Extension, Music Industry and Drama. Lucy has performed with many companies including Maitland Musical Society, Maitland Repertory Theatre, Hunter Drama, The Very Popular Theatre Company and VTP.

This year, Lucy was successfully chosen to compete in the Best of the Buskers top 10 finalists at the Tamworth Country music festival where she performed two of her original songs on the Toyota Park stage. 2022 has also seen Lucy record and release her own song Butterfly, which is available on Spotify and Apple Music.

Lucy is so excited to be joining the staff and teaching guitar after being involved with VTP since 2015.

At a young age she was known as the Drama Queen by her family. Emma Green has been dancing since the age of 2 and a half. Her passion for Musical theatre comes from performing in her dance studio‘s musical theatre productions. In 2019 Emma performed in Maitland Musical society’s Wizard of Oz Retro, as the Queen Bee. She has also had the opportunity to perform in VTP’s Mamma Mia and the Greatest Showman. Emma has participated in multiple Arena productions with Harvest Rain. Emma has been a member of Young Peoples Theatre drama school since 2018, performing in Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Bunyips and Child of Eden Jr. Emma has also been apart of the Junior Theatre Celebration and Festival 2019, 2020 and was a CONDA youth performer in 2020 and 2021. With Angie here at VTP, Emma has completed AMEB Musical Theatre Singing and Theory exams. As a triple threat, Emma loves the stage. Whether it is singing, dancing or acting, she is excited to pass on her knowledge to others in the theatre community.