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Visiting Instrumental Teachers


Strings 

Mrs N Grant (violin, viola)  MA, BMus, LRAM, Cert RCO

  • Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music's MA programme in 2009, Nicky has built a diverse teaching and performing career, working with, amongst others, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Charles Mackerras and Sir Elton John. Nicky is now a regular member of the Corelli Ensemble and the Musical & Amicable society and is committed to making music fun whilst encouraging pupils to strive for excellence.

Mr M Walkem (cello, double bass) BMus (Hons), PgDip, DipABRSM 

  • Mark graduated from the University of Birmingham with a first-class honours degree in Music then studied at Birmingham Conservatoire with Lionel Handy. He works regularly with freelance orchestras around the Midlands and London, also plays the baroque cello and the double bass, and is an active choral singer.

Woodwind 

Mrs A Grant (clarinet, saxophone) 

Miss L Martin (flute)

  • Lindsay studied the flute at Birmingham Conservatoire, graduating with first class honours, and qualified as a teacher on the Graduate Teacher Programme. She has many years’ experience of teaching the flute in schools and privately, from beginner up to diploma level, and has a passion for working with every student’s individual strengths to help them become creative, skilled and self-motivated musicians. Lindsay spends much of her spare time playing the flute, in local orchestras and chamber ensembles, and gives regular solo recitals.  

Mrs J Robinson (oboe) ABSM (teaching)

  • Julie balances teaching with a busy freelance career; she has performed and recorded with, amongst others, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Orchestra da Camera and the Manchester Camerata. Julie has also taught at Bromsgrove school and Birmingham Conservatoire.

Mrs S Perkins (bassoon)

Brass 

Mr S Cooper (cornet, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba) GLCM, FLCM, LLCM (TD), PGCE

  • Steve began playing the baritone at the age of 10 with Bedworth Band. After graduating on euphonium from the London College of Music he performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. He is well known as a brass band conductor and adjudicator as well as a committed teacher.

Percussion 

Mr T Ayres (orchestral percussion, timpani) 

  • Tony has played timpani and percussion with the Royal Shakespeare Company, English National Ballet, English Symphony Orchestra and for BBC radio 2. He is principal timpanist and Artistic Director of the Orchestra da Camera. As a conductor, he has directed many operatic productions as well as OdaC concerts.

Mr S Wagstaff (drum kit) 

  • Simon has a varied performing career, performing with artists as diverse as Nigel Kennedy and Squeeze as well as undertaking touring, session and TV work. He is both secretary and Director of the U.K National Drum Show.

Keyboard 

Mr A Etherden (piano) ARAM, DipRAM, LRAM, ARCM, FISM

  • Alan studied at the Royal Academy of Music; his awards include the MacFarren Medal. For some years a piano examiner with the then Guildhall board, Alan is an accomplished performer and his recordings of Victorian piano pieces are regularly broadcast.

Mrs J Merry (piano) GBSM, LTCL, ABSM

  • Jo studied flute, piano and recorder at Birmingham Conservatoire and has performed with various local orchestras and the Society of Recorder Players. She is Head of Music at Milverton House School as well as teaching piano at Bablake.

Dr N Scott-Burt (piano, jazz piano, composition, organ & theory of music) BA, MMus, PhD, LRAM, ARCO

  • Nick studied music at the University of Bristol and was then Director of Music at Bilton Grange School, Dunchurch, before embarking on a freelance career in 2002. He is a pianist, organist, composer and conductor, music director of both Daventry Choral Society and the Shepshed singers, and examines on both the main and jazz panels for the ABRSM. In 2012, Bristol University awarded him a doctorate in musical composition.

Mrs M Mason

Guitar 

Mr P Ross (classical guitar, acoustic guitar)

Miss D Palmer (bass guitar, electric guitar) 

Voice 

Ms E Griffiths (vocal) MMus Performance & Pedagogy, BA (Hons) Music Performance & Professional Practice

  • Emma teaches a vast range of vocal styles; jazz, pop, musical theatre and folk, but she specialises in classical and operatic repertoire. She has recently completed a research project on the anatomical vocal development of adolescent voices for her MMus.