Meet the team

Eddie is a drummer, improviser and composer based in Leeds. He has a BA(Hons) Jazz from Leeds Conservatoire and an MA Music Psychology from Sheffield University. Having played drums for 15 years and taught drums for almost 10 years, he has a wealth of experience to draw from. He specialises in jazz but has experience playing in a multitude of genres from rock and pop to samba.

He has sold out shows in numerous venues across the UK including The Brudenell Social club, Belgrave, Headrow House, The blues kitchen in Manchester and Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham. He also plays in an originals project called Awen Ensemble who are signed to New Soil Records. With this project he has had the privilege of playing around the UK, they have played at Green Man festival, Kendal Calling, The Vortex in London, the Isle of Iona and at a jazz festival in the Faroe Islands. His original music has been played on Radio 6 Music (Giles Peterson, Jamz Supernova) BBC Radio 2 (Jamie Cullum Jazz show) and BBC Radio 3 (Round Midnight). He has also recorded a live session for Giles Peterson for his show on Worldwide Fm at his studio in London. He brings this experience to the classroom and can apply current knowledge of being a working musician playing original music in the UK to his education.

Alongside teaching and gigging regularly, Eddie is also studying a PhD at Leeds University in music and design, exploring how new music technologies can augment the music creation and listening experiences.

Carl Leighton graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with a First Class Honours degree in the summer of 2022, having studied the piano under the tutelage of renowned performer, Dina Parakhina. In the summer of 2018, Carl’s performance of Saint Saëns’ Second Piano Concerto under Simon Wright was a great success – since then he has had the privilege to perform many other concertos, including Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto and Saint Saëns’ ‘Africa’. He has seen great success in many competitions, both local (East Coast Musician of the Year, Rothwell Competitive Music Festival) and conservatoire-affiliated. Over more recent years, Carl has had the opportunity to perform aboard in Verona, Venice, Bergen, Krakow, and Budapest. While much of his success in competitions has been in accompaniment and chamber music, Carl remains devoted to further study, and performance, of the solo piano repertoire.  

Rachel studied with scholarships to Pembroke College, Oxford and the Royal Northern College of Music, where she was a Junior Fellow in Accompaniment and won many prizes for her collaborative work. Following her performance as a Leeds Lieder Young Artist 2018, Rachel was awarded the Hester Dickson Prize to study at Oxenfoord International Summer School with Malcolm Martineau. Following graduation, Rachel pursued some private study with Julius Drake. Rachel performs regularly across the UK and has been featured on BBC Radio 3. She has a particular interest in song and choral music.

Rachel works for the RNCM School of Vocal Studies and Opera as a collaborative pianist and teaches at Yorkshire Young Musicians, Sheffield Music Academy and on the Rodolfus Choral Courses. She is also passionate about musical outreach, and works regularly for Live Music Now, the Leeds Lieder Festival and SoundUp Arts to bring music to the community. She is in demand as a choral accompanist and works for Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Congleton Choral Society and Prestbury Choral Society. In 2023, Rachel was a prizewinner in the Stella Jockel Memorial Prize for choral composition.

Recent work has included repetiteur work to bring Julia Perry’s music to life as part of vocal tutor Michael Harper’s Arts and Humanities Research Council project, a French song project with Jackdaws Music Education Trust, a children’s opera with Clonter Opera Theatre and concerts at Oxford Lieder Festival and Leeds Lieder Festival. Rachel is also on the working group for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity for Live Music Now.

Sean is a passionate, enthusiastic and highly dedicated musician who loves to share music. His musical life includes teaching the piano, as well as performing recitals as a soloist and accompanist. Through these outlets, Sean is able to fulfil his purpose of guiding and inspiring the musicians of the future.

With great success, Sean has recently completed his higher education at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). He undertook the Bachelor of Music Degree (2019) and the Master of Music Postgraduate Degree (2021), achieving First-Class Honours and Distinction, respectively. On top of this, Sean earnt numerous awards during his studies, most notably, First Prize in the Fergal O’Mahony Piano Competition (2017), and the Clifford Hartley Pedagogy Prize (2021) in recognition of his emerging prowess in teaching.

Without a doubt, Sean’s most meaningful work is found within his teaching practice. During his time at the RNCM, Sean completed the Advanced Pedagogy (2019) and Practical Pedagogy electives (2021), where he discovered his passion for the art of teaching. Sean thrives off engaging, inspiring and helping children to cultivate their skills and enjoyment for music making at the piano.

Originally from York, Sean started to learn the piano when he was 7 years old with Heather Hammond. Two years later, he auditioned and was accepted into Yorkshire Young Musicians (YYM). He returned each year until he was 18, studying piano with Svetlana Pinegina and Benjamin Powell. At the RNCM, Sean’s principal piano teacher was Helen Krizos and he is very grateful for her wisdom and unwavering support throughout his time at the College. Also, Sean had many insightful and inspiring piano lessons with various internationally acclaimed pianists, including Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Kathryn Stott, Philippe Cassard, Paolo Giacometti, Bernard D’ascoli and Stephen Hough.

Sean is a reflective individual who is extremely grateful for all the people who supported and who continue to support him on his musical journey.

Hailing from Edinburgh, Leila began learning the flute at the age of ten. Nurtured by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland junior department and later the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra, she developed a passion for performing from a young age. A graduate of the RCS, Leila gained her Bachelor of Music degree under the tutelage of Katherine Bryan. In 2017, she won the Edinburgh Competition Festival concerto prize and was awarded the Colin MacLean Bursary Award to further her studies.

Leila went on to graduate with Distinction from the Master of Music program at the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied with Kevin Gowland and Laura Jellicoe. Highlights of her time at the RNCM include winning the Hallé Professional Enterprise Scheme, performing Mahlers’ Fifth Symphony under the baton of Vassily Sinaisky, and appearing as a soloist with the RNCM New Ensemble to perform ‘Terrestre’ by Kaija Saariaho. At the RNCM she was a founding member of wind quintet Festivo Winds. Festivo won the June Emerson Launchpad Award, the John Fewkes Chamber Prize for winds and were ‘Audience favourite’ at the Christopher Rowland Chamber Ensemble of the Year competition.

Now based in Manchester, Leila enjoys a varied career comprising of performing, outreach and teaching. As an orchestral musician she has performed with many of the top orchestras across the UK. She maintains regular appearances as a chamber musician with recent highlights such as performing Poulenc’s Sextet for Piano and Winds at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and being invited to perform for the Keswick Music Society. With a keen interest in promoting new music Leila has an ongoing collaboration with UnHeard – a collective of composers in Manchester – and is always seeking to commission and perform new music. Passionate about music outreach, this year – with Festivo Winds – Leila joined the roster of musicians at Live Music Now. Teaching plays an integral role in her musical life enjoys passing on her love of music and flute playing through her teaching posts. 

Silvia Lucas is a Spanish pianist and performer, educated up to PhD level at the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, UK), where she was highly commended as a performer in the Gold Medal Weekend (2015). Ever since, she has been a very active performer of new music. As a contemporary pianist Silvia has premiered a large number of piano works, most of them dedicated to her, this includes three piano concertos and over 20 solo works. She has given solo recitals in the United States (Cornell University, New York), Spain, United Kingdom and Germany, amongst others.

As well as a pianist and performer, Silvia enjoys a busy teaching career in various institutions in the North West and is also private piano tutor. She is comfortable teaching a wide range of styles and abilities and tailors her lessons to the individual needs of each student.

Silvia is the artistic director and founder of noisescenes, a concert series which is funded by the Arts Council England, where she features new commissions of electroacoustic music and performance alongside her own performances of older and newer works.

Kathryn has experience teaching harpists across a wide range of ages and abilities, both in a one-to-one setting and in larger scale workshops. Alongside her job as harp tutor at The Grammar School at Leeds and Wakefield Grammar School Foundation she has also worked with RNCM Young Harps, Junior Royal Northern College of Music, and Wakefield Music Services. She finds great joy in nurturing a love for the instrument and growth not just as a harpist but also as a musician.

Graduating with First Class Honours from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, Mollie Wrafter has been fortunate to experience a diverse range of musical opportunities and has shared the joy of teaching with others. Throughout her time at RNCM, she earned recognition for her violin performances, including notable achievements like the Norman George Violin Competition and the Nossek Prize for Chamber Music.

A substantial portion of Mollie’s journey has been dedicated to nurturing and fostering young musical talents, with teaching posts including Aura Music Academy in Manchester, ‘Little Maestros’ for 4-6-year-olds and St. Peter’s High. She finds it truly rewarding to assist students in preparing for exams and exploring a variety of musical genres, ranging from classical to folk and pop. Mollie has been instrumental in establishing the MiSST program at The Radclyffe School, providing violin lessons to over 200 Year 7 and 8 students and inspiring a broad spectrum of young musicians.

Beyond her teaching endeavors, Mollie’s musical journey has taken her to stages across Ireland, the UK, America, and Canada. As part of the Treske Quartet, she has had the privilege of collaborating with emerging composers, contributing significantly to the evolution of the string quartet repertoire. Her musical accomplishments extend to being featured on Manchester Collective’s inaugural album, ‘The Centre is Everywhere’, and earning recognition as one of Golden Plec Magazine’s ‘PlecPicks’ in 2021. Mollie looks forward to her continued growth and learning as she embarks on a new chapter by joining the Hallé Orchestra for the Advanced Orchestral Strings Programme. Mollie embraces these opportunities with eagerness, and her intention is to continue sharing the beauty of music and the joy of learning, while honoring the rich legacy of classical music and embracing the endless prospects for personal and artistic development.

Kimberley is a Soprano from East Yorkshire and attended the Royal Northern College of Music. She graduated with a First Class BMus Honours degree in Performance, followed by a Master’s degree in Performance and then a Postgraduate Diploma in Musical Performance receiving a distinction in both.

Notable solo opportunities include, performing in the Leeds International Concert Season in partnership with Leeds Lieder, singing at the New Music North West festival and at the prestigious Wigmore Hall. Kimberley also sang the role of the ‘Witch’ in Humperdinck’s opera Hansel and Gretel for a concert performance with the Covent Garden Chamber Orchestra.Notable competitions include:- a finalist in both the prestigious Frederic Cox Award and receiving an exceptional additional prize in ‘The Joyce and Michael Kennedy Award for the Singing of Strauss’. Kimberley was also a finalist in the RNCM’S Gold Medal Competition and a semi-finalist in the major vocal competition ‘By Voice Alone’ and‘The Elizabeth Connell Prize for Dramatic Sopranos’singing competition.

Solo oratorio work includes:- the soprano solo in Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Gounod’s St Cecilia Mass, Rossini’s ‘Petite Mess Solennelle’, Elgar’s The Spirit of England and Haydn’s Mass in Time of War.
Kimberley’s RNCM roles include: Anna Maurrant in ‘Street Scene’, Sarah in ‘Company’,The Witch in ‘Hansel and Gretel’ and ‘Lucy’ in the world premiere of ‘The Bar’ by Lente Verelst for Hull Urban Opera Company.

Kimberley actually began her journey with YYM back when she was 16 years old, as a first study singer and is thrilled to be back at YYM now as a teacher. She hopes to use all the skills and experience she has gained as a performer and impart that knowledge to help nurture and grow the next generation of aspiring musicians.

Originally from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, Sam has been living in the Northwest for six years. During this time, he has achieved a first-class degree in Vocal Studies from the Royal Northern College of Music, and a Master of Music in Performance & Vocal Pedagogy from the same institution. He works as a regular singing teacher around the area and has a passion for providing high levels of training to people of all ages. Alongside his teaching, Sam also has a career as a professional opera singer. He has worked regularly with Opera companies in the UK, and in Bergen, Norway. Some highlights include time spent with The Grange Festival including productions of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, Verdi’s Macbeth, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Yeoman of the Guard and Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady. With Bergen National Opera & The Edward Grieg Kor, Britten’s Peter Grimes, Berlioz Requiem and upcoming performances of Delius’ Mass of Life & Mozart’s Magic Flute. During his training at RNCM, Sam performed many roles in the operas, most notably Mr Rushworth in Dove’s Mansfield Park, Mr Pasek & Rooster in Janacek’s Cunning Little Vixen, and a variety of other roles during his time there. Prior to his study as an Opera Singer, Sam trained as a choral scholar at Norwich Cathedral for two years, and prior to that at his home cathedral of St Edmundsbury, where he grew up as a chorister. Sam is delighted to be part of the team at Yorkshire Young Musicians and is looking forward to help grow the next generation of classical musicians.

Matthew began to study the cello at the age of 13 and within 5 years of playing was awarded national prizes by the ABRSM for his high scores. He was subsequently accepted by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2018 as a scholarship student. Matthew is currently studying for a Post Graduate degree at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Matthew is a freelance cellist, who has a wide experience of performing as a solo, orchestral and ensemble musician. After initially studying with Barbara Grunthal in Manchester, Matthew commenced his studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with Ulrich Heinen before studying with Ben Davies and Peggy Nolan. Matthew currently studies with Jennifer Langridge.

As an orchestral player, Matthew has performed with ensembles including the BBC Ariel Orchestra, the London Shostakovich Orchestra and the London Musical Theatre Orchestra. Matthew performs regularly with Nicola Benedetti in The Benedetti Foundation Orchestra.

Matthew is passionate about teaching and currently teaches cello for the Wolverhampton Music Service, The ARCO Project and as a Senior Lead Ambassador for the Benedetti Foundation. Matthew has worked closely with students at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department, conducting ensembles and coaching chamber music. Matthew frequently runs workshops in primary schools for the Cheltenham Festivals Musicate programme. Matthew teaches students from across the globe including Macau, Paris and Johannesburg.

John is an Indian Music specialist who plays both the Tabla drums and the 100 hundred string Santoor. He has trained in India with several Indian music masters including Pt. Yogesh Samsi and Ustad Harjinder Pal Singh. John is based at the University of Sheffield where he teaches Indian Music Performance, and runs an Indian Music Ensemble which features traditional Indian classical music played on western instruments. He is also the lead tabla tutor at South Asian Arts UK (Saa-Uk) in Leeds. John regular performs with both Indian Classical Music and Dance as well as several collaborative, mixed genre projects. He has toured with Balbir Singh Dance Company and Jaivant Patel Dance and most recently he has been an active member of Mishra, a collective combining Indian music and British Folk music, with whom he has toured and recorded two albums.

Gary McKill is an award-winning composer-producer of many genres including all contemporary electric/electronic Pop and Rock forms through to orchestral. His original work has appeared on countless recordings and broadcasts for leading industry names in the UK and across the world; BBC, Sony Music, Sony Playstation, Channel 4, Hammer Films etc.

Teaching includes tutoring and guest lecturing up to university level with specialities in compositional practice (from Classical to Pop-Rock and for cinema), broadcast quality music production and electric guitar. His non-hierarchical approach refers to all music forms with the aim that theory, practice and technology are used for individual development and expression.

Gary was awarded an MA (distinction) from Leeds College of Music.

Rachael trained at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she majored in Academic Studies. She also gained a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Manchester. As well as her work for YYM, she is an examiner for International Baccalaureate and has taught and lectured for the Music departments of Manchester, Salford and Huddersfield Universities. She is a tutor at the Junior RNCM and a clarinettist, pianist and recorder player who performs regularly both as a soloist and orchestral musician.

Tom Harris is a Mancunian pianist, improviser, composer, and educator, most heavily influenced by Black American Music.

Since finishing formal music education in 2018, Tom has developed his practice through collaborative work with artists from across the UK, including Rosie Tee, Marco Woolf, and Nishla Smith. During that time he has also established a handful of longer-term projects – voice/piano duo wilkins/harris, music-driven theatre collective ulita, and CANYON, a multi-media collaboration with drummer Kai Chareunsy, which involves creating new work alongside filmmakers, poets, dancers, and visual artists.

As an educator, Tom is passionate about spreading a love of listening to, engaging with, and playing music. He believes that core musical skills can be taught through any style of music, and that the best results come from following students’ tastes and preferences. He encourages students to ask why they want to play music, and to examine the role of art in society more broadly.

Tom currently teaches piano and improvisation at UCan Studios, and musicianship at Yorkshire Young Musicians.

Sophie studied Music and Arts Education at Bretton hall, Leeds University, graduating in 2003. She has been working in Leeds and the surrounding areas ever since as a singing teacher, performer, choral conductor and music workshop leader. She was part of the initial research project ‘ Musical Futures’ which investigated why musical students did not engage with music at school. She contributed to resources which have now been used internationally and the findings of the project created changes in secondary music education. In her week she has the pleasure of encouraging music making in people from the age of 9 months – 70+, working mainstream students and those with SEND. She leads the Leeds Playhouse singing group, Asmarina Voices, which is for women asylum seekers and refugees, who inspire her to find new ways of teaching and sharing music effectively and enrich her world with their music and experiences.

She discovered Dalcroze Eurhythmics at a teacher training session in 2007 and has never looked back. It’s approach just felt completely logical and instantly connected with her way of thinking. Through her Dalcroze training she has been able to approach music is a variety of ways and continue to advance her own musicianship. She hopes that students find this different way of learning music as exciting as she does.

Rafael Onyett started playing the guitar at the age of 8 in his hometown of Leeds, Yorkshire. His initial studies were on the electric guitar and by the age of the 13 Rafael had performed with a variety of bands in some of Leeds’ most famous venues including The Cockpit, and the 02 Academy. At 13 a change of teacher introduced Rafael to the classical guitar and he spent the next five years honing his skills across a wide range of musical styles on both instruments. At 17 Rafael was a member of the Leeds Youth Jazz & Rock Orchestra. By the age of 18 Rafael had committed himself to the classical guitar having become captivated by its repertoire and the challenges of the instrument.

In 2015 Rafael won a coveted place at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) – Manchester studying  with renowned performer and teacher Craig Ogden. Since studying at RNCM Rafael has performed in a variety of masterclasses with world-class guitarists including Zoran Dukic, Jacob Heringman and Stephen Goss. Rafael is a highly sought after performer in RNCM’s External Concerts and has given many solo performances throughout the UK. In February 2020, Rafael collaborated with Errollyn Wallen (MBE) on her solo guitar composition ‘Red’ prior to debuting it in an RNCM Festival showcasing her music. Rafael’s outstanding debut led to an invitation to perform at the prestigious Wigmore Hall – London in June 2021.

Rafael’s love of chamber music has culminated in numerous ensembles, most notably The Aluna Duo for Flute & Guitar, and Duo Chuva for Two Guitars. Both ensembles perform frequently across the UK, as well as developing highly successful outreach work and pedagogy. The Aluna Duo developed a series of interactive workshops in schools across Boston, Lincolnshire in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Music Service. Throughout lockdown Rafael’s ensembles have remained proactive, including a live concert streamed online from Preston Museum as part of the St Harris concert series. Currently, Duo Chuva are preparing to compete after recently reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious Royal Overseas League competition. Rafael also performs with The Chuva Collective – a larger ensemble collaborating dance and live music.

Rafael is a creative and highly committed guitar teacher with extensive experience teaching children and adults on the guitar. Rafael gained insightful experience into classroom teaching having worked with the One Education Music service as part of his RNCM BMUS degree. Since graduating, Rafael has held numerous peripatetic teaching positions in schools across Greater Manchester and Liverpool, alongside developing a network of private students. This included a position at the Cheadle-Hulme Music Academy as the resident guitar teacher. Most recently, Rafael has been working with the Yorkshire Young Musicians scheme, providing teaching cover at the Leeds Conservatoire.

Recently Rafael was awarded highly coveted Postgraduate Awards from both Help Musicians UK and Drake Calleja Trust. As an award holder, Rafael was invited to perform a solo recital at the Purcell Room – London in March 2021 (which will now take place at a later date). Rafael was also awarded The Ian Spencer Fox Guitar Bursary for further assistance to fund his RNCM Masters’ degree.

Kristin Lien was born in Taiwan in 1978. She undertook her initial studies at the Kuang-Jen Music School as a pupil of Anita Cheung and won numerous prizes and awards for both piano and cello. In 1995 she was awarded a Music scholarship to Durham School and she later became Durham Young Musician after a recital in Green Palace, Durham.

In 1997, she was awarded an entrance scholarship to the Royal Northern College of Music, where she learnt with Carole Presland. During this time, she performed in numerous concerts as both soloist and accompanist, also appearing in Masterclasses with Anne Queffelec, Ronan O’Hora, Martin Roscoe and Renna Kellaway. Kristin was awarded the Gordon Green memorial award and the “Anne Cantelo” Scholarship in 2001.

Between 2002 and 2003, Kristin achieved her Postgraduate Diploma and the Professional Performance Diploma at the RNCM. Since then, she has continued with her professional development training by completing her PGCE and was awarded Certificate of Teaching (CTABRSM) by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in 2012.

As a highly committed teacher, she is now a member of staff at Junior RNCM, Yorkshire Young Musicians, Bowdon Preparatory School and the Bolton School.

Scottish soprano Juliet Montgomery graduated with a BMus(hons), PGDip and MMus from the Royal Northern College of Music.

Since graduating, Juliet has performed with Scottish Opera, Opera North and Opera Holland Park and she was a member of the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company for six seasons.  Juliet was a Young Artist in Buxton Opera’s MacBeth and she joined Glyndebourne for their 2022 autumn/winter tour where she performed in La Boheme and Mozart’s Requiem.  Most recently Juliet performed in Stravinsky’s Les Noces with English National Ballet at Sadler’s Wells in collaboration with Opera Holland Park.

A keen recitalist, Juliet regularly performs with baritone Aidan Edwards. Their concert An Evening of Song enjoys annual showcases at the Edinburgh Festival as well as at several venues throughout Scotland and the north of England.  Other concert highlights include being guest soloist with the Bulava chorus at the Notre Dame in Paris and the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Kiev and singing Mahler’s Rückert Lieder with orchestra at the Howard Assembly Rooms in Leeds.  

Alongside her singing work, Juliet enjoys teaching for Yorkshire Young Musicians, Manchester High School for Girls, The Singing Practice,  Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School and privately.

John is a graduate of Surrey University where he studied piano with Peter Croser and since then has worked solely in music. He has been involved in music education for thirty years and has considerable experience as both a classroom and instrumental teacher. He has worked as a peripatetic piano teacher for Hull Music Service, held the position of keyboard and musicianship tutor with East Riding College and taught Music Tech A level at Wyke College. His current work includes piano tutor at Pocklington School and A level examining for Edexcel.

Throughout this time John has enjoyed a busy performing schedule as a freelance pianist / synthesiser player, and has an artist management contract with The Animal Farm Music (London) for his original compositions.

John also maintains a private studio, teaching classical and jazz piano plus music theory and music technology / recording. John has a diploma in piano performance, and was recently awarded FLCM in Jazz Performance

After graduating from The University of Hull in 2004 with a first class degree in music, Claire’s career has included teaching in a number of private and state schools and, as of 2022, as a flute teacher at The University of Hull. Claire is also a music theory examiner and Arts Award advisor for Trinity College, London and an associate of Eclectic Music, Hull’s new centre for music tuition and performance, where she also teaches music theory.

In 2022 Claire established SolarBeat productions as a way to offer recording, composing and production services from her home studio, and she has since enjoyed working with clients from all over the world on a variety of projects. Having completed a sound therapy practitioner course in early 2024, Claire’s latest venture sees her working with harpist Stephanie Halsey and together they have formed Meridian music & sound which aims to bring sonic experiences to those looking for respite from the hectic pace of modern life. Together, they are looking forward to offering sound baths, immersive musical experiences and workshops demonstrating the wonderful benefits of music & sound, and their debut album Awakening is available now.

MA (Cambridge), MA (Durham), PGCE (Cambridge), Dalcroze Professional Certificate

Alison grew up in West Yorkshire, and studied music at St John’s College, Cambridge and Durham University.  Whilst working as a cello and piano teacher, Alison was struck by the creativity and intuitiveness of the Dalcroze approach to music teaching, which explores music through movement, singing and improvisation.  This led her to study for the Dalcroze Professional Certificate.  Alison is currently studying for an advanced qualification in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, the Dalcroze Licence.

Alison enjoys working with young people of all ages.  She has taught Dalcroze Eurhythmics at YYM since 2010, initially on the Leeds programme, and now at the Hull centre.  She works with primary school teachers for the Voices Foundation, and has previously taught in various settings for Opera North.  Alison’s latest musical adventure is as music teacher for Coram House, the Junior school at Ackworth School, Pontefract.

Bethan Morgan-Williams is a composer whose work explores the evolving dynamics of performer-composer collaboration and the transformative phenomenon of ‘material-drift’— a dynamic process through which musical strands evolve significantly from their initial conceptual state. Described as “marvellously oblique and obscure” (5against4) while being “rooted in something ancient and folky” (The Telegraph), Bethan’s music plays with expectation and variance, fostering co-creative frameworks and investigating the interplay between systems and intuition.

Collaboration is a cornerstone of Bethan’s practice, and she regularly works closely with performers. Her music has been commissioned and performed by esteemed soloists, including Carl Rosman, Antoine Tamestit, Colin Currie, and Ben Goldscheider, and by internationally acclaimed ensembles such as Ensemble Mosaik, Ensemble Musikfabrik, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Riot Ensemble, and Ensemble 10/10, and orchestras including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. Her works have been broadcast on WDR, S4C, BBC Radio 3, Hometown Radio (KY), and Omroep Max.

Bethan’s achievements include a Darmstadt Stipend (2023), Leverhulme Scholarship (2018-19), the Susan Bradshaw Composer Prize (RPS – 2017-18), and the Christopher Brooks Composition Prize (RLPO – 2015-17). She has participated in prestigious schemes such as the LSO Panufnik Scheme and has been shortlisted for ISCM World Music Days, a Paul Hamlyn Award, and Manchester Jazz Festival’s Irwin Mitchell Prize.

Currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Huddersfield, Bethan is exploring how performers can inform and expand the phenomenon of ‘material-drift’ through collaborative processes with composers, examining its impact on the evolution of musical material during the creative process and advancing new co-creative methodologies.