CHILTERN MUSIC ACADEMY - Key Persons
Alastair Penman (BA (Cantab), MEng, MMus, CertGSMD, MISM) read Engineering at Cambridge before getting a Masters at the RNCM on saxophone. He is Professor of Saxophone at the Guildhall School of Music and performs as a soloist and in ensembles alongside his work as a composer and educator. A number of Alastair's compositions appear on the ABRSM and Trinity Saxophone Syllabus.
Job Titles:
- Recorder Enemble, Junior Recorders, Viola
In her youth, Alex benefitted from local music education and she still takes an active part in local music making, being a member of Wycombe Sinfonia and Wycombe Chamber Choir, and a recorder teacher in schools. She is mother to four musical children, and, although having no tiger DNA, would fight tooth and nail for their opportunities. Cutting her teeth in the pharmaceutical industry, Alex now devotes her time to her flourishing children and to supporting worthwhile organisations in the area. She puts CMA at the top of that list, and is a passionate ambassador of this burgeoning community creation.
Alex King (BSc Hons) studied Chemistry at the University of Durham. After a career in the Pharmaceutical industry, she taught recorder in local schools while bringing up four musical children. A founder of CMA, Alex is a viola player and singer, but passionately believes in the value of recorder ensemble playing in the development of musicianship. She arranges much of the music played by her ensembles especially for the developing talents of the individual students.
Ali Ponsford-Hill (MA (Cantab)) studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and works as a professional soprano for groups such as The Monteverdi Choir, Polyphony and Eric Whitacre Singers. She performs regularly on film soundtracks with London Voices. As a soloist Ali recorded ‘Sine Nomine' by Howells which was nominated for a Gramaphone Award. Ali teaches at Eton College and University College Oxford and lives with her husband and two children in High Wycombe.
Job Titles:
- Recorder Racers, Cello, Clarinet, Saxophone, Piano
Alice Hunter (MMus) is a freelance musician who studied clarinet and saxophone at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, cello and composition at the University of Surrey and gained a Masters in composition from The Royal Academy of Music. Alice is also experienced in conducting professional, youth and amateur orchestras and wind bands.
Alice Martin (BMUS) is a musician and educator, currently working at the Royal Grammar School, following her Music degree at the University of Birmingham. She is a freelance Soprano, a section leader in the National Youth Choir of GB, and volunteers as a vocal workshop leader for those with SEND. She is in the 23/24 cohort of Genesis 16 and this year has joined the Benedetti Foundation as a Creative Learning Ambassador.
Amir's love for music started as a child when he received formal training for Indian semi-classical music and ghazals. He enjoys singing at private musical sittings and recitals. He has two children currently learning music at CMA. A medical doctor by training, Amir spent most of his professional life running businesses of leading multinational Pharmaceuticals and Life Science corporations regionally and globally. He is currently involved with global healthcare and international education, and has a successful track record of business turnarounds, start-ups and divestments. Amir enjoys playing cricket and golf, and has a special corner in his heart for fine culinary experiences.
Andrew's career in classical music management, including at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Welsh National Opera, culminated as Director of the BBC Concert Orchestra. He has twice been a Director of the Association of British Orchestras and is now on the board of EM Records. Growing up in South Wales, Andrew received free instrumental tuition and played French Horn in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. He has lived in South Bucks since 1997 and is determined to ensure that local youngsters can access excellent musical opportunities. In his spare time Andrew plays for Little Missenden Misfits and Buckinghamshire County Over 60s cricket teams, attends many concerts and enjoys any excuse to study a map.
Andy Rogers (BMus) went through the Wycombe music scene as a young tuba player before studying music at Huddersfield University where he developed his talents in composition and arranging. He was Principal of CMA from 2015-2020, and has a distinguished conducting record with the CMA Concert Band, winning 5 Platinum Awards at the NCBF. He now runs Musica Europa, a music tour travel company.
Anne-Marie Munoz is a hugely experienced music teacher, having been Head of Music at Cardinal Wiseman School, Wycombe High and is now part-time at Beaconsfield High. She trained at Birmingham University, and is primarily a flautist.
Anne-Marie is a parent of two music-loving children and has lived in the High Wycombe area for almost 30 years. She is the Managing Director of a Strategy Management Consultancy, and specialises in helping people in organisations to change. In being one of the Chiltern Music Academy's first trustees, she commented that she is "Really looking forward to helping create a new musical community in the Chilterns. Over the last ten years I have seen the benefits for so many young people of playing and singing in high quality groups led by the kind of inspirational teachers we will have at the CMA. Kids who play music just seem happier somehow!"
Bob Evans (MA (Oxon), M Phil, ARCM) is a freelance horn player and a highly experienced teacher of all levels. He has played with groups as diverse as the Academy of Ancient Music and the Halle Orchestra. He has published a chapter in the Cambridge Companion to Brass Instruments entitled ‘The Post Classical Horn'.
After training at the Royal Academy of Music, Caroline Maguire (LARM) enjoyed a freelance career, playing with Glyndebourne Opera, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. In recent years she has come to be regarded one of the top double bass teachers in the Home Counties, teaching at Haberdasher's Boys, RGS and North London Collegiate School.
Chris I'Anson (BMus Hons, LRSM, LTCL, LLCM, LLCM(TD), CTABRSM) was a freelance percussionist and percussion teacher in Scotland for a number of years before joining the Royal Air Force in 2003. He then spent 10 years as a percussionist in the Central Band of the RAF performing throughout the UK and around the world. In 2013, he was commissioned as a Director of Music in the RAF, a position he still holds today.
Christine Rice MBE was born and educated in Manchester and read physics at Balliol College, Oxford before entering the Royal Northern College of Music to study with Robert Alderson.
At the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden her many roles have included the title role in Carmen, Giulietta Les Contes d'Hoffman, Concepcion L'Heure Espagnol, Emilia Otello, the title role in The Rape of Lucretia, Sonyetka Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Judith Duke Bluebeard's Castle, Hansel and Maddalena Rigoletto; andtwo world premieres: Ariadne in Birtwistle's The Minotaur and Miranda in Ades' The Tempest. For English National Opera she has sung Nero Agrippina, Olga Eugene Onegin, Arsace Partenope, Rosina Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Zenobia Radamisto, Marguerite The Damnation of Faust, Nicklausse The Tales of Hoffmann and Dorabella Cosi fan tutte and for De Vlaamse Opera the title roles in Ariodante and Rinaldo. She has appeared at the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich as Ariodante, Rinaldo and Dorabella; at the Teatro Real Madrid as Hermia; at Seattle Opera as Dorabella; at Frankfurt Opera and Teatro Real Madrid as Penelope Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria; in Paris at the Opéra Comique; in Luxembourg as Béatrice; as Diana in La Calisto in Geneva; as Rosina for Welsh National Opera and as Carmen for the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
Christine's concert appearances include Elgar's Sea Pictures and Debussy's La Damouiselle Elue with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; Wagner's Das Rheingold with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Sir Simon Rattle; The Dream of Gerontius with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra under Edward Gardner and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; La Mort de Cleopatre with the RAI Orchestra in Turin; Des Knaben Wunderhorn at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo; the St Matthew Passion at the St Denis Festival with John Nelson, Britten's Spring Symphony and Handel's Judas Maccabeus at the BBC Proms; the world premiere of Harbison's Closer to my own Life with the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Verdi's Requiem with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Yannick Nézet-Séguin, both at New York's Carnegie Hall. She sang Annio in La Clemenza di Tito at the Edinburgh Festival under Sir Charles Mackerras, which was recorded for Deutsche Grammophon.
For the BBC she has recorded De Falla's El Amor Brujo, Elgar's Sea Pictures, Berlioz's Les Nuits d'été and an English song recital and Wolf's Spanisches Liederbuch with Iain Burnside. Christine has also recorded an EMI: a debut recital disc with Roger Vignoles and and Respighi's Il Tramonto with Antonio Pappano.
Crispian Steele-Perkins is a trumpet soloist who is world-renowned for the quality of his performances and wide-ranging musical experience. On graduating from the Guildhall School of Music, Crispian spent his early career playing with the English National Opera and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He then spent 15 years working in recording, TV and film studios, developing a body of work which is universally recognizable today, from Handel to James Bond themes and pop classics.
His interest in collecting and restoring antique trumpets led him to begin performing on them - you may have heard Crispian's playing introducing the BBC's ‘The Antiques Roadshow'. His unique performances and recordings on genuine historic instruments led Continuo Magazine to describe him as ‘the world's leading player of the Baroque trumpet'.
Playing alongside some of the world's greatest singers, Crispian's purity of tone and artistic subtlety has received critical acclaim for more than three decades. Recordings of Handel's ‘Let the Bright Seraphim' with Dame Kiri te Kanawa and ‘Eternal source of Light Divine' with James Bowman are familiar to many. More recently his recordings and performances with Emma Kirkby, Lynne Dawson, Carolyn Sampson, Bryn Terfel, Sir John Tomlinson, Elin Manahan-Thomas and Lesley Garrett have firmly established his reputation. His work in the studios has included more than 80 film, TV scores and commercials, appearing alongside Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Bob Geldof, Sir Harry Secombe, Kate Bush, Elaine Page, Chris Rhea, Lulu and as Lead Trumpet for Led Zeppelin ! His many Solo recordings extend from Purcell to Glenn Miller and his largest "live" audience was 133,000 at the Edinburgh International Festival.
Eleanor Walton (BMus Hons, LRAM) trained in viola performance at the Royal Academy of Music and is currently studying for a Masters at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Alongside her studies Eleanor is developing a freelance portfolio career in performance and teaching. She is qualified as a Suzuki teacher and teaches as part of the Suzuki in Schools Initiative in Islington, as well as CMA.
Elen is a music graduate and post-graduate of RNCM, studying voice. She has 25 years' experience as a professional singer and actress (Olivier Award winner) having appeared regularly on Welsh television and in West End theatre. Elen has enjoyed a 10-year tenure as Principal of a music school for young children and is a singing teacher of both children and adults. She is passionate about the power of music to gain confidence and the importance of musical opportunities to grow and to develop. When you make a friend of music, you have a friend for life.
Georgina Harkcom (BA, QTS, PGCE) is a full-time class teacher at St. Paul's, Wooburn Green, and has spent her life playing cornet , having come from a brass-playing family. For the last 9 years, she has led the local Salvation Army Community Choir, and Youth Chorus.
Hannah I'Anson (BMus Hons, PGA, LRSM, LTCL, LLCM) joined RAF Music Services as a Bassoonist on completion of her postgraduate studies at Trinity College of Music. Extensive experience there as a multi-instrumentalist, arranger, conductor and trainer, are all skills she now brings to CMA. She recently completed her Level 1 Suzuki Violin Teacher Training to further develop her passion for music education.
Helen Turnbull (BMus Hons RCM) trained at the Royal College of Music on oboe. After a period with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra she settled in the Wycombe area to raise a family, but is highly regarded as a teacher and as a maker of high quality reeds! She has more recently brought her passion for young people's musical education into the classroom at Holy Trinity School, Marlow - lucky them!
Hilary was involved in primary education for over 30 years. She is mother of three girls who all benefitted from the excellent music provision in the Wycombe area. Although they have gone on to do different things, enjoyment of and participation in music continues to be an important part of all their lives. As both parent and teacher, Hilary has seen the many benefits musical activities bring to children of all ages and abilities in terms of their academic, social and emotional development. She is delighted to be part of the exciting and vibrant community of CMA and will work hard to support the staff and students to maximize opportunities for all.
Jeremy Foster (BMus, MMus, PG Diploma) studied Oboe at the University of Manchester and Trinity College of Music. He has performed throughout the UK and Europe with orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic and the English Symphony Orchestra. Jeremy teaches and coaches individuals and ensembles throughout the south east as well as sitting on audition and competition panels.
Jo is passionate about helping children enjoy music, after spending her youth playing clarinet, oboe and saxophone with the Shropshire County School of Music and as many local bands and orchestras as her long-suffering parents could shuttle to. She has two musical sons with the youngest an enthusiastic member of CMA, and a less musical springer spaniel. Jo chairs the board of a cancer diagnostics company and is a director and adviser to life sciences companies, investors and government medical innovation funding panels. Jo is also a primary school governor and enjoys an occasional trail run and bike ride.
John Davie (MA, FTCL, LRAM, ARCM, LLCM(TD), ALCM) was working at the Royal Air Force School of Music when in 1969 he started up the first High Wycombe Music Centre Concert Band. He conducted this with distinction for many years, and in November 1975 his band opened the first ever Schools Proms. John has also worked tirelessly for the Salvation Army bands and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Classic FM Teachers awards in 2019. He still helps out the junior bands for Chiltern Music Academy on clarinet and sax.
After an early career in the corporate world, Jonathan Lewin (MISM) turned his skills as a percussionst into his livelihood, and developed a second career in the local music scene, in schools and music centres in the area. He is well-known in the local orchestral scene, rarely seen without a few mallets!
Jonathan Veira has sung on the operatic stage for 30 years and taken leading roles in over 20 international houses. Beginning with Wexford Opera and the Glyndebourne Festival Opera he has gone on to perform at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, English National Opera, Scottish Opera and Welsh National Opera. Internationally he has performed at the national houses in Zurich, Geneva, Copenhagen, Oslo, Leipzig, Stockholm, Lyons, Aix-en-Provence, Auckland as well as in New York, Amsterdam & Singapore.
He is renowned for his performances as Falstaff (Falstaff), Don Pasquale (Don Pasquale), Leporello (Don Giovanni), Dr. Bartolo (Le Nozze di Figaro and Il Barbiere di Silviglia), Papageno (Magic Flute), Don Magnifico (La Cenerentola), Don Alfonso (Cosi fan Tutte) Mustafa (L'Italiana in Algeri), Fra Melitone (La Forze del Destino), Dulcamara (L'Elisir d'Amore), Judge Turpin (Sweeney Todd), Sharpless (Madam Butterfly), Scarpia (Tosca), Harašta (Cunning Little Vixen), Dr Kolenatý (The Makropolous case), Foreman (Jenufa), Kecal (The Bartered Bride), Dikój (Káťa Kabanová), Claggart (Billy Budd), Calchas (La belle Hélène) , The Doctor (Vanessa), Baron Zeta (The Merry Widow) Tonio (Pagliacci), Buonofede (Il Mondo della Luna).
Jonathan has recorded extensively over the years. In recognition of his career & personal achievements he has also received freedom of St Paul de Vence and an honorary masters degree at Chichester University.
A graduate of Leeds College of Music, Julia met her husband Jon when working at Dawkes Music. A certified teacher of the British Suzuki Music Association, she has taught and performed at workshops and summer schools as well as venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, The Royal Albert Hall and St John Smiths Square. Born into a musical family, Julia is passionate about enabling children to experience live music and musical instruments. She launched Concertini family-friendly live music events in 2015, producing over 100 concerts and introducing children to styles of music as diverse as Baroque to Bluegrass. Julia has two children who enjoy the musical opportunities provided by CMA.
Job Titles:
- Business Manager Tim Venvell - Vice Principal Kate Venvell - Outreach Manager Alex King - Development Manager
Kat Forster (Bmus, MA) had a busy career managing projects at Classic FM, and in her "spare" time, started the Watford Piano Festival. She a highly experienced violin teacher of all levels, including small group beginners to diploma and an ABRSM examiner.
Kate Laughton (MA) studied History at Edinburgh, but music education and project management have always been her focus, firstly at Spitalfields Music then English National Opera and latterly Garsington Opera for whom she produced two community operas. For CMA, she leads "Sing and String" in local schools, as well as String Stars on Saturdays.
Kate Venvell (LTCM) trained at Trinity College of Music before training for Primary and Middle School teaching. Her Ravenscote Middle School Choir entry at Music For Youth in the 1980s was possibly the biggest ever ensemble seen at the festival, as over 200 children took ten minutes to come on stage! Her commitment to young people's music education is legendary, and the range of her CMA music parties and projects know no bounds!
Considered one of the leading violists today, Lawrence combines a busy career performing as both soloist and chamber musician. He has recently performed in New York with the Mostly Mozart Orchestra and Joshua Bell, Bergen Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, London Philharmonic, Melbourne Symphony and SWR Symphony. Future performances include performances at the Verbier and Salzburg Festivals Orchestral debuts in the 14/15 season will include the Moscow State Symphony, the Brussels Philharmonic, L'Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona, the Lucerne Symphony and the Adelaide Symphony. Lawrence plays a viola by Antonio Brensi c1610. Lawrence has been appointed International Professor of Viola at the Zurich Hochschule der Kunst. He is also founder and Artistic Director of the West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival http://www.westwycombechambermusic.org.uk/
Lin Marsh trained at Trinity College of Music and London University, later gaining an MA with Distinction in Performance Arts at Middlesex University. She has worked extensively in music education in all sectors and has worked with organisations such as the London Mozart Players, Birmingham Symphony Hall Education, The Royal Opera House Education department, Glyndebourne Education, Opera North and British Youth Music Theatre UK As a voice specialist, Lin works throughout the country and abroad, running courses for teachers on singing, performance and composing skills, and directs many choral events for all key stages as well as adjudicating festivals.
Her songbook series for secondary and primary schools "Songscape" and "Junior Songscape" are published by Faber Music along with many other vocal works. The latest, "Songscape World" for KS2/3 came out in 2023. Lin also works on commissions for young people, composing both choral works and music theatre pieces, and worked for the National Youth Music Theatre as a musical director for many workshops and productions including The Ballad of Salomon Pavey at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. Her piece "The Wild Swans" for the Halle Children's Choir and orchestra was commissioned and performed in Manchester in June 2014 and performed again in 2022
Lin worked as Advisory teacher of Music in Oxfordshire for 10 years and is regularly invited to contribute to National education events such as The National and Scottish Association of Music Educators conferences and organisations such as The Association of British Choral Directors, Schools Music Association, MTA and Youth Music. She has recently been working for the British Council as a World Voice Trainer in Jordan, Lebanon, Cyprus and Ethiopia.
Margot Rusmanis (FTCL) is a highly respected violin teacher who has played with the Royal Opera Orchestra, the BBC Radio Orchestra for 10 years, and guested with the BBC Concert Orchestra. She regularly guest leads orchestras in the South-East, loves chamber music, and is a major part of Davenies' Music Department. On CMA tours she is an authority on wine and curry!
Job Titles:
- Conductor and Pianist Founder and Artistic Director of the Faust Ensemble
Born in London, Mark had lessons in violin and piano from an early age. He played in the National Youth Orchestra, and studied at Cambridge University and Royal Academy of Music, where he received numerous prizes and was appointed a Junior Fellow.
Mark Austin's performances of operatic and orchestral repertoire have been praised for their "eloquent intensity" (Guardian). Recent highlights include ‘Le nozze di Figaro' (Dartington International Festival), ‘Goyescas' (Grange Festival), ‘Tosca' (Musique Cordiale International Festival) and a two-concert Brahms residency with Guy Johnston and Faust Chamber Orchestra at Hatfield House. Mark was assistant conductor for the world première production of Mark-Anthony Turnage's ‘Coraline' (Royal Opera). He works regularly with figures including Vasily Petrenko, Sian Edwards, Marin Alsop, David Parry, David Hill, Steuart Bedford, and the late Sir Colin Davis, and has conducted orchestras including Britten Sinfonia, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of St John's and the Hangzhou Philharmonic, China. Mark was awarded a Bayreuth Festival Young Artist Bursary and recorded the world première of Alex Woolf's ‘NHS Symphony' for BBC Radio 3, which won a Prix Europa. He studies with Sian Edwards and was awarded an International Opera Awards Bursary in 2017.
In 2019 Mark makes his debut at Royal Opera House Linbury Theatre conducting Aurora Orchestra in two performances of ‘The Monstrous Child' by Gavin Higgins and Francesca Simon. He appears in recital at the Luxembourg Philharmonie and works as assistant conductor at Garsington Opera and with the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris.
An accomplished pianist, Mark has performed at venues including Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, St John's Smith Square, Holywell Music Room, Opera Bastille (Paris) and the Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre. He is musical assistant to The Bach Choir and regularly conducts the choir in concert and the recording studio. Mark contributed a chapter on Wagner, Beethoven and Faust to the recently published ‘Music in Goethe's Faust.'
Mary Walton (ALCM, BA, MBBS, MSc, DPhil, PGDip, MMus) made her way through an English degree and medical qualifications before settling on music as her preferred career! She has recently completed a Masters in Baroque cello at Birmingham Conservatoire. Her medical background has led her to study Feldenkrais technique (to help body and mind relax in musical practice) and she is a trained Suzuki teacher! She never stops learning or performing, appearing regularly in a professional baroque ensemble.
Natasha Jashari (BMus Hons RCM) trained at the Royal College of Music, as a viola player and composer. After a spell back back at Chesham Grammar School (her old school) as Director of Music, she is now head of music at the RGS.
Natasha Marsh studied at Birmingham University and the Royal College of Music, and her debut album "Amour" topped the classical charts in 2007. She has performed many roles in opera houses, sung theme tunes for TV, Wembley cup finals and one of her highlights was duetting with Jose Carreras at the Albert Hall. She is finding huge fulfilment now in her passion for teaching.
Nick Cossins (DipABRSM, Bsc Hons) is a full-time Maths teacher at RGS, but also a pianist and bassoonist, having done a Music and Maths degree at Oxford Brookes.
As a professional percussionist in the Royal Air Force, Paul has played in many of the world's top concert halls and arenas, and with the RAF has performed with top orchestras like the RPO and the Philharmonia. He has toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe and recorded numerous CDs and performed live on the BBC and Classic FM. Musical highlights include performances with Cliff Richard, Evelyn Glennie and Michael Ball. Paul has taught in the Buckinghamshire area for over 30 years.
Paul Speed (BMus Hons) trained at Goldsmiths College, London, and has been a greatly sought after principal trumpet in the Bucks/Berks area for many years. He teaches at a number of top schools, including Wellington College and RGS. He is also conductor of two community bands, and has been involved with Brass for Africa since 2013.
Rebecca Heathcote (LGSMD, Bmus, PGCE) graduated from the Guildhall School of Music, and did a PGCE at Reading. She is a highly experineced teacher, and is much in demand as a player and a teacher.
Job Titles:
- Supersonic, Brass, Production, Composition
Coming from a highly musical family, Richard Vanryne was very active in the music department at RGS and Amersham Music Centre as a trumpeter. After a decade in procurement, he has returned to his passion for music full-time, and is now developing a successful career as a freelance music producer, composer, and director, primarily within musical theatre.
Sam grew up in Penn and now lives in Speen with his wife Kate and their four children, all of whom are budding young musicians. As well as his day-job as a barrister, Sam is a semi-professional musician. He conducts the Elysian Singers in London and the Trinity Camerata in Bicester, as well as being a busy local organist. He is delighted to have been present from the birth of CMA, and looks forward to continuing to spread musical excellence to the widest possible number of young people.
Sarah Whibley (MusB Hons, GRNCM, MA) studied bassoon at the Royal Northern College of Music followed by postgraduate studies in Freiburg, Germany. After 10 years as Sub-principal bassoon with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Sarah has played with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, and with many orchestras including London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, and the European Union Chamber Orchestra. Sarah teaches bassoonists from mini bassoon to Conservatoire students.
After experience in the NYO as a trumpeter, and training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Simon devoted his not inconsiderable energies to being a class music teacher, including 25 years at Cox Green, Maidenhead, as an advanced skills teacher. His skills are wide ranging, from Jazz, Rock and Pop to Mahler symphonies. He is know for his enthusiasm and his colourful collection of jackets!
Tessa Shaw is passionate about music education. She took on the role of specialist music teacher after 9 years teaching experience in the primary classroom and has never looked back! As a musician, she is most often seen accompanying at the piano, leading the choir or as a member of the percussion section. Having spent many years volunteering in the CMA groups attended by her two children, she is delighted to now be an official member of the team!
Tim Venvell (MA (Cantab), ARCO) cut his choral teeth at Cambridge, and taught at RGS Guildford and Kingston Grammar before being Director of Music at RGS, High Wycombe, for 26 years. He is a hugely experienced choral director, winning the Youth Choir category of BBC Choir of the Year with RGS Singers Ltd, and has set up choirs wherever he has lived. He has also enjoyed conducting orchestras whenever he has had the opportunity.
Yuriy Soroka studied at the Lviv National Music Academy in Ukraine, and for twenty years was first desk violin in K&K Philharmoniker of the Austrian agency Da Capo, and the Lviv Virtuosos Chamber Orchestra among others roles. He also taught at the Lviv State Music College for twenty years and continues to do so online. He has performed in many of the great European venues.