An individual voice in Australian improvised music, Anthony Schulz has developed a sound world that strives to dispel preconceptions of the piano accordion. It is through a lens of seemingly disparate musical forms that Anthony continues to focus his ongoing exploration of the accordion as an instrument capable of great nuance and complexity. Projects including the Aria award winning world music ensemble Zulya and the Children of the Underground, The Bach Project with Rachel Scott (cello), Unlocked with Andrea Keeble (violin) Deborah Kayser (voice) and Nils Hobiger (cello), Ball Hanlon Schulz (Eugene Ball – trumpet and Ben Hanlon – double bass), and the Arabic Tarab Ensemble, all form part of the rich tapestry that is Anthony’s sound world.

Anthony is the Vice-President of the Accordion Society of Australia and was Head of Program of the Bachelor of Music at Melbourne Polytechnic where he continues to lecture.

Michael is the founder of “Los Locos” a Latin group which performs in regional Victoria at events and private functions. He also teaches piano and guitar privately. Michael is also the principal consultant for Diversity Consultancy.

In 2020 he was appointed as the Deputy Chair of the Victorian Interpreting Service. From 1994 to 2020 he was at Diversitat and as the CEO from 2005. Diversitat representing over 60 ethnic communities and managing a portfolio of interests including: immigration and settlement services, RTO, aged support, social enterprises including My Maintenance Crew, 94.7 the Pulse Community Radio, Pako Festa and events, housing, mental health, NDIS and
more.

Michael also has qualifications in Diploma in Business, Federation Training specialising in Governance and a Cert 4 in Human Resources at Gordon TAFE, a BA in Asian Politics and History at Monash University and an Advanced Certificate in Residential and Community Services through Frankston TAFE.

Spira has experience in the public and private sector in technical, administrative and management roles. Coming from the Balkans, he brings his appreciation of music from eastern/southern Europe and beyond. He is an active supporter of Melbourne’s rich world music scene. Spira is passionate about connecting people through music, dance and art.

Malathi Vasudevan moved to Melbourne from New Zealand in March 2020. She is a practising CA working part-time. Her passion is Carnatic Music. She sings and plays the Veena. She has performed in India, NZ and Australia and on many on-line platforms. Prior to moving to Melbourne, she was an active Event Organiser in Auckland and Hamilton. She is delighted to be part of The Boite team.

Hannah is passionate about young people and providing them opportunities to develop their understanding of themselves in relation to the community and the environment. She was a child of the Boite regularly attending concerts at Mark St and participating in the Boite Schools Chorus. She currently works with the diverse learners at Collingwood College as a secondary maths and science teacher. 

Therese Virtue taught in the Western suburbs of Melbourne for more than 10 years before working as a singer and then an organiser with The Boîte. She has sung with some of Melbourne's most adventurous folk ensembles including Il Gruppo Folcloristico Italiano and the award-winning Petrunka. She has been involved with The Boîte since 1984, and as Boîte World Music Cafe Co-ordinator for the past 22 years has organised and presented over 1500 intimate concerts featuring artists from 35 communities. For 20 years she has been a presenter of the Boîte World Music radio programs on 3PBS and 3CR. A warm and approachable person with a formidable knowledge of the Australian music scene, she is highly respected by artists from many communities.

Ramnath Iyer emigrated to Australia in 1986 from India. Since then, he has been contributing immensely to the Indian Classical music scene in Melbourne as performer, teacher, promoter and organiser of the arts, while holding a full time IT career. Ramnath was awarded the Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence 2010 for Contribution to Arts by the then Premier of the State of Victoria, Mr John Brumby.

He is classified as ‘A’ graded artist of All India Radio, Chennai since 2009, an honour rarely given to oversees-residing artists and highlights his dedication to the highest quality music.

A citizen of Australia, Ramnath is passionate about fostering and promoting the ancient instrumental tradition of the Veena and Indian classical Music in Australia. He has been a true cultural ambassador through both his own performances, lectures and workshops as well as through the encouragement, support and mentorship of other upcoming and established artists in Australia.

Lilliana Hajncl is the child of post war migrants from Croatia and the Czech Republic and the UK. She grew up bi-lingual in multicultural Australia which was slowly beginning to recognise the value that came with the many post war arrivals. Lilliana has worked in secondary and adult education in France, Croatia, French Polynesia, Timor L'este as well as Australia. For more than twenty years she has produced award-winning educational and training resources for adult culturally and linguistically diverse communities. She has managed a three year state-wide work readiness training program for newly arrived migrants and refugees. She currently works in curriculum and program development with AMES Australia, supporting both teachers and trainers and new arrivals.  

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Lilliana is on the organising committee of the Czech and Slovak Film Festival of Australia. She is a long-standing member of the Victorian Electoral Commission Multicultural Advisory Group. Her commitment to the arts and the environment included a decade as a committee member of RGT, a voluntary organisation whose aim was to responsibly recycle clean manufacturing waste into affordable arts materials for primary schools. Lilliana’s passion for music has made her an enthusiastic participant in and advocate for The Boite for many years. She also sings in community choirs here and in Caucasian Georgia.

Growing up in the Flamenco music community and coming of age around the DIY music scene in Melbourne, Leyla’s ambitions have always aligned with music and community. After cataloguing at PBS Radio + co-directing the Sofar Sounds concert series in Melbourne, she worked in the management team for Tex Perkins, and played an organisational role at various festivals and venues.

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Since moving into the world of licensing and publishing at Gaga Music (Inertia Group), she has now found a happy home at Electric Dreams as an Executive Producer - getting to work across advertising TV and film in music post-production, licensing + supervision.

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In her spare time, Leyla also enjoys playing synth and hitting a tambo in Jess Ribeiros band, as well as being a of The Boite’s 2022 committee.