Strings
| Bjorn Bantock - Head of Strings Bjorn Bantock has over 30 years professional conducting experience and has enjoyed an extensive performance schedule conducting numerous ensembles and orchestras internationally. He has performed in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, China, South Africa, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Russia, Malta, Ireland, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Bjorn is currently the principal conductor of the Irish Memory Orchestra which has toured throughout Europe and Ireland and to South Korea. Bjorn is the principal conductor for the Peterborough Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also been the principal conductor for the St Albans Symphony Orchestra, the London Medical Orchestra, the International String Orchestra Festival in Malta, the Svanker Music Festival, the Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, the Europa Ensemble, and the Open Strings Festival Orchestra in Copenhagen Denmark. Bjorn has performed as guest conductor with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, the Oxford Cello School Orchestras, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the Guildhall School of Music Contemporary Ensemble, the London Contemporary School of Dance, the Watford Philharmonic, Cape Town Opera, the Philharmonisches Kammerorkester Berlin, the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, and the London Chamber Strings. Bjorn has published articles about conducting and practice for the Classical Music Magazine MUSO and has had a multi-page feature about his International String orchestra Festival published in the Strad magazine. Bjorn is passionate about teaching and regularly adjudicates and offers masterclasses by invitation at the Royal College of Music in London, the Royal Conservatoire of Music in Copenhagen Demark, and Stavager Conservatoire in Norway. He has offered conducting masterclasses for the Heads of Strings for the European String Teacher’s Association at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff and has given masterclasses for the National Children’s Orchestra, Kings College Wimbledon London, Pro Corda London, the London Cello Society at the Royal Academy of Music, the Conservatoire of Music, University of Stellenbosch and the Conservatoire of Music, University of Cape Town. |
| Katherine Collison - Violin/Viola Katherine grew up in Bedfordshire and on gaining a county scholarship at the age of 12, attended Trinity College of Music junior department. On leaving school she continued her studies at the Royal College of Music with John Ludlow and baroque violin with Andrew Manze. Since leaving college, Katherine has divided her time between performing and teaching violin, viola and piano, initially in Bedfordshire where she was leader of Milton Keynes Sinfonia, and then in Rutland where she currently leads the Rutland Sinfonia. Her experience as an orchestral player has resulted in a wide range of performing opportunities including guest leading East Anglia Chamber Orchestra, Bedford Sinfonia, Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra, Peterborough Symphony Orchestra and playing in a series of concerts with the International Film Orchestra. Katherine also teaches at Oakham School and Stringmoves, a music school for string players in Cambridge |
| Melissa Favell-Wright – Double Bass Melissa completed a music degree at Colchester Institute and a postgraduate diploma in advanced performance at the Royal College of Music with double bass professor Tony Hougham. After graduating, Melissa taught in London for many years before moving to Bedford with her family in 2014. She continues her busy freelance performing career and combines this with teaching in the local area. Melissa regularly performs with the Royal Opera House Orchestra, English National Ballet, City of London Sinfonia, Britten Sinfonia, London Concert Orchestra, Royal Ballet Sinfonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra. Melissa has performed and recorded with Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins, Barry Manilow, Neil Sedaka, Chrissie Hynde, Jack Savoretti and Procol Harum in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Coliseum and the London Palladium. Melissa is often recording at Abbey Road and Air studios for Isobel Griffiths Ltd and COOL Music. She has played on numerous soundtracks such as Downton Abbey, Dumbo, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel and Dunkirk. Melissa is the founder and co-director of Trilogy Strings – a string trio consisting of two violins and double bass. They perform regularly at corporate events and weddings. Melissa also teaches at Bedford Girls’ School, Bedford Modern School and Oakham School. |
| Erica Grajner de Sa – Violin Erica studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Howard Davis and studied chamber music with Sidney Griller and the Alberni String Quartet. She has enjoyed a very versatile freelance career in classical music performing with many of the London orchestras, chamber orchestras and chamber groups touring extensively in the UK and abroad.Erica's passion is in chamber music and education and in addition to teaching at Bedford School she also teaches the violin and coaches chamber groups at the junior department of The Royal Academy of Music in London. She was awarded an ARAM by the Academy in 2016. Erica often adjudicates at National festivals and music competition. |
| Elizabeth Guest - Violin Elizabeth studied at the Royal Academy of Music where she studied violin with Howard Davis and Diana Cummings, and piano with Fiona Cameron gaining an LRAM on both instruments. Whilst there she formed L’invitri string quartet which has performed at numerous engagements in this country and abroad. Elizabeth has performed with many different orchestras and chamber ensembles including English National Ballet and the RPO. Her teaching career has taken her as far afield as the International School of South Africa and St Catherine’s School, Richmond, Virginia, USA. In addition to Bedford School, Elizabeth also teaches at St John’s College School, Cambridge. |
| Felicity Meakins - Harp Felicity studied at Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal College of Music where she graduated in 2011. Alongside Bedford she holds teaching posts at Kew House and Queen’s Gate Schools in London and has many private pupils. Felicity regularly performs at the top London venues and is a regular guest performer at the Ritz Hotel and Coworth Park. Memorable performances over recent years include a performance of Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto in Northampton, accompanying Florence and the Machine and Dizzy Rascal at the Brit Awards, featuring as a harpist on the film Brighton Rock and recording for award winning producer and writer Steve Robson. |
| David Merrin - Guitar David Merrin studied with Bill Granderson and Gilbert Biberian at Trinity College of Music, London. He went on to become an International Luthier and in 2008 was selected ‘Luthier of the Year’ by Jose and Liam Romaillos. He is curator and carer for Granary Guitars, a large collection of historic guitars in the UK and in 2010 was commissioned to record the album ‘The Sound of Spain’ for which he played 19 guitars from the collection. David has performed on various DVD’s and was the guitar coach on the film ‘Bride and Prejudice’. David also teaches at The Berkshire Musicians Trust; Musicale, Harpenden; Westbrook Hay, Herts and Stormont, Herts. |
| Jordan Sian - Viola As a chamber musician, Scottish-Indian violist Jordan Sian has performed across Europe in concert halls including the Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Cadogan Hall and Kammermusiksall of the Berlin Philharmonie. Jordan has been a prizewinner in international competitions, receiving awards from the Val Tidone Strings Competition, Worshipful Company of Musicians, BBC Performing Arts Fund and has performed as a soloist at King’s Place, London and St. Paul’s Cathedral. He has appeared on numerous chamber music broadcasts including live performances on Danish National Radio and BBC Radio 3. Jordan is a member of the Aurora Trio (Flute/Harp/Viola) and their debut album was released in 2021 for EM records. Since 2020 he has had the privilege to work with the Chineke! Foundation in London. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, the Haute École de Musique de Geneve and Haute École de Musique de Lausanne, Jordan studied with Sarah Jane Bradley, Mark Knight, Ori Kam, Dieumut Poppen and Tatjana Masurenko. |
| Allan Simpson – Electric Guitar Allan has played in various ensembles and later became a member of Nobody’s Quartet, who were joint first in a national jazz competition run by the Daily Telegraph. It wasn’t until studying at Kingston University that Allan became particularly interested in rock music, listening to guitarists Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Alan Murphy of Kate Bush and Go West fame. Whilst at university, Allan played in a rock indie band called Art of Parties, who played in various London venues, including Rock Garden in London’s Covent Garden. Since graduating from University, Allan has been touring, recording and teaching guitar for over twenty years. Whilst living in London, Allan was a member of two rock bands at different points; Hyperphobe and Spearshaker. Allan has been fortunate to perform with various singers and ensembles around the UK, Europe, the USA and Japan. These include, Howard Donald (Take That), Beverley Knight, Natasha Bedingfield, the BBC Concert Orchestra, Omar MBE, and renowned Jazz trombonist Dennis Rollins. Allan has also played on three number one albums, and is shortly to start depping on his seventh west end show, “Dreamgirls”. |
| Dimitris Soukaras – Guitar Dimitris Soukaras is a Classical Guitarist based in London. He is considered one of the most awarded and promising Greek musicians of his generation. He was awarded the DipRAM the highest award confirmed by the Royal Academy of Music in London where he studied with full scholarship the Advanced Diploma and the Master of Arts. Dimitris has won a number of international awards and competitions, including the Mottola International Guitar Competition and the Academy of Athens Music Award. Since 2019, he is the Founder and the Artistic Director of MUΣA Concert Series. As a soloist, he has performed with a number of professional ensembles across Greece. He has performed solo recitals at the King's Place (London), Musikverein (Wien), Cervantes Theater (London), and Megaron Concert Hall (Athens) and has recorded for the national Greek Radio and the BBC Radio 3. |
Brass & Percussion
| Les Arnold – Drum kit Les Arnold has been teaching drums and percussion privately for many years. In 2001 he started teaching for the County Music Service as a peripatetic teacher going to schools all over the County, percussion teacher at Leighton Buzzard Saturday Music School and tutor for the County Third Band. He was very proud to tutor the band on 2 occasions leading to performances at The Royal Albert Hall. Since 2004 Les has been teaching at Dame Alice Harpur School, Bedford High School for Girls and Bedford Girls’ School and he started as the drum teacher at Bedford School in 2006. |
| Oliver Carey – Trumpet Oliver grew up in Chelmsford, Essex and began learning the trumpet at the age of 9. He went on to study at Trinity College Music, obtaining a BMus(Hons) degree followed by an MA in Performance from the Royal Academy of Music. Since completing his studies, he has been working as a trumpet player and performs regularly with orchestras, including English National Ballet, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra and the RTE Concert Orchestra. As well as orchestral playing, Oliver also frequently works in musical theatre, often performing in London’s West End as well as for touring productions throughout the UK. He has been the trumpet chair-holder and deputy on numerous shows, including Les Miserables, Beauty and The Beast and Miss Saigon. Oliver has always had a passion for education and has taught in a variety of schools and settings throughout his career. In addition to his role at Bedford School, he also holds trumpet teaching posts at Brentwood School and St Edmund’s College. |
| David Carstairs – Trumpet David was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Junior Department before continuing his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Whilst at the RNCM he became a member of the award-winning Phoenix Brass Quintet, performing at both the Wigmore Hall and Purcell Rooms in London, as well as touring throughout Europe. David held posts in the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra, Performing Arts Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata before joining the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998. In 2005 he became a member of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He has also played with London Brass, the Symphonic Brass of London, and Superbrass. He also regularly coaches at both the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music. |
| Jonathan Davis – Drum kit Jay Davis is an award-winning drummer and composer. A proud recipient of the Yamaha Jazz Scholar prize, Jay studied with drummers Dave Walsh, Jeff Williams and Martin France at Leeds College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music respectively. Jay has performed throughout the UK, Europe and Asia at festivals and venues including Umbria jazz festival, Jimmy Glass (Valencia), Jazzwerkstatt (Graz), Paradox (Tilburg), die nato (Leipzig), Ronnie Scott's (London) and Bimhuis (Amsterdam). Jay is busy working as a freelancer throughout the UK and is also a permanent member of many creative projects in London and further afield. |
| Matt Harrison - Trombone Matt Harrison BMus (Hons); LRAM: PG.Dip.RAM was inspired to take up the trombone aged 12 when a professional trombone quartet came to his school for the day to give workshops and a recital. Subsequently he studied trombone at Chetham’s School of Music and later the Royal Academy of Music, during which time he was a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. Since then he has been working professionally as a trombonist, performing with several of the country’s leading orchestras. Matt is currently Principal trombonist with the Bath Philharmonia and tours the UK regularly as part of the orchestra of English Touring Opera. Matt also teaches all brass instruments at Aldwickbury School, Harpenden, and teaches brass instruments and piano to several pupils of a wide range of ages and stages privately in and around Harpenden. He is the founder and Musical Director of the Harpenden Concert Band. Matt is also active locally as a piano accompanist and an organist, and works nationally and internationally for ABRSM as a grade, jazz and diploma examiner. |
| Edward Neuhauser – Lower Brass After graduating from the Guildhall School of Music, Ed began his professional performing career in Germany with ‘Philharmonie der Nationen’. Ed continued by freelancing with many ensembles including, ‘The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’, ‘English National Ballet’, ‘Welsh National Opera’ and ‘Royal Ballet Sinfonia’. He was part of the worldwide touring production of ‘Chicago the Musical’ for many years, while also performing regularly in the West End production. He worked on “Much Ado About Nothing’ at ‘The National Theatre’ and ‘Merry Wives of Windsor’ at The Globe Theatre. Ed was a member of the award winning folk band, ‘Bellowhead’, appearing on radio and television and recording many albums. |
| Chris Ridley – Percussion Chris Ridley studied at Bedford School after which he gained a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, during which time he was also Principal Timpanist of the Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchestra. After a few years of freelancing with the major Symphony Orchestras in London and Opera Houses in Italy, he became the Timpanist of the Orchestra of Teatro La Scala, Milan. In 2008, Chris joined the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, as Timpanist. He has also tutored with Beds County Youth Orchestras and has taught at the conservatoires in London and Milan. |
| Gary Smith – French Horn Gary Smith began playing the horn at the age of 13 and subsequently studied in Manchester and Berlin. After completing his studies, Gary played with many of the UK’s major orchestras, including the BBC SO, RPO and Philharmonia. He has also worked in the West End in a number of shows including ‘Oliver’ and ‘Miss Saigon’ and can be heard on a number of commercial recordings with artists such as Kylie Minogue and Chris de Burgh. He has also taught at the former Dame Alice Harpur School for Girls and the City of London School for Girls. |
Woodwind
| Dominic Childs – Head of Woodwind and Brass Dom is a classical saxophonist who enjoys a multi-dimensional career. As an orchestral musician, Dom has toured, recorded and performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Birmingham Royal Ballet Sinfonia and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, including live broadcast for BBC Radio 3 and performing at the ‘Last Night of the Proms’. In 2019 Dom’s Debut Solo Album will be released with the Resonus Classics record label, featuring works written or inspired by women. Between 2010-2018 Dom was the Alto Saxophonist in the award winning Forseti Saxophone quartet based in Cologne, performing in a number of Europe’s finest chamber music festivals and venues. Dom is a passionate music educator having been the Saxophone Tutor for the National Youth Wind Ensemble, Deputy Saxophone Teacher at the Birmingham Conservatoire of Music as well as giving workshops across the UK including at Chetham’s School of Music and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance. He has been the Saxophone Tutor at Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department and in 2015 founded the Saxophone Programme on the Ingenium Academy International Summer School. Dom studied at Chetham’s School of Music, Royal College of Music – London, Hochschule für Musik, Cologne and Conservatoire de Musique – Lyon. He is also an Old Bedfordian and learnt the saxophone with his predecessor - Malcolm Green. In 2017 Dom became the 1st Chair of the Hertfordshire Festival of Music. |
| Emma Howard – Flute Emma started playing the flute at the age of 9 and within 2 years had achieved an ABRSM grade 8 distinction. She then went on to study with Gareth Morris, who was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, and later with Ingrid Culliford before gaining a place as an Exhibitioner at the Royal College of Music where she learnt with Graham Mayger and Christopher Hyde-Smith. Emma won a number of prizes whilst at the College, including the Lambert recital prize and was awarded numerous scholarships, including the Wall Trust and Countess of Munster Scholarships which enabled her to do a postgraduate year at the College. Emma has performed concertos in England and Europe and has played with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Milton Keynes City and City of Oxford orchestras. Emma now teaches at Bedford Girls’ Schoo |
| Janey Miller – Oboe Janey was appointed to Bedford School in 2018. She also teaches at Uppingham School and at Junior Trinity College of Music, where she is also the Lead Tutor for Wind, Brass and percussion. Janey lectures teaching skills at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and until recently was a Senior Lecturer at Leeds College of Music. Alongside her teaching, Janey has a busy performing career, much of which is in the studio recording the scores for films – some highlights of which include Solo, A Star Wars Story; Les Misérables; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Fantastic Beasts; The Crimes of Grindelwald; Interstellar; Beauty and the Beast; Black Panther; How to Train your Dragon; The Hidden World and all three Hotel Transylvania films. She has also recorded for artists including Robbie Williams, Florence and the Machine and Josh Groban. Janey also performs and records regularly with a variety of orchestras, chamber orchestras and chamber groups – including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Heritage Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia and Lontano. Janey’s most recent solo release is Frozen River Flows on the Oboe Classics label. Janey studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. |
| Asha Parkinson - Saxophone Asha Parkinson is a London-based composer and saxophonist whose work regularly crosses the boundaries between traditions. She was three times semi-finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician competition and was shortlisted in the 2016 BBC Inspire Composers Competition. Additionally, she was one of 20 young people internationally to win Diana Legacy Award for her humanitarian initiative Voices Beyond Divisions. Asha runs the Kalpadruma collective exploring connections between Contemporary Classical, Jazz and various world musics. In its third year, the group has played at a number of high-profile venues including the London Jazz Festival, the Jazz Sevens Leeds series and the Union Chapel. Asha was one of four composers to receive a Breakthrough Commission from Jazz South for a composition bringing together Kalpadruma and members of the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians. Her debut album ‘Onwards’ is scheduled for release in Summer 2022. |
| David Rix – Clarinet David has held teaching positions at the King's school Canterbury, Wandsworth Boy's School, for whose choir Benjamin Britten wrote several works, Alleyn's School and currently Oakham. Throughout this time he has been solo clarinettist for Richard Hickox with whom he recorded all of Britten's operas including Peter Grimes, which won a Grammy. David has performed with all the London Orchestras and been involved in two hundred or so commercial recordings. He is a regular guest at the BBC Concert Orchestra which usefully fulfills his love of lighter styles including recent appearances with Kylie Minogue and Andrea Bocelli. |
| Susanne Simma – Bassoon Austrian born Susanne Simma graduated from the Royal College of Music with a Master of Performance degree and a Master of Science in Performance Science as well as a Bachelor degree from Mozarteum Salzburg for Bassoon and Piano. In 2013, Susanne was appointed Co – Principal Bassoon with Southbank Sinfonia and has since performed with orchestras such as BBC Concert Orchestra, ROH, Sinfonieorchester Vorarlberg, Bath Philharmonia and in collaboration with Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Passionate about music education, she holds teaching positions in the Junior Department at Royal College of Music, North London Collegiate, Bedford School and Bedford Girls School and was appointed as an ABRSM examiner in 2018. She has trained as a music practitioner in the Music Education Academy of the Philharmonie Luxembourg, Skill lab by Spitalfields Music, as an Early Years Music apprentice at Sound Connections and in composition classes at Juillard, NY. Keen to explore the impact of music making within our society, she accepted a place in the Global Leaders Program and has given masterclasses in South America and in Pro Corda’s SEND program. |
Piano
| Hanja Bantock - Head of Piano Hanja Bantock is much in demand as a soloist and chamber musician and regularly performs throughout the United Kingdom and abroad. As an accompanist, Hanja has been involved with the Junior Wieniawski Violin Competition in Poland, the Lake District Summer Music Festival, the Oxford Cello School, the Abingdon Summer School for Solo Singers and the International String Festival in Malta. Hanja was awarded a Masters Degree in Piano Accompaniment at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where she studied with Gordon Back and Graham Johnson. Hanja previously studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne, Germany and during her studies in Germany, she was sponsored by German Radio to participate in a recorded concert tour of Belgium, Slovenia and Germany as part of the Schubert Year Festivities. She has given chamber music recitals at the Opera Houses in Bonn and Stuttgart. Hanja also studied in South Africa, where she won the Hennie Joubert National Piano Competition, the Piano Category of the Trustbank National Youth Music Competition and the SABC Mozart Ensemble Competition. She regularly performs as a concerto soloist, most recently with the St Albans Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her performing schedule, Hanja taught at Kings College School in Cambridge, Chetham’s School of Music and the Junior Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Hanja is on the International Examiner’s Panel for Trinity College London. |
| Angelina Chatzimisiou - Piano Angelina is a qualified piano teacher teaching piano to children and adults since 2012. She is experienced preparing pupils for the ABRSM exams and in her teaching, she applies elements of the Russian Piano Technique in an enjoyable and approachable way (a heritage from her own piano teacher – whose study history dates back to Neuhaus himself). She holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the Royal College of Music, London, a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, and a Piano Diploma with Distinction (Performing and Teaching diploma) from the Conservatory “Music College” of Thessaloniki. Angelina has studied and attended masterclasses with distinguished pianists such as Ashley Wass, Vinia Tsopela, Norma Fisher and Dmitri Alexeev. She was awarded the ARU bursary, the RCM Award supported by a Hilda Houssart Award, and the first prize at the H.O.N. Pan-Hellenic piano competition. In addition to her performing career, Angelina is also a qualified and HCPC registered music therapist holding a MA in Music Therapy from the Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. |
| Craig Greene – Piano A former scholar of Christ Church, Oxford, Craig Greene is a pianist and conductor with a diverse portfolio of performing and teaching experience. After graduating from Oxford University with a double first-class degree, Craig continued his Studies at the Royal College of Music with Dmitri Alexeev, Maia Griffin, and Ashley Wass. Craig won various prizes throughout his studies including the Oxford University Conducting Competition in 2008 and the RCM Chamber Music Prize in 2012. Whilst at Oxford, Craig served as principal conductor of the Oxford University Philharmonia, and later became Musical Director of Opera Lyrica, an independent opera company with whom he conducted productions of Die Fledermaus, Fierrabras, and Il barbiere di Siviglia. Craig has been fortunate to perform with numerous orchestras including the Russian National Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Swan, the Milton Keynes City Orchestra, and the Oxford Chamber Orchestra. Craig is currently Director of Music at St John’s Church in Harpenden as well as being Artist in Residence with Alina Orchestra. He teaches piano at Bedford School having previously been Director of Music at Stowe School in Buckingham. |
| Richard Heyes – Piano Richard Heyes studied piano with Alexander Kelly at the Royal Academy of Music and Tatiana Nicolaieva at the Salzburg Mozarteum. He was Organ Scholar of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. Richard was Head of Keyboard here at Bedford School for 26 years and now has returned to teach piano which he also teaches at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. He is Regional Organiser for the European Piano Teachers Association, joint representative for Trinity Guildhall examinations and Director of Music at Newport Pagnell Parish Church. Richard also conducts a number of local choirs and works regularly as an accompanist. |
| Cason Kang - Piano Singaporean born pianist Cason Kang enjoys a busy performing and teaching career. Passionate about music education, he combines teaching roles at Oakham, Bedford, and Loughborough schools with solo and chamber performances in the UK and abroad. Cason made his London debut in 2011 when he performed as a soloist at Cadogan Hall with Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra. This was followed by a solo recital at the Bond Street Chappell for the Yamaha Lunchtime series. Cason has given concerts at St James Piccadilly in London, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Edinburgh Fringe, and Manchester Monastery, as well as solo, chamber, and concerto performances in Lithuania. He has won prizes in numerous piano competitions, including the Moray International Piano Competition, Jock Holden Memorial Prize, International Violin and Piano competition in Singapore, and many others. |
| Marco Marconi – Jazz Piano Marco Marconi is an award-winning, accomplished, classically-trained jazz pianist, arranger and composer as well as a teacher with more than 25 years teaching experience. Marco grew up in Umbria, Italy, and made a life changing decision to move permanently to the UK in 2012 to pursue his musical career. His skill as a composer is so naturally distinctive and seemingly effortless that he’s earned a reputation as a class act on the British jazz festival circuit, the Fazioli Concert Hall in Venice and the buzzing London jazz scene. As a teacher he regularly prepares students both for ABRSM and TRINITY exams. Marco is also a visiting Professor running lessons, courses and masterclasses at Benslow Music in Hitchin, Durham University and Bedford School. |
| Stephen Meakins - Piano Stephen Meakins is a graduate of the Royal College of Music. A keen collaborator, he is in great demand as a chamber musician and has performed in major concert venues as both soloist and accompanist. Born in Northampton, his formative musical education began as Organ Scholar at All Saints’ Church, Northampton. Subsequently, Stephen held the Scholarship at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, Australia. Whilst at the RCM he was awarded the accompanist prize in the Kathleen Ferrier Competition for Young Singers and was also a prize winner in the prestigious Schumann Competition. In his final year, Stephen was invited to represent the college at Wigmore Hall and upon graduation was offered a teaching post at the Royal College of Music Junior Department. Stephen also teaches at Kimbolton School and accompanies at Benslow Music Trust. |
| Marina Nadiradze – Piano Marina Nadiradze studied at the State Conservatoire in Tbilisi, Georgia, where her teachers included Veka Svanidze and Tengiz Amirejibi. She has won a number of international awards including 1st Prize in the highly prestigious LASMO Staffa Award in 2000 and 2nd Prize and the Lawrence Glover Silver Medal at the Scottish International Piano Competition in 2001. She went on to postgraduate study at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Since then, she has gone on to pursue her flourishing solo career in many countries of the world, including recent outstanding performances in France, Austria, Korea and Switzerland. |
| David Williams - Piano After a school education in the Netherlands David Williams read German and Music at the University of Southampton. After a further year working for a Certificate in Education he started his career teaching languages at Bournemouth School. In 1974 he moved to Bedford where he taught at Bedford High School for girls until 2008. As Director of Music of the Junior School he had a special interest in choir training, competing in national choir festivals and recording regularly for the BBC radio for schools programmes. He organized senior choir trips to Berlin, the Rhineland and Bratislava. He is much in demand as a piano accompanist and organist. |
| Natalia Williams-Wandoch - Piano Natalia Williams-Wandoch performs as a soloist and chamber musician and has developed a wide and versatile repertoire with strong emphases on Romantic, Impressionist and contemporary music. Her critically acclaimed debut album, released in 2019, contains première recordings of solo piano music by Sir Arnold Bax. She started performing at the age of 8, played as a soloist with orchestra for the first time at 11, gave her first full-length solo recital at 14, and performed the complete Op. 10 Etudes by Chopin in the composer’s house whilst still a student. She studied in music-specialising schools and completed her Master of Music degree with first class honours. Numerous prizes include winning every piano competition she entered at the Royal Academy of Music, London, where she was a student of Vanessa Latarche. She later studied with Thalia Myers. Natalia teaches piano at Bedford School, Saint John’s College School in Cambridge and deputises for piano and chamber music professors at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music in London. |
Voice
| Keith Roberts – Head of Choral Music Keith Roberts was a chorister at Westminster Cathedral and a choral scholar at King's College Cambridge, after which he spent a number of years as a singer and choral conductor in London, appearing with Polyphony and Exaudi and as a lay clerk at the Temple Church, as well as solo, choral and consort work. He conducted chamber choirs, close harmony groups, a male voice choir, a choral society and a female jazz choir. He is also a published composer and arranger, having written music for the BBC Singers, the King's Singers, Westminster Abbey Choir and many others. He is an experienced youth choral director and singing teacher. |
| Simon Berridge Simon Berridge studied Music at Trinity College Cambridge where he was also awarded a choral scholarship. Subsequently he received his PGCE in Music from The Institute of Education, London University. He then completed Post Graduate Studies in Singing at The Royal College of Music. Whilst studying there he was a Lay Clerk at St. Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle. He then went on to be a member of the BBC Singers. For over 25 years he has been a Member of The Sixteen and has also sung and recorded with many other world renouned choral ensembles. He has been teaching Singing for over 25 years and was Head of Singing for Hertfordshire Music Service and Assistant Head of Service for Milton Keynes Music Service. He has taught at numerous schools including Haileybury College and at Warwick University. |
| Carol Lesley-Green Carol Lesley-Green was educated at Dame Alice Harpur School, then gained a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. Carol has performed as soprano soloist in most major concert venues and with many opera companies including Welsh National Opera, The Royal Opera House, Munich State Opera, Glyndebourne Opera and in London’s West End. Carol was a founder member of Bedfordshire Youth Opera and Youth Choir, founder/director of Whizz Kids Music Workshop Company and founder/director of Heart of England Opera, incorporating ‘WorkshOpera,’ for 17 years. Carol was previously Head of Music at both Milton Keynes Preparatory and Broughton Manor Preparatory Schools. |
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
| Edward Hubbard – Music Technology Edward studied Music Production and Sound Engineering at Point Blank Music School, where he graduated with First-Class Honours. During the programme, he researched and wrote extensively on various topics, including Sound Design, Electronic Performance, Post- Production Audio, the Music Industry, Art of Mixing and Mastering. Before his studies, Edward spent formative years as a DJ and Event Organiser. Securing residencies across European resorts, Edward has first-hand experience of how the dance music industry operates combined with thousands of hours in electronic music performance. Edward is excited and inspired to teach Music Technology at Bedford School as he believes the subject can empower anyone in artistic pursuits. |