Tony Celiberti

Tony Celiberti

Accomplished Musician | Music Arranger | Director, Wellard School of Music:       Location: Perth, Western Australia

Executive Profile

An accomplished musician and businessperson with a highly successful career reflecting talent, drive, and a positive personality. From receiving the Oscar Peterson Scholarship to the Berklee School of Music to serving as an exclusive arranger for global labels, Tony has moved from high-profile session work to becoming an established educational leader in Western Australia.

Core Competencies

  • Music Arranging: Exclusive worldwide arranger for Music Sales, producing Piano/Vocal/Guitar (PVG) books for platinum artists.
  • Education & Mentorship: Owner of the Wellard School of Music, providing specialised piano, guitar, violin, vocal and drum tuition.
  • Audio Engineering: Expertise in 16/24 track analogue/digital recording, mixing consoles, and MIDI sequencing.
  • Performance: Extensive experience in live musical acts ranging from solo/duo work to the West Australian Jazz Youth Orchestra (WAJO).

Professional Experience

Director & Principal Instructor | Wellard School of Music | 2012 – Present

  • Delivers music classes for all ages, including specialised programs for early beginners (3–7 years).
  • Successfully prepares students for WAAPA entrance exams, focusing on theory, oral skills, and ear training.
  • Organises biannual recitals to build student confidence and provide stage performance experience.
  • Maintains a professional environment recognised for fostering a lifelong love of music

Exclusive Music Arranger | Music Sales (Worldwide) | 1999 – 2012

As an exclusive arranger for Music Sales Worldwide, Tony produced industry-standard Piano/Vocal/Guitar (PVG) arrangements for numerous platinum-selling artists.

Major Australian & International Artists:

  • Delta Goodrem: Arranged hits for the “Innocent Eyes” era.
  • The Wiggles: Arranged numerous children’s songbooks and educational materials.
  • John Farnham: Transcribed and arranged classic repertoire for PVG books.
  • Guy Sebastian: Arranged early career hits and songbooks.
  • Powderfinger: Produced arrangements for their iconic rock catalogue.
  • Jet: Transcribed guitar-driven hits for sheet music publication.
  • Thirsty Merc & Eskimo Joe: Professional arrangements for contemporary rock folios.
  • Gabriella Cilmi & Pete Murray: Modern pop/acoustic arrangements.
  • Sara Storer & Bernard Fanning: Folk and country-style arrangements.

Specialised Media:

  • ABC Kids: Exclusive arrangements for a wide range of children’s songbooks.
  • Hot Hits Series: Arranged “Hot Hits Gold” and “Hot Hits Platinum” compilation folios.
  • 6 Hot Hits: Continuous arrangement work for seasonal pop compilations.
  • Created professional PVG arrangements for major artists, including Delta Goodrem, John Farnham, Guy Sebastian, and The Wiggles.
  • Produced arrangements for ABC Kids songbooks and international rock acts like Jet, Powderfinger, and Eskimo Joe.

Audio Engineering & Session Work | 1990 – 2002

  • Sydney Olympics (2000): Selected as a member of the specialist audio team for the Games.
  • Studio Production: Recorded demos with legendary producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics).
  • Product Specialist: Served as an exclusive keyboard demonstrator for Panasonic Australia.

Professional Performance | 1979 – 1993.

International: Secured piano residencies in Rome and London (1988).

  • Touring: Performed with Nick Giannopoulos’ “Wogs Out Of Work”,
  • Air Supply,
  • Boom Crash Opera.
  • The Seekers,
  • Lonnie Lee,
  • Colleen Hewett.

Education & Qualifications

  • Berklee School of Music (USA): Oscar Peterson Scholarship recipient (1984).
  • JMC School of Engineering: Diploma in Audio Engineering and Production (Distinction).
  • Warner Chappell: 5-year worldwide songwriting and publishing contract.
  • Certifications: Cert IV in Assessment and Workplace Training and current Working with Children Card
  • Early Training: AMEB practical and theory examinations.

Awards & Recognition

  • Industry and Commerce of the Year Award (2006).
  • Recognized for excellence in music education through numerous parent and student testimonials.

Studio & Session Performance Credits

Tony’s technical expertise in audio engineering and performance led to collaborations with legendary industry figures and major bands.

  • Dave Stewart (The Eurythmics): Recorded professional demos at Planet Studios, Perth.
  • Sydney Olympics (2000): Selected as a specialist member of the official audio team.
  • Panasonic Australia: Served as the national exclusive keyboard demonstrator for several years.
  • The Seekers & Colleen Hewett: Provided live performance backing for these iconic Australian touring acts.
  • Nick Giannopoulos: Toured as a musician for the hit show “Wogs Out Of Work”.
  • Air Supply & Boom Crash Opera: Performance and session collaboration.

Educational & Business Milestones

  • Wellard School of Music (WSOM): Owner and Director, providing professional music tuition since 2012.
  • Warner Chappell: Secured a 5-year worldwide songwriting and publishing contract.
  • Scholarship: Recipient of the prestigious Oscar Peterson Scholarship to the Berklee School of Music in Boston, USA.
  • Certification: Distinction in Audio Engineering and Production (Cert 3 & 4) from JMC School of Engineering.