Mentors
let some of Australia’s most experienced and popular musicians guide your Sessions experience. They have been there and done and will share the insider knowledge of what it takes to be a better musician, songwriter and band member.
Dave Leslie
Dave Leslie is a professional guitar player/songwriter who currently resides in Melbourne, Australia.
He first picked up a guitar in 1973 and has been learning ever since.
Inspired by watching TV programs such as GTK, Bandstand, Super- Flying Fun Show, Nightmoves, Rock Arena, Sounds & Countdown, Dave has made it his life’s work to play the guitar and explore all facets of music creation.
Dave has toured the world several times, has met and jammed with a lot of his childhood heroes and has had many of his rock ‘n’ roll dreams come true.
The recipient of three ARIA Awards and numerous nominations, Dave continues to write, play and record with Baby Animals and many others, and still finds playing small, sweaty venues as satisfying and exciting as playing the big gigs.
Performed and/or Recorded with:-‐
- Baby Animals (founding member)
- Jimmy Barnes • Richard Clapton
- Angry Anderson
- Electric Mary
- Palace of the King
- Grinspoon
- Bon Jovi
- Van Halen
- The Angels
- Doc Neeson
- Dead Daisies
- Ross Wilson
- George Spartels
- Yianna Nicholas
- Steve Prestwich (Cold Chisel)
- Damien Leith
- James Blundell
- Jayne Denham (#1 Country Charts)
- Shannon Noll
- Casey Donovan
Phil Ceberano
Phil Ceberano is one of Australia’s most respected musicians. Phil is well known for his many years as the sideman, co-songwriter, co-producer, music director and guitarist with his sister Kate Ceberano. He has also played with many of Australia’s premier artists such as James Reyne, Daryll Braithwaite, John Stevens, Olivia Newton-John, Ross Wilson, Joe Camilleri, Vika and Linda, etc. His experience in the business of producing and performing music gives him an extensive knowledge of how playing in bands works and how to achieve greatness as a musician.
Phil started playing the guitar in pubs and clubs in the early ’80s with his band Battle Happy supporting the top bands of the day, The Models, I’m Talking and Kids in the Kitchen. He then formed one of Melbournes’ first supergroups of the 80’s ‘The Wayback five’, which featured his sister Kate Ceberano and James Reyne on vocals with occasional special guests such as Micheal Hutchens and other stars of the day.
Phil’s love of funk music then led him to put together Sexual Chocolate, a popular club band of the late 80’s playing James Brown and rare groove funk and Disco.
From the early 90s through to recent years Phil played exclusively with Kate Ceberano on her solo recordings and tours. He co-wrote and co-produced the hit song Brave from the album of the same name. The Brave album achieved triple platinum status and is one of Kate’s most successful albums.
Recent years has seen Phil expand into the corporate world where his talents as band leader, entertainment coordinator and music ‘curator’ for major corporate events has kept him busy working closely with clients such as Red Energy, Linfox Group and Ryan companies.
Phil is also the creative director of one of Australia’s leading PR companies Flourish PR.
Phil is very excited about The Sessions which has been inspired by Rock Academy, a youth music collaboration and performance program. Many parents and friends of the participants of Rock Academy have asked ‘when are you going to run an adult Rock Academy?’ So by popular demand we give you ‘The Sessions’
