About Us

Karen Richards

Jazz Workshop Australia (JWA) brings you jazz education of the highest standard. We provide individual music lessons and tuition in jazz improvisation with qualified and experienced teachers. JWA also offers school holiday workshops for young musicians, coached ensembles, jazz camps, music performance travel, and festival production.

Jazz Workshop Australia is owned and managed by Saul Richardson, principal, and Karen Richards, managing director.

Karen Richards

Karen Richards has over twenty years of experience as an internationally acclaimed producer and creative director of major events. In fact, events don't get much bigger than the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, for which Karen was Director of Ceremonies. She is regarded as one of Australia's leading big event organizers. She has worked for many high profile clients, as a freelance consultant and in partnership with Ric Birch, through their former company Spectac.

Karen has worked with numerous musicians, actors and politicians including Kylie Minogue, Peter Allen, Yothu Yindi, Renee Geyer, Michael Parkinson, Clive James, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, Rolf Harris, Jimmy Barnes, Billy Thorpe, Tim Fisher (former Deputy Prime Minister) and Sir William Deane (former Governor General).

Some of Karen's production credits include:

  • Director of Ceremonies, Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games
  • Production manager 1982 XII Commonwealth Games, Brisbane opening and closing ceremonies
  • Producer Countdown Awards
  • Production manager JJJ 10th Anniversary concert at Goat Island
  • Producer Australian Film Institute awards
  • Ceremony Producer Sydney Showground Opening, 1998
  • Flag Handover Ceremony Producer Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games
  • Ceremony Producer World Youth Soccer Championships FIFA/Coca Cola Cup, 1993
  • Consultant Athens 2004 Paralympic Games and Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games
  • Producer Fashion Parades 1990 Australian Wool Corporation
  • Executive Producer Fleece to Fashion, television documentary
  • Producer Australian Tourism Awards, 1988
  • Producer Bicentennial Wool Collection, 1988
  • Entertainment Consultant and Producer World Expo 88
  • Production Manager Australian Broadcasting Corporation , 1983-1985.
  • Entertainment Consultant, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, 2001

Since 2002 Karen has worked with Saul Richardson to deliver world class jazz education for young musicians. Their work together beyond Jazz Workshop Australia has included unique and outstanding school band tours, concerts, workshops, and acclaimed music camps. As well as production, Karen's expertise includes travel planning, ground logistics and liaising with musical and venue contacts.


Saul Richardson

Saul Richardson B.Ed (hons), MACE.

Saul Richardson is a guitarist and bass player who graduated from the University of Sydney with First Class Honours in Education and the University Medal in 1995. He studied Jazz guitar under Steve Brien and Steve McKenna, and conducting with Jerry Nowak. He is an internationally recognized Jazz educator, and served for two years as Australasian representative on the Executive Board of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE).


At Jazz Workshop Australia, Saul has developed a unique method for teaching jazz improvisation which has proven highly effective. Students can make astounding progress through this intensive, yet fun program.

Saul established and developed the renowned Jazz program at North Sydney Boys' High School, now widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence in its field in Australia. He was recognized by the (IAJE) at their January 2004 conference for his outstanding service to Jazz Education. He is a founding member of IAJE in NSW and works as a clinician, consultant and adjudicator, and lectures in Jazz Pedagogy at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.


As a performer Saul has worked with many of Australia's leading Jazz artists and groups including Ed Wilson, John Morrison and Swing City Big Band, Andrew Firth, Roger Frampton, Don Burrows, Col Nolan, Keith Stirling and Tony and Bob Barnard. He has performed throughout Australia, the UK and Europe and in the USA. Saul has also played with international artists including Sherrie Maricle, Mike Tomaro, John Thomas, Gunnar Mossblad, Dennis Wilson, Lou Fischer and Jeff Jarvis.

Saul is director of the NSW Department of Education and Training Arts Unit Stage Band, the SCEGGS Redlands school stage band, and has previously directed the Blue Riff the Powerhouse big bands.


Saul's past students have included many of the finest young musicians now making their own mark on the Australian and world Jazz scene. Graduates of his programs and ensembles can be found studying tertiary music across Australia, working professionally as performers and educators, or simply appreciating and hearing Jazz with discerning ears.