Kathryn Pyle
Born at Finley Hospital, Kathryn Pyle developed a curiosity for musical sounds at a young age, lying on her belly on the loungeroom floor in front of the speakers of the family’s His Master’s Voice stereo. That curiosity has never left her.
A farm kid and founder of Musikids at Gateway Village, Kathryn has spent 26 years introducing small children — and their grown-ups — to the possibilities of sound and music. Through group music classes, she encourages children to listen deeply, explore how they might move to sound, play with it and, just as importantly, be still with it.
For Kathryn, learning to understand and manage sound while growing is about much more than developing musical foundations. It can support whole-child development, with a particular focus on self and sensory regulation.
Over the years, thousands of little lives have crossed Kathryn’s threshold. Her students have gone on to become musicians and composers, dancers and music administrators, doctors, researchers, teachers, parents, greenkeepers, chiropractors — and, in some cases, lifelong friends.
Outside Musikids, Kathryn is happiest in the food garden, making things, spending time with music and friends, and following wherever creativity takes her. In her 55th year, she has also set herself the goal of completing 55 walks — another way of staying curious about the world around her.
Kathryn has discovered that when she is creating, she is at peace.
Vocals By Bel
Vocals By Bel is an Australian singer-songwriter who combines heartfelt vocals and ukulele with honest, emotional storytelling.
Through her original music, Bel explores the realities of mental health and the experiences that shape us — from stress, burnout and anxiety to heartbreak, loss and family struggles.
A strong advocate for mental health and resilience, Bel uses songwriting as a way to process life’s difficult moments and create connection through shared experience. Her songs transform deeply personal emotions into something relatable, raw and ultimately uplifting.
For Bel, music can give voice to the things that are sometimes difficult to say out loud. By sharing her own experiences through song, she hopes to remind others that they are not alone — and that creativity can help us find our way through even the hardest chapters.
Raphael Ennab & Maddi Willey
Two talented young musicians from our region will come together on the TEDxAlbury stage, combining saxophone and cello in a special duet.
Raphael Ennab is a passionate young saxophonist whose musical journey began at the age of nine. Now a scholarship student at the Murray Conservatorium, he has become a familiar face across the Albury-Wodonga region, sharing his love of music with audiences of all ages.
Whether performing solo or alongside fellow young musicians, Raphael has appeared at community events, charity fundraisers, sporting fixtures and live radio broadcasts. His performances have included AlburyCity’s Bring the Beats to Albury Streets, City2City Run, Relay for Life, Music in the Gardens and pre-game entertainment for the Albury Bandits.
Known for his warmth, enthusiasm and genuine commitment to making a positive difference, Raphael demonstrates the power of music to bring people together and strengthen community spirit.
Maddi Willey, almost 14, has already been playing cello for nearly nine years, beginning at the age of five. She has a passion for music and loves exploring its possibilities, from classical repertoire to contemporary genres and looping.
A scholarship student at the Murray Conservatorium and a member of the Albury Wodonga Symphony Orchestra, Maddi has also performed in the pit band for musical theatre productions and regularly performs solo and with other musicians at community events and while busking.
Maddi hopes to build a future in the music industry and is always looking for new ways to create, experiment and connect through music.
Together, Raphael and Maddi bring two instruments, two young musical voices and a shared curiosity about what can happen when different sounds meet.
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