Music teacher Janelle Fletcher charged with a child sexual offence performed in ‘So Flutatious’ show at 2023 Fringe Festival
A Tabor College music teacher charged with a child sexual offence has been revealed as a performer at this year’s Fringe Festival.
SA News
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The SA music teacher charged with an historical child sex offence took to the stage at this year’s Adelaide Fringe with her own show performing rock songs on the flute.
Janelle Colville Fletcher, 38, of Trinity Gardens, was arrested over the weekend and appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon seeking bail on a charge of making a child amenable to sexual activity.
The alleged offence is said to have happened in regional SA some years ago.
From the Tabor College website, Ms Fletcher was listed the school’s head of music and started teaching at the school in 2016.
A post on the school’s Facebook page in 2017 thanked Ms Fletcher and students for “the joy you’re bringing through the beauty of musical performance” on a post about the Tabor Singers winning second place for a singing award.
“Since moving to our new Wayville site, Tabor’s music program has grown in both size and scope under the leadership and passion of Dr Janelle Fletcher,” the post read.
“Thank you to Janelle and all our wonderful students for the joy you’re bringing through the beauty of musical performance. Music is a gift, and the very best gifts are shared!”
In a statement on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the school said they were “aware of the serious allegations that have been made against a former member of faculty”.
“It is important to note that the alleged offences occurred some years ago and did not involve students of Tabor College,” the spokeswoman said.
“As this is a matter before the courts, it is not appropriate to comment further.”
At this year’s Adelaide Fringe, Ms Fletcher performed in two shows called “So Flutatious.”
In various YouTube clips of the show, Ms Fletcher is seen playing the Guns N’ Roses song Sweet Child O’ Mine on the electric flute with a band as well as other original songs.
“Who says the flute can’t rock! :)” the video description reads.
The show also has a description still listed on the Fringe website, saying the show “uses loop pedals, audio effects and some of Adelaide’s best live musicians to bring you rock, funk and jazz like no other”.
“Dr Janelle Colville Fletcher (PhD) is the current head of the Tabor Music Department at Tabor College, Adelaide,” the Fringe promotion reads.
“A talented multi-instrumentalist, Janelle has specialised in playing classical flute for over twenty years, but also has a passion for crossing musical genres via featured performances in musicals, orchestras, and jazz bands Australia-wide. She is a trusted authority in the field of music education, which has solidified her presence in the academia realm globally, as well as locally.
“On a local scale, Janelle regularly engages her students, and the wider community, in events which promote the power of music to reach people on an emotional, spiritual, and ultimately creative level. So Flutatious marks her solo debut as a Fringe artist with a local and talented supporting band.”
Ms Fletcher is yet to enter a plea to the charge and is due to return to court on Wednesday.
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