Staff Bio's

Jane Winter - Principal/Director/Tutor

Born in Sydney Australia and raised in Nelson New Zealand, Jane Winter is a Nelson based singer/actor/dancer, entertainer, musical director, singing and musical theatre tutor, vocal coach, entrepreneur, business woman and founding director of SOUNDSTAGE.

Jane has performed on many different stages, locally and internationally.

She is also just at home behind the scenes as a Musical Director and vocal coach. Jane has been MD for major musicals such as Les Miserables and CATS.

A graduate of NASDA Jane holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts, and has completed two units of her LTCL in Musical Theatre from Trinity College London.

For her performance unit, she was awarded 90/100 and the examiners cup for most memorable performance.

Jane sings regularly with “the Bourbon Street Beat”.

Jane loves to pass on her knowledge and love for the arts and is very proud of her accomplishments at SOUNDSTAGE so far.

Simon Williams - Director/Tutor

Simon Williams began his music career, at age 9 learning clarinet at the Nelson School of Music. Simon completed up to grade 8 classical clarinet through Trinity College London with Debbie Rawson.

After achieving his grade 8 clarinet, Simon starting playing alto saxophone. The saxophone became Simon’s principle instrument, and gave him a start in a career that would follow performing as a professional musician.

Simon has played with many high profile groups including the Royal New Zealand Air force Central Band, infamous 6-piece Nelson rock and roll band “Norris and the Lurkers”, “The Gabor Trio”, and many more. He has also played in many pit orchestras for musicals

Simon holds a Diploma in Jazz Studies from Christchurch CPIT Jazz School. Simon has taught at many Nelson Colleges, The Nelson School of Music and the Contemporary Music Performance Course.

Simon is fortunate enough to currently be apart of “The Bourbon Street Beat”, the band that started the Nelson Jazz Club, lead by local jazz icon Rupert Winter. Involvement in this band has given Simon the opportunity to tour to the USA.

Simon currently also plays with popular Nelson Band “Fez”, and is very busy with many classes at SOUNDSTAGE.

Jax Flintoff - Tutor

Jax has held a life long love for music and musical theatre. Jax has played many coveted musical theatre rolls such as Fantine in Les Miserables and Rumpleteaser in CATS.
Jax holds a Diploma of Contemporary Music and an Associate level diploma of Trinity College London (ATCL) in Musical Theatre.

Jax teaches Singing and Musical Theatre at SOUNDSTAGE.

Sophie Ricketts - Tutor

Sophie started singing and acting at a young age in the USA. She moved to NZ when she was 13. Her talent was nurtured though the nelson theatre scene during her teenage years, an ex student of Nayland College, Sophie was given many opportunities to grow as a performer. Sophie graduated NASDA 2005 and went on to work professionally as an actor at the Christchurch Court theatre. In 2007 Sophie moved back to nelson and started tutoring singing and acting for pre teens at soundstage. In addition to teaching she can be seen preforming in the nelson area mainly at the playhouse.

Sophie holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts from NASDA.