Instrumental teachers and visiting scholars

Below you'll find a comprehensive list of instrumental teachers and distinguished visiting scholars.

Instrumental and Vocal Teachers

Comprehensive, professional-level teaching of instrumental and vocal music has always been a priority at the Department of Music at The University of Manchester.

Our teachers are highly active in Manchester’s vibrant music scene, performing with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra or Manchester Camerata, or following successful and prominent careers as freelance performers.

They are sought after as teachers, and many also teach at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Covering a vast range of expertise, from early music to the most cutting edge contemporary, from the concert hall to the jazz club, our specialists incorporate the widest possible variety of approaches in their teaching.

Our weekly performance workshops have featured artists such as percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, cellist Jonathan Aasgard, drummer Ari Hoenig, pianist Martin Roscoe, singer Gweneth Ann Rand, saxophonist Ben Wendell, flutist Noemi Gyori, and the Ebonit sax quartet among many others.

Glossary:

  • BBC Phil = BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Hallé = Hallé Orchestra
  • RLPO = Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
  • RNCM = Royal Northern College of Music
  • Chetham's = Chetham’s School of Music

Teaching Application Process

Please refer to the tab below explaining how to apply for instrumental teaching allocation.

Conducting

  • Robert Guy (Guest Conductor Manchester Camerata, Artistic Director NEW Sinfonia, Principal Conductor WNO Chorus North)

Guitar

- Guitar (classical)

- Acoustic | Electric

  • Johnny Heyes (electric guitar, freelance performer)
  • Shirley Tetteh (jazz)

- Bass Guitar

Keyboards

- Harpsichord

  • David Francis (freelance performer)

- Organ

- Piano

Strings

- Harp

  • Eira Lynn Jones (Head of Harp RNCM, freelancer with Hallé, BBC Phil, Opera North)
  • Marie Leenhardt (Hallé, Chetham’s) 
  • Lauren Scott (Freelance performer, Psappha)

- Violin

- Viola

- Cello

  • Heather Bills (Pleyel Ensemble, freelance performer, former Hallé Orchestra) 
  • Jennifer Langridge (BBC Phil,  Psappha)
  • Simon Turner (Hallé leader)
  • Jonathan Pether (Hallé )

- Double bass

Vocal Studies

- Voice

  • Martin Bussey (singer, composer, director of Chester Bach Singers)
  • Andrew Heggie (freelance baritone, teaches all styles)
  • Emily Howard Cobley (Director of Manchester Opera Project, specialises in opera and contemporary)
  • Catherine Mikic (Trinity College, former opera singer, teaches all styles)
  • Deborah Rees (RNCM vocal soloist, experienced opera singer)
  • Richard Strivens (Bass-baritone, teaches all styles)
  • Katherine Moore
  • Kathryn Rudge (RNCM)
  • Antonia Sotgiu (RNCM)

Woodwind, Brass and Percussion

- Bassoon

  • Graham Salvage (RNCM, Chetham’s, Hallé principal)
  • Ben Hudson (Chethams)

- Clarinet

  • Jill Allen (freelance performer, esp. orchestral + Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and Ensemble 10 10)
  • Liz Jordan (principal clarinet in Northern Chamber Orchestra, freelance performer)
  • Daniel Mawson (Klezmer)

- Flute

  • Noemi Gyori (freelance with Vienna State Opera Orchestra, BBC Phil, Orchester Jakobsplatz München, Georgian Sinfonietta, Hungarian National Philharmonic) 
  • Victoria Daniel (BBC Phil)
  • Gavin Osborn (Trio Atem, soloist & chamber specialist, with a focus on contemporary music)
  • Robert Looman (Philharmonia/Royal Academy of Music)

- Oboe

  • Matthew Jones (Chetham's)
  • Hugh McKenna (RNCM, Hallé)

- Recorder

  • John Turner (freelance performer, contemporary specialist)

- Saxophone

- Euphonium

  • Bill Millar (freelance performer, Chetham's)
  • David Thornton (RNCM)
  • Richard Fay (Klezmer)

- French horn

  • Dicky Bourn (Hallé)
  • Lindsey Stoker

- Trombone

  • Phil Goodwin (Chetham's, Northern Chamber Orchestra,  Psappha)
  • Simon Powell (RLPO)
  • Blair Sinclair (Opera North principal, freelance performer)

- Trumpet

- Tuba

  • Ewan Easton (RNCM, Hallé)

- Percussion

  • Paul Patrick (BBC Phil, RNCM, Chetham’s School of Music)
  • Oliver Patrick
  • Robert Szymanek (Gamelan)
  • Carlos Maldonado - Simon Industrial Fellows (International Jazz Artists in Residence).

- Drumkit

  • Luke Flowers (The Cinematic Orchestra, RNCM)
  • Lizzie Excell (Nerija, RWCMD)

Teaching application process

Following your audition in late September, we select the best teacher to suit your needs and aspirations.

In addition, your study will be complemented with masterclasses and performance workshops with world-class performers, as well as coaching you may receive from our ensemble in residence, the Quatuor Danel.

The University offers 18 hours of instrumental or vocal tuition for all students taking performance in the first and second years and 20 hours of tuition for all third years taking a recital.

Although we only offer tuition on one instrument, many students choose to study a second instrument, and we can help you set this up.

Opportunities also exist for conducting tuition with Rob Guy, and for chamber music coaching with members of the Quatuor Danel.

With so much going on we can advise you how to best balance your programme to accommodate the demands of learning music in the country's leading music department for musicology, composition and performance.

Many of our students go on to postgraduate study at various music colleges, and a good number now have successful professional careers in their own rights as performers.