Meet the team

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.

Peter studied guitar at the RNCM with Gordon Crosskey and John Williams. He was one of the first guitarists to join Yehudi Menuhin’s Live Music Now and played for over 10years in the Aguado Guitar Duo. Peter has worked with Opera North over many years.

Peter has been at the forefront of new developments in guitar teaching for over 20years, firstly helping to develop the EGTA Chanterelle series and then co-authoring a completely redesigned ABRSM guitar syllabus in 2009 which included several new books, their first for guitar. More recently Peter has worked on the current 2019 syllabus.

He has been a senior lecturer at Leeds College of Music since 2004, and an External Examiner at the RNCM since 2009.

Pietro has an extensive background not only in teaching, but also as a performer and composer, covering both classical and jazz. Following graduation from the Conservatoire of Como in Italy he played professionally with a number of European orchestras including Orchestra Sinfonica di Brescia and Pomerigi Musicali in Italy, and also toured with the Sinfonica Orchestra of Cluj Napoca and the Filarmonica Oltenia of Craiova in Romania. He founded the award winning avant-garde jazz ensemble Gatto Marte, which has published ten albums to date. The group, playing Pietro’s compositions in 2000 won the 1st prize at the European Festival Arezzo Wave as best emerging band; and playing his composition to accompany the silent film ‘Gold Rush’, won 1st prize in that category at the Harlock International Festival of Bolzano in 1998.

From 2000 Pietro spent 4 years in California playing with orchestras including the Monterey Symphony Orchestra and the Bay Shore Lyric Opera Company, and various classical ensembles. He also performed extensively in jazz venues and continued to compose and perform for silent film.

Since coming to the UK in 2004 Pietro has been commissioned to write an opera by Teesside University which has been performed in England and Ireland, to write music for ballet by Tees Valley Dance, and to write a Concerto For Double Bass and Orchestra by the Hull Philharmonic Society, which he performed in 2011 with the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra and in 2013 with the Teesside Symphony Orchestra.

Pietro currently also has a busy teaching schedule including pupils at the University of York, Durham University, Hull University, Ampleforth College, and Hymers College Hull.

Drummer, guitarist and educator based in Leeds. Tim studied at Leeds College of Music with some of the finest musicians in the country, where he continues to be involved as a visiting artist. He currently works with the Hammond Organ Quartet ‘Teduloca’ who have appeared at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s and the Vortex in London. Over the last few years, Tim has regularly worked with vocal artist Kate Peters, touring parts of Scotland and most recently performing a sell-out showcase featuring the music of Ella Fitzgerald.

Ben Parker is a composer, pianist, and practitioner based in West Yorkshire. His music has been performed by The BBC Singers, The Kreutzer Quartet, The Manchester Camerata, The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra, Trio aTem, SizeZero Opera Company, The Manon Quartet and many more, at events such as the New Music North West Festival, BBC Radio 3’s ‘Afternoon on 3’ series, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Manchester Pride’s Music Concert Series, DECONTAMINATION# concert series, Emirates Airline Festival Of Literature, and others across the UK and abroad.

Ben was the Arnold Cooke Scholar at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Emily Howard where he graduated with a first class honours degree in Composition. Since his studies, Ben’s creative practice considers spacial art forms, linguistics, critical theory, pop culture, and mental health as paramount to the development of his current works.

As an educator, Ben is passionate about working with a wide range of people through community engagement projects, as well as working with a variety of high schools, sixth form colleges, and specialist music academies as a music assistant, and composition specialist. His teaching approach is person-centred, adaptive towards a Student’s long-term goals, and learning styles most natural to them. He regards the importance of a Student’s mental health, confidence, self-worth, and zealous attitude towards their artistic discipline, as highly as he does their technical progression, performance development, and academic advancement.

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.

Since graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2012 Tom has enjoyed a varied and busy freelance career combining orchestral and chamber music performance, examining and education.

As an orchestral player he has performed with the Hallé Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Opera North, Raymond Gubbay’s Manchester Concert Orchestra and Sinfonia Viva amongst others. With his reed trio, Trio Volant, he gives recitals up and down the country for music clubs and societies. Alongside this he also works as an examiner for Trinity College London as well as teaching talented young musicians for a number of educational establishments in the North West.

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.

Since performing at the Wigmore Hall at the age of sixteen, Ryan has played in many distinguished venues throughout the UK and abroad in Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Spain and Switzerland. His performances have also been broadcasted live on BBC Radio 3 and Medici TV. Ryan graduated with an Artist Diploma and MMus with distinction from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and a first-class BMus (Hons) from the Royal Northern College of Music where he was awarded the Alfred Clay Scholarship for achieving the highest mark in an undergraduate final recital. He won the RNCM Concerto Competition, subsequently playing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 (Op.23) with the RNCM Symphony Orchestra in the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Previous tutors include Ronan O’Hora, Martin Roscoe, Helen Krizos and Seta Tanyel.

More recently, Ryan performed Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.3 with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Hall and was a quarterfinalist in the Leeds International Piano Competition. Ryan received first prize in both Brant International Piano Competition and the piano category of the Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artists Competition, and was awarded the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship and the Carnwath Scholarship. Ryan was also a recipient of the Yehudi Menuhin English Speaking Union Scholarship, enabling him to attend the prestigious Piano Masterclass International Series at Banff Arts Centre in Canada. He has also studied alongside Michel Beroff, Jonathan Biss, Nelson Goerner, Richard Goode, Noriko Ogawa, Murray Perahia, Pascal Rogé and Kathryn Stott.

Away from the piano, Ryan loves to read and lives with his partner (Sarah), his food-obsessed Labrador (Winnie) and his typically self-entitled cat, Nala.

Rebecca enjoys a varied musical life, combining teaching and performing. Following the completion of an undergraduate degree at Durham University, where she was winner of the inaugural Soloist’s Competition, Rebecca undertook three years of postgraduate study at the Royal Northern College of Music. Here, she was a winner of the Salon Prize and enjoyed the diversity of opportunities available to her. Rebecca holds a teaching position at Chethams School of Music in Manchester and at Yorkshire Young Musician’s Hull centre, and undertakes cover teaching for the RNCM’s junior department and Sheffield Music Academy. She also maintains a busy private teaching practice.

As a performer, highlights have included a tour of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden in collaboration with dance company Fertile Ground and numerous engagements as both a soloist and within orchestral and chamber music settings. She is violinist in the violin and harp pairing Duo Azure and was a recent prizewinner of the Monday Musicales concert series for the audience’s most enjoyed concert of the season. Rebecca has cultivated a strong interest in historical performance and enjoys life as a Baroque violinist as part of her freelance career. Away from music, Rebecca loves to be outdoors and can often be found on trails in the lake district, or at home baking cakes.

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.

Originally from Wiltshire, Robert began playing the flute aged seven. He went on to perform in various ensembles at county and national level before taking up a place at the Royal Northern College of Music, during which time he was a Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist and prize winner at the British Flute Society Young Artist competition.

He studied with Richard Davis and Joanne Boddington, as well as performing in masterclasses for William Bennett, Peter Lloyd, Robert Winn and Jean-Louis Beaumadier. During his degree Robert spent a year studying abroad with Anders Ljungar-Chapelon at the Malmö Academy of Music in Sweden.

Robert now enjoys a varied career performing with orchestras such as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, The Hallé, Northern Ballet Sinfonia, Orchestra of Opera North, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra, among others. In addition to broadcasts for television & radio in the UK and abroad, Robert performs regularly at many of the major British music festivals, including the BBC Proms, Aldeburgh, Cheltenham and Edinburgh, as well as having toured Europe and the Far East. He has recorded extensively for labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, Chandos, NMC, Naxos and Polyphonic.

Robert is the flute tutor for the University of Manchester, Sheffield Music Academy and Yorkshire Young Musicians and has taught at Leeds Conservatoire, Liverpool & Liverpool Hope universities in addition to education projects with the RNCM, RLPO and CBSO.

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.

Operatic credits include Alison The Wandering Scholar (Northern Opera Group), Fiametta The Gondoliers, Peep Bo The Mikado, Zorah Ruddigore (NGSOC), Adalgisa Norma (Preston Opera), Susanna The Marriage of Figaro (Opera on Location), Countess A Dinner Engagement (MOE), Valencienne The Merry Widow (Preston Opera), First Lady Magic Flute (RNCM Spotlight), Isobel Pirates of Penzance (Heritage Opera), Una Novizia Suor Angelica (MOE), Clara La Vie Parisienne and Susan Company (RNCM). Juliet performed with the chorus of Scottish Opera in their concert performance of Puccini’s Edgar and joined the chorus of Opera North for their semi-staged production of Verdi’s Aida. She has been a member of the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company for five seasons and was a Young Artist in Buxton Opera’s MacBeth in 2017.

Juliet enjoys teaching singing for Yorkshire Young Musicians, 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. He was recently awarded a diploma in piano performance.

Claire graduated from the University of Hull with a first class degree in Music in 2004, and was also awarded the Departmental Prize for outstanding musical achievement. In 2005, Claire gained the Associated Board Diploma in singing.

As a performer, Claire has sung as a concert soloist with Hull Bach Choir, Hull Male Voice Choir and the Arterian Singers. Claire is principal flute of the Culture:WindOrchestra and 2nd flute in the Culture:Orchestra who regularly perform at Hull Minster.

Claire teaches singing, flute and music theory at Wyke Sixth Form College, Hull, and privately. She is proud to have gained distinction levels in Associated Board examinations with singing pupils at every grade, and has former pupils who have since gone on to study at The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, Tech Music School London, and Cambridge University with a choral scholarship. Claire is also a music theory examiner for Trinity College, London and an associate of Culture:Music, Hull’s new centre for music tuition and performance, and on the education team of the British Flute Society.

Adam Davies is a Manchester-born pianist, conductor and teacher. He has been first-prize-winner and finalist in several national and international piano competitions. First prizes include East Coast Young Musician and EPTA UK Piano Competition. He has also been a semi-finalist in the Royal Over-Seas League Competition, and finalist in the Wales International Competition and the Krystian Tkaczewski International Competition in Poland.

Adam performs as soloist throughout the UK and the Channel Islands, with past venues including Hull City Hall, Beverley Minster, St. Paul’s Covent Garden and St. Martin-in-the-Fields. His wide-ranging repertoire spans from music of the 16th Century to the current day. In 2016 he gave one the first UK performances of Thomas Adès’ Variations for Blanca, and in 2019, the world première of Tom Harrold’s Crux. Concerto performances include Saint-Saëns’ Le carnival des animaux, Grieg Piano Concerto, Rachmaninov No. 2, Mozart K. 488, Brahms No. 2 and Schumann Piano Concerto.

Aside from his solo activity, Adam has played as an orchestral pianist under the direction of Chris Adey and Sir Mark Elder at Bridgewater Hall. He also conducts St. John’s Festival orchestra, with whom he has directed performances of much of the standard symphonic and concerto repertoire, including both Brahms Piano Concertos. Adam is currently a piano tutor at Chetham’s School of Music and Yorkshire Young Musicians, and an examiner for ABRSM. In his private teaching practice, he has had a number of students go on to study at both Chetham’s and RNCM.

Having first taken up the piano under the guidance of his mother, Adam went on to study with Irina Glushenkova. He holds a bachelor’s with honours and two postgraduate degrees with distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music, during which time his teachers were John Gough and Dr. Murray McLachlan. While at the RNCM, he was a recipient of both Drapers’ and Oglesby Scholarships, winner of the Norman George Scholarship and Fergal O’Mahony Undergraduate prizes, and Gold Medal finalist. He also benefitted from lessons and masterclasses with Philippe Cassard, Andrei Diev, Michael Lewin, Martin Roscoe, Barry Snyder and Kathryn Stott, among others.

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 (1992-) is a composer who writes quirky, rhythmically-intricate music. Described as “marvellously oblique and obscure” [5against4] while being “rooted in something ancient and folky” [The Telegraph], Bethan’s music finds motivation in the apogee of musical performance. With composer-performer collaborations a key part of Bethan’s practice, each piece is written according to the characters of those involved.

Bethan is currently based in mid-Wales, having studied predominantly with Gary Carpenter at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and Diderik Wagenaarat the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag.

Greta Gasser is a Romanian-born British pianist currently residing in the Manchester, United Kingdom. Since coming to the UK, she has given recitals in many churches and venues, including St. Martin in the Fields (London), Lansdowne Club (Mayfair), St. Ann’s Church, St Emmanuel’s Church and the RNCM Concert Hall (Manchester). Greta has also been involved in various musical projects which have included collaborating with musicians when performing in Spotlight Concerts, Recital Series, and competitions.

Always interested in expanding her experiences with exciting projects, Greta has played the piano in the ITV Series Victoria as a hand double for Jenna Coleman starring as the young queen (UK, 2016).

Greta is also a passionate piano teacher who loves to help her students achieve their musical potential. Apart from teaching at Yorkshire Young Musicians, she is running her own music teaching studio (Gasser Music Studio), delivering music workshops, and teaching at Manchester High School for Girls. Her students have a 100% exam success rate in all examinations enrolled.

Educational and outreach projects are also an important part in Greta’s musical interests. Some of these projects have included performing at the Bridgewater Hall for the Christmas with the Halle and for the Pre-Composing project, taking part in the RNCM Guinness World Record for the largest number of people simultaneously playing the same piano, performing for the RNCM/MMU Rosamond Prize, the SU Music for Health Scheme and RNCM Music in Hospitals.

She graduated with Master of Music with Distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), where she studied Piano Performance under the distinguished teacher Helen Krizos. Greta has also studied with Frank Wibaut at the RNCM, Gabriela Nemes and Roxana Sava at George Georgescu Special Music and Arts High School, and Diana Brătan at the PianoForte Music School (Romania). She was prize winner of the ‘George Georgescu International Music Performance Competition’ (Tulcea 2003-2011), the ‘W. A. Mozart International Music Competition’ (Targoviste 2008), and The Romanian National Olympiad of Music Performance (2003-2010).

Greta is very grateful for the generous support offered by the FW Wright Piano Scholarship, Helen Rachael Mackaness Award, George Stanger Music Trust and Prodan Romanian Cultural Foundation throughout her studies.

Jo studied at the RNCM in Manchester and since graduating has worked as a performer, arranger and teacher.  She has directed and performed in her own ensemble projects and has managed Arts Council funded projects for artists including Mike Walker, Tria Lingvo and NYJOS.  She has commissioned numerous composers to write ensemble music for young musicians and she currently directs and arranges for the Cheshire Youth Music for Life Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Band.  She has been a trustee of the Manchester Jazz Festival since 2017.

Outside of music, Jo has been a volunteer for the NSPCC and Childline since 2008.