ST MARY'S MUSIC SCHOOL TRUST - Key Persons
Adrian started musical life as a cathedral chorister and lay clerk, picked up piano, double bass, tuba, photography, caving and long distance motorcycling along the way, read theology, and farmed. Two years were spent at the Royal College of Music where he studied with Adrian Beers and Rodney Slatford.
He freelanced in London and was choirmaster at St Giles Cripplegate before joining the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. He is involved in teaching, youth orchestra training and music education, and is co-founder of the Scottish Bass Trust.
Qualifications
ARCM Hons, LGSM
Alistair was born in Ayrshire and was educated at St Mary's Music School Edinburgh, Douglas Academy Music School Milngavie and the University of Surrey. After working as a London based trumpet player, he returned to Scotland in 2019 to take up the position of CEO with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
As a player, Alistair held principal positions with both the Philharmonia Orchestra and London Sinfonietta, recorded several hundred film and television soundtracks and performed extensively as a chamber musician and soloist.
As a teacher, he served on the staff of the University of Surrey, The Royal College of Music and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He has given masterclasses in the UK, Europe and the USA. In 2017, Alistair was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Music.
Alistair has served on the boards of both London Sinfonietta and the Philharmonia Orchestra. He has also served multiple terms as Chair of the Philharmonia Orchestra, as well as an extended period as interim Managing Director.
Catherine Bapty is a music teacher for children of all ages and abilities, with extensive training in Kodaly music education and additional support needs teaching. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education (Primary and Secondary, 1 st Class Honours) from the University of Western Australia; and a PG Cert in Inclusive Education (with Distinction) from The University of Edinburgh. Catherine has completed Primary Kodaly Level 1, and Secondary Levels 1 and 2 of the Australian Kodaly certificate, as well as studying at many Kodaly Summer Schools with the Kodaly Institute in Hungary, the British Kodaly Association, and National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS). This training enables Catherine to teach music in a way that is engaging, sequential, and widely varied to suit each class and child. Catherine's use of Kodaly is also enriched by her training in other methods such as Orff (Levels 1, 2, and 3 in Australia); and Dalcroze (classes with Dr. Joan Pope). Catherine's teaching is constantly evolving to suit individual pupils, refine methods, and explore new music through the principles of Kodaly.
Catherine has taught in primary and secondary mainstream and ASN schools in Australia and Scotland, and currently divides her time between online Kodaly teaching for Highland Council primary schools; St Mary's; private ASN music teaching, and caring for a child with complex needs. Catherine is a highly skilled choral and solo classical singer having studied voice at university, and has previously been a member of groups such as the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and Edinburgh Singers. Catherine holds a British Sign Language Level 1 and is conversational in BSL. She regularly expands her knowledge of the intersection of sign and music in NYCoS' signing choir, lead by Paul Whittaker, OBE. She is currently learning Gaelic to support the ethos of Gaelic Medium Education Highland schools, and enjoys the wealth of Gaelic music this is opening up. Catherine's aim is to teach music in a way that is joyful and accessible for all children, and to foster kindness and confidence in her pupils.
Coates Hall is located in the west end of Edinburgh at the junction of Grosvenor Crescent, Lansdowne Crescent and Rosebery Crescent, and is only 10 minutes walk from Princes Street, Edinburgh's principal street. The school is marked by a blue marker in the map below.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Team
- Headteacher
Dr Kenneth Taylor took up his appointment as Headteacher of St Mary's Music School in April 2013, succeeding Jennifer Rimer, who spent 17 years as Headteacher.
Educated at Dulwich College and the University of Edinburgh, Dr Taylor has a strong academic background in university science research and education and for the previous 15 years held teaching and management posts in a wide range of Scottish schools. He combines his enthusiasm for the education of children with his love of music and is a keen singer and instrumentalist, playing the viola, piano and organ.
Qualifications
BSc Hons, PhD, PGCE, PG Dip
Role
Headteacher
Job Titles:
- Organist and Master of the Music
Duncan Ferguson is the Organist and Master of the Music at St Mary's Cathedral, Scotland's only choral foundation with a tradition of daily services. Duncan's recordings with the cathedral choir have gained critical acclaim, including three Gramophone Editors' Choice and a Gramophone Recommendation. Prior to moving to St Mary's he was the Organ Scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford and St Paul's Cathedral, London. As an organist and choirmaster he has toured widely and worked with a number of orchestras and ensembles.
After studying law at Edinburgh University, Fiona started her legal career at McGrigor Donald and then joined Dickson Minto in 1999, as a partner and head of the firm's intellectual property team. Fiona retired from Dickson Minto in April 2020.
Throughout Fiona's life, music, and in particular singing, has been very important to her. At various times, she has been a member of, and sung with, the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, the RSNO chorus, the SCO chorus and numerous small singing groups.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Team
- Depute Headteacher
Job Titles:
- Honorary Vice - President
Job Titles:
- Senior Staff Member
- Head of Guidance
Imogen Morgan is the Assistant Master of the Music at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh. Between 2017-2020, Imogen was the Senior Organ Scholar of Durham Cathedral and University College, Durham; the latter with whom she recorded Duruflé's Requiem for their album ‘In Memoriam', released on the Priory Records label in July 2020. Imogen read Music as an undergraduate at Durham University, where she specialised in solo organ performance and music psychology. She graduated in January 2021 with First Class Honours and had two papers published in the University's Music and Science Journal. Prior to her appointment in Edinburgh, Imogen spent a year as the Organ Scholar of Peterborough Cathedral. She is a prizewinning Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and was a finalist in the 2020 Northern Ireland International Organ Competition.
Imogen is an experienced solo recitalist and has performed in numerous cathedrals nationally and internationally. In 2022, she gave a recital in St Paul's Cathedral as part of the UK premiere of William Whitehead's completed Orgelbüchlein Project; performing Chorales by eight leading contemporary composers (including Cecilia MacDowall and Gabriel Jackson), composed to finish Bach's incomplete set.
Imogen gained formative musical training as a chorister at Ripon Cathedral where she began her organ studies with Edmund Aldhouse. She was subsequently appointed Senior Organ Scholar at St Catherine's School, Bramley where she was mentored by Jennifer Bate. In 2022, Imogen was appointed co-chair of the Cathedral Music Trust's ‘Future Leaders Group', which aims to "bring fresh insight into supporting choral and organ music across the UK and further afield."
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive of Nevis Ensemble
Jamie Munn is the Founder Chief Executive of Nevis Ensemble, having previously been General Manager for Live Music Now Scotland. Before returning to Scotland to work for LMNS he spent 10 years working for music organisations in Berlin, Nairobi, Mumbai, Dubai and Hong Kong. As well as St Mary's Music School, Jamie sits on the Boards of Drake Music Scotland and SoundWaves - Mendelssohn on Mull.
Jamie attended Edinburgh Napier University, studying with Scottish virtuoso guitarist Simon Thacker where he graduated with First Class Honours. Jamie then undertook postgraduate study with Craig Ogden and Gordon Crosskey for his Masters degree at the Royal Northern College of Music. Jamie is an established teacher with over ten years' experience. He currently teaches at St Mary's Music School, George Watson's College and George Heriot's School.
Qualifications
BMus Hons, MMus
With over twenty years' experience in private equity and law, Janine is a dual qualified lawyer and has worked in Singapore, London, New York, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In addition to St Mary's Music School, Janine sits on the boards of the Benedetti Foundation and Smart Works Scotland.
Janine's interest in music stems from playing the piano and violin and studying at Chetham's School of Music. In her free time Janine DJs and is a two-time Scottish Masters Olympic weightlifting champion.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Team
- Bursar & Company Secretary
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Team
- Director of Music and Head of Keyboard
Job Titles:
- Owner / Director of Witherbys Publishing Group
Kat is Owner/Director of Witherbys Publishing Group and is a former parent of an instrumental pupil. She is a trustee of the WPG Charitable Trust and sits on the Boards of the RSNO and the Scottish Maritime Cluster. Kat has been Chair of the Board since 2021.
Job Titles:
- Senior Staff Member
- Head of Voice and
Kate joined St Mary's Music School in August 2022 as Music Department Manager. Having graduated from both the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy Music, Kate has spent the last 7 years working as a professional opera singer. After completing her formal education, Kate went on to become a member of Studio Opera de Lyon, France, where she discovered a love for French repertoire and learnt to speak the language fluently. She is also a Samling Artist.
As a viola player, Kathy worked with professional orchestras in London and then in Australia. Her Quartet regularly performs around the country and provides weekly workshops in wide-spread primary schools, funded by Youth Music Initiative. She is also busy with teaching and coaching in Fife schools. Bringing this wide performing experience with her, Kathy has been teaching recorder at SMC for over 10 years.
Qualifications
BMus Hons, PG Dip, Masters (Chamber Music)
American soprano Kirby Kelman (née Hall) made her operatic debut at the inaugural Castleton Festival in 2009 under the direction of Maestro Lorin Maazel, where her portrayal of Flora in Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw drew attention to her "colourful, secure singing." Since moving to the UK, she has enjoyed a varied career, performing in prestigious venues throughout the country, including the Sheldonian in Oxford and the Foundling Museum in London. Her most recent appearance was in London's new music festival, tête à tête where she premiered Alexis Bennett's The Electrictionary. Ms Kelman is also committed to bringing music to wider audiences. She is active in outreach and education work and enjoys sharing her experience as a performer through her private teaching practice.
Lucy recently left her home town of Gloucester to study Music at the University of Edinburgh, and is enjoying my first year in the city. Prior to moving here, she was a large part of the music community in Gloucester, having organised charity concerts involving local young musicians and organising rehearsals, concerts and varying important events for my school and its music department.
Lucy is training as a classical singer, and has a great deal of experience in performing both classical and musical theatre pieces. She is passionate about music, in particular musical theatre, and would one day like to compose for the stage and screen, a path she has already started to follow after writing her own short musical during her final year of school.
Margaret is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, having previously sung and toured with Scottish Opera. She taught undergraduates, postgraduates and opera students at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for a number of years. Freelance singing involved recitals, early opera groups, many Choral societies and ensembles throughout the UK, in particular, The Caledonian Trio. Margaret works as examiner and adjudicator, has mentored for the CTT course, ABRSM, teaches on the Mentor panel, and is now the Training Director for the Association of Teachers of Singing, UK, She is a member of the British Voice Association, teaches at the NYCOS residential course for girls and has a busy private and University singing practice.
Qualifications
MA, FLCM, ARCM
Rob Hall studied music at Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music on the joint course prioritising composition and clarinet, and later, saxophone. Gaining a degree and two diplomas, along with numerous composition and performance awards, he then won a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music USA.
Performances and recordings in a wide range of settings have included Kenny Wheeler, Jim Mullen, Simon Thoumire Orchestra, Graham Kendrick, Manchester Camerata and BBCSSO. He has appeared at many international festivals from Prague Autumn, Atina Jazz (Italy) and BBC Proms to Glastonbury Jazz Stage.
As leader/co-leader he has released nine albums of original and improvised music for the British contemporary music label FMR, also the main recording outlet for a longstanding partnership with pianist and composer Chick Lyall. He regularly undertakes session work as a multi-reedist.
Rob has built a diverse catalogue as a composer with many commissions, writing for choirs, chamber and jazz orchestras solo works, small groups, and multi-media work. He is published by Spartan Press, Brasswind & ABRSM Publishing.
As an educator at St Mary's Music School he draws on three decades of experience teaching at specialist music institutes such as Berklee College of Music, Watford School of Music and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and examining for ABRSM worldwide.
Job Titles:
- Artistic Director
- Senior Staff Member
Tsvetelina Likova is a UK based harpist with a wide range of creativity involved in her performances and compositions for the harp. Originally from Bulgaria, she has performed internationally from the United Arab Emirates, through Europe to the United Kingdom (where she is currently based) at venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, Symphony Hall and Town Hall in Birmingham, The Ritz Carlton Hotel in Dubai, National Palace of Culture Sofia, Bulgaria Hall, Thessaloniki Concert Hall in Greece and many more. She has done numerous concerts as a soloist, chamber and orchestra performer with professional, semi-professional and youth orchestras such as Classic FM Sofia, Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of Russe Opera House, Birmingham Philharmonic, Worcester Philharmonic Orchestra, Dubai Chamber Orchestra, Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra, and others.
Job Titles:
- Senior Staff Member
- Head of Strings
Job Titles:
- Senior Staff Member
- Artistic Advisor
Job Titles:
- Senior Staff Member
- Head of Primary