Examiner 247

ASCM, BA, GradDipPsy, BSocSci (Hons), MPhil, DClinPsych, MAPS

Naomi Halls is a musician, teacher, examiner, clinical psychologist and peak performance coach. She earned her doctorate from Macquarie University, receiving the Vice Chancellor’s Commendation for Academic Excellence.

As a performer, Dr Halls was Principal Flute with the Sydney Youth Orchestra (1982–85) and the Penrith Symphony Orchestra (1995–2001). She has performed internationally, including at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. More recently, she has been a guest soloist with the Feathered Frog Jazz Trio and the director of an innovative jazz-fusion concept at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre.

Dr Halls was appointed an AMEB examiner in 1988 and a senior/diploma examiner in 1995. She has been an examiner for licentiate and fellowship diplomas since 2004. Dr Halls received AMEB’s Examiner Service Award in 2014. She gave the keynote presentation at AMEB’s 100-year anniversary meeting in 2018.

As a performance psychologist, Dr Halls provides peak performance workshops and coaching for musicians. In conjunction with the Emotional Health Clinic at Macquarie University, she developed psychological treatments for music performance anxiety. Her 2013 random control trial exploring the efficacy of cognitive behaviour treatments and results was published internationally. Dr Halls presented papers at the World Forum for Music in Brisbane in 2013 and at the Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare Symposiums in 2013, 2017 and 2018.

Dr Halls directed, trained, conducted and administered the Flute Philharmonic, which performed for community and fundraising events across Penrith, the Riverina and the Blue Mountains between 1992 and 2015. She has adjudicated for flute eisteddfods across New South Wales since 1990.