GREENWICH MUSIC SCHOOL - Key Persons
Benjamin Rous studied composition, piano and conducting at the Royal College of Music and at King's College, London. He enjoys a varied life of music making: as a composer and arranger for soloists and ensembles, for orchestra and singer-songwriter; as a conductor of symphonies and oratorios, musicals and in the studio; as a solo pianist and as an accompanist. Ben also studied Javanese Gamelan music and this has taken him to perform in concerts and festivals in France, Germany and the UK, including at Glastonbury.
Ben is passionate about music education. He has taught in secondary schools as a class music teacher as well as an instrumental teacher, has given classes for the Wigmore Hall and Goldsmiths College in London and for several years was Director of Music at the Blackheath Conservatoire. He is currently Assistant Director of Music Roedean School and conductor of the Kent Youth Choir.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Chartered Accountant With Both
Claudia is a chartered accountant with both ACA and ACCA qualifications. She is currently a senior associate in J.P. Morgan, a leading American investment bank. Claudia is a graduate of Warwick Business School and has worked in big four accounting firms, corporates across Shanghai, Cambridge and London.
Claudia is also a Chinese flute player since young. Previously she performed in multiple charity events back in her hometown in China, and with Warwick Chinese Orchestra over various concerts in the UK. Claudia believes in the positive impact of music and she is excited to help Greenwich Music School prosper.
Job Titles:
- Early Years and Musicianship Lead Fiona Is Passionate about Music Education and about Bringing Joy to Others through Music
Early Years and Musicianship Lead Fiona is passionate about music education and about bringing joy to others through music
Lucy is a chamber and orchestral flautist and flute teacher based in the Bristol area with over ten years instrumental teaching experience.
After graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2007 Lucy went on to record solo flute music for radio, television and London stage productions. Lucy is a keen collaborator and endeavours to work with other performers to produce educational music workshops for children. Lucy enjoys ensemble work with the Belgrave Trio and the Delphi Duo and works with orchestras in the South West of England.
Lucy's interest in pedagogy began in 2009 when she was awarded a place on the Teacher's International Development Scheme, which enabled her to go to America to study teaching methods. In 2016 Lucy graduated with a first class Masters in Instrumental Teaching from the University of Reading. Lucy is a dedicated instrumental teacher giving individual flute lessons, delivering whole class primary school music lessons and running numerous flute choirs.
Job Titles:
- Teacher
- Co - Founder of Diphonon Duo
Michael is co-founder of Diphonon Duo (Viola-Accordion) along with the Spanish accordionist Iñigo Mikeleiz Berrade. They have appeared in many venues in England and abroad such as Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Royal Academy of Music, St James Piccadilly, Colston Hall (Bristol). A number of composers have written pieces for Diphonon Duo as it is an unusual and challenging combination of instruments.
Michael is an enthusiastic and experienced violin and viola teacher for all ages and levels working for several years in music schools, primary schools and music services in the UK and Greece. His teaching philosophy is that knowledge should be given to the student in an interesting and creative way as he considers important that someone should love the subject he is learning and enjoy it throughout the whole process. In this way learning becomes much easier and effective. He includes in his lessons a lot of activities training the student in various aspects giving a well-rounded musical education.
Rachel has been employed in stockbroking since 1984. She has worked in the UK, Thailand, and Hong Kong for a number of global financial institutions. Rachel is currently the CEO of the European marketing division of Dragon Capital, the largest private investor in the Vietnam stock market. She has extensive experience as a director of a number of companies.
Rachel is a mother of two musicians; one has obtained Grade 8 distinction in trumpet, piano, and organ; the other is lapsed pianist and preparing for Grade 6 trumpet. She is very experienced in supporting young musicians, especially with their practice. Her own musical interests are in singing and she is an active member of the Monkton Combe Choral Society.
Rachel is a graduate of Cambridge University, a Chartered member of Securities Institute, and as a believer in lifelong learning recently sat her Statistics GCSE.
Sam is a lawyer at Starling Bank (a challenger bank start up), where he is responsible for managing the day-to-day legal affairs of the company. He previously studied History & Russian, before going on to study law at post-graduate level. Sam has lived in South East London since the mid-2000s. He enjoys playing the piano and is particularly excited to see Greenwich Music School develop and increase access to high quality music education for adults and children in Greenwich and the surrounding areas.