Tom Elliott - Director

Tom was trained as a saxophonist scholar at the Royal College of Music and has performed at many functions such as the Brit Awards after show party, a celebration banquet for the annual “Queen’s Anniversary Prize Awards Celebration”, solo saxophone with the Birmingham Royal Ballet gala performance in the presence of HRH Princess Margaret at Sadler’s Wells, and performed on the soundtrack for the “Film Four” production entitled “This Filthy Earth”. He has also supported Chuck Berry and worked with Chris Jagger.

Working from his professional home studio, Tom uses a combination of live and virtual instruments to compose in a wide range of styles for TV, radio and internet. His most recent commission include music for the London based advertising company “Partners DMBA”, the international public relations company “Freud Communications”, two short film scores and music for educational apps.

As a music educator, Tom has taught regularly at Independent schools in London, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire and more recently in state schools in Nottingham and Sheffield. He has participated in many workshops for organisations such as Bandwise and the Flying Gorillas. His students have been asked to perform at the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music high achievers concert and he has a steady stream of students who were offered music scholarships to St. Paul’s and Westminister School.

GRAHAM SUTHERLAND (GUITAR)

Graham has played on the live music scene for over 25 years, playing with numerous bands and artists, encompassing a range of styles including Country, Soul, Pop, Indie, Americana, Blues and Rock, experiencing the stage at some big festivals and also small intimate gigs too. One of his favourite musical settings is the recording studio, where he’s been able to write, record and produce music, even playing on other artist’s sessions, some of the songs have been played on BBC radio and worldwide stations. He loves music technology and sees it as a great opportunity for young musicians to release their music globally in the ever-changing music industry. Over the last twelve years he has spent most of his time teaching guitar, music technology and band development to young people in schools. He really enjoys helping young people to learn music and develop their craft as musicians.

IAN WEST (PERCUSSION)

Ian West has been teaching drums in the South Yorkshire region for the last 25 years. From his base at Electro Music Doncaster, he offers drum tuition and drum lessons in all musical styles to all levels of students, along with offering specialist tutoring in advanced drumming techniques. Ian's successful drum teaching methods have encouraged students from all over the Yorkshire region to attend his drum school. His high class reputation and excellent student exam pass rate have attracted students to the school from many areas including Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley, Sheffield, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Humberside.

Ian has performed with the following artists:

John Parr Eliot Kennedy Steve Womack Dennis Rollins Peter Kay Beto Daltro S Club Mica Paris Liz McClarnon 5ive Kenny Thomas Alistair Griffin Antony Costa Andy Abraham The Reason 4 Katy Bullock Stafford Galli Janet Devlin Craig Colton Babybird Martin Fry : ABC Tony Christie Donny Osmond

Ian holds a L6D-BA Deg (3rd year).

DYZELLE SUTHERLAND

Dyzelle is a professional violinist and community musician and has worked in music education since graduating over 10 years ago.  She studied for an honors degree in classical violin performance at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and completed a Masters in Community Music at the University of York.  She is classically trained, but hailing from the Highlands of Scotland, I have a strong background in folk and fiddle music too.  On top of her teaching/education work, she plays violin in a symphony orchestra as well as collaborating with other local bands/artists. As a violinist, she has performed across the UK, as well as Europe and the US.  In the past, she hasalso worked as a music instructor and music leader for various organisations, including the R.S.A.M.D Musicworks department, the National Youth Choir of Scotland and a variety of local councils. Dyzelle has experience of running my own workshops and music classes, rehearsing and conducting ensembles, delivering CPD courses and teaching music theory.  She also has a strong foundation in Early Years music education and has completed several training courses in both Colourstrings violin method and kindergarten music teaching and the Kodaly approaches to music education.

GARETH SMITH

Since graduating from Leeds college of music, Gareth has worked professionally as a trumpet player both in the UK and abroad with various bands and artists and has been teaching brass for the last 10 years in and around the South Yorkshire area. He teaches the full range of brass instruments from beginner to advanced, jazz to classical and specialises in trumpet & cornet. 

For the last three years, Gareth has been brass tutor and Military band conductor at the prestigious Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College in Loughborough, leading the students in various performances both as part of the college calendar and at public events locally.

Professionally Gareth has worked and performed with many great bands, shows and artists around the UK and Europe. These include:

• Shed 7

• The Corrs

• Sam Bailey

• Jonathan Wilkes

• Ant & Dec

• Anthony Costa

• Scouting for girls

• The Pigeon Detectives

• The Rat Pack - live from Las Vegas

• The National Youth Jazz Orchestra

• The Doncaster Jazz Orchestra

Harriet Williamson

Harriet is a multi-instrumentalist, focussing particularly on violin and saxophone but is comfortable on any of the woodwind and upper string instruments. Harriet holds a 2:1 undergraduate degree in Saxophone performance from Birmingham Conservatoire (now the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire) and a PGCE from the University of Hull. Harriet also holds Grade 8 in violin and Grade 6 in piano. Teaching has been the main focus of her musical career to date, teaching all age ranges, and particularly welcoming students with additional needs or disabilities. Harriet aims to tailor her lessons to each student, based on their goals and reasons for playing. For those wishing to take a more traditional route, Harriet has a 100% pass rate with ABRSM and recently one of her students achieved Distinction at Grade 4.

Recently, Harriet has been working with local artists Floodlights and Pulselovers to create some new music in a crossover between instrumental and electronic music.

Ralph Brown

As well as being classically trained from any early age, Ralph fell in love with jazz and pop music, going on to study jazz piano at Birmingham Conservatoire graduating with a 2:1 Bmus Hons Degree. Since then he has undertaken jazz residency contracts at the world famous Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai and worked extensively with professional theatre companies both in the UK and abroad.

Ralph has recently returned from years working as an MD and sideman on cruise ships for Royal Caribbean. He recently oversaw the takeout of the world’s biggest ship, Harmony of the Seas, as part of the Entertainment division creative team.

Back home, aside from teaching, Ralph continues to perform at a wide range of gigs, functions and local theatre shows in Doncaster and North Lincolnshire. Ralph uses a range of teaching methods and syllabuses adapting to suit the students strengths and tastes. He has a passion for developing students’ all round musicianship, as well as performance skills. He uses the ABRSM classical piano syllabuses and also enjoys teaching the contemporary RockSchool piano program.

Hannah Lewis

Hannah studied music at City University and saxophone at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and graduated with a BSc Honours degree in Music. Since graduating, Hannah has worked professionally as a dancer, singer and entertainer for a variety of companies including Pop Management, Princess Cruises, TUI and ITV and professionally as a musician for several regional musical theatre companies.

Hannah started teaching at Kimberley Performing Arts Centre in 2005 and in 2008 completed her PGCE in secondary music. She has taught in a variety of educational settings across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire as an Arts specialist and as a classroom teacher across the primary and secondary curriculum, as a peripatetic music teacher and as a private instrumental & vocal tutor for 13 years. She also worked as a vocal coach for Theatretrain between 2012 and 2014.

Seeking to continue her professional development, Hannah completed a variety of courses with Vocal Health Education (Vocal Health First Aider), Estill Voice International (Level 1 Figures for Voice Control, Level 2 Six Voice Qualities, Estill for Singing Teachers, Estill for Children & Adolescent Voices, Estill Figure Proficiency Preparation), Vocal Process (Professional Development Webinar Series), Voice Workshop (Teaching Belt Safely) and LAMDA teacher training.

In addition to teaching, Hannah has experience with choreographing and directing shows for local theatre groups and schools including 13 and High School Musical for KPAC.

Curtis Senior

Curtis Senior began playing guitar at 7 years old influenced by Eric Clapton and the styles of Steve Vai, John Sykes and Neil schon. He bought his first guitar in the shape of a Fender strat and his collection carried on growing from vintage guitars to limited editions but he names Fret King and Ibanez as his main manufacturers.

At only 10 years old he made his first public appearance as guest guitarist with rock super group 'Nazareth' which inspired him to form his own band 'Enchanted'. Enchanted went on to support David Coverdale's mighty Whitesnake and Wishbone ash on their European tours. Curtis Wrote his first album in 1997 entitled 'The beginning' and a second 'Raging Fires' quickly followed. He released two singles through 'Lemon Media' one of which was used on a car advert in Nashville, America. The band eventually disbanded and Curtis began to play as a session musician in various band line-ups. He toured as lead guitarist with Rock supergroup 'The Word' and was eventually snapped up as lead guitarist for several touring Theatre shows including 'The Meat Loaf Story' and 'The 4 tops'.

He then met partner, now wife, Kerry and formed Ghost rock show. This show successfully toured Internationally for 10 years with successful performances across the UK as well as in Las Vegas, Spain, Eilat and Dubai.

Andy Whyte

From an early age, Andy began playing a multitude of instruments including drums, guitar, saxophone and piano. He quickly realised that he wanted to pursue a career in music and after main stream education, went on to study Music Composition at Brunel University, graduating with a First Class BMus Degree. Andy has also recently completed a Master’s Degree in Music Production at the University of York.

During his time in education Andy has worked, performed and composed for various professional ensembles including jazz bands, rock bands, chamber groups, orchestras and experimental electronic ensembles. His array of performances, both solo and ensemble, have allowed him to become a competent and valuable musician.

In addition to performing and composing, Andy is a trained recording engineer and producer. He has worked as an assistant in Konk Studios in London and has mixed video game trailer music that has featured on Nintendo’s YouTube channel. He has also worked as a recording engineer at the University of York, recording and editing the weekly concerts, as well as in the audio archives within the University library.

Brione Jackson

Brione has been playing cello for 20 years and holds a BMus in Musical Performance. After graduating from the University of Chichester where she also studied classical voice, she is now currently studying a Masters in music therapy with the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Centre in Newcastle.

Brione is a highly respected instrumental teacher and has worked as a private tutor and also as part of a number of musical bodies most recently including a year with Opera North. She is trained in Dalcrose and Eurythmics, Solfage and Kodaly method and teaches 'cello, double bass, violin, piano and voice.

In her free time Brione leads cello sections in a number of semi-professional orchestras including the Sheffield Philharmonic. She has enjoyed a successful professional career, performing all over the world including Northwestern University in Chicago and the Romanian Embassy in Bucharest. She has also recorded for a number of professional and semi-professional ensembles including, Cageworks and Editors.

She holds a number of musical qualifications including ATCL diploma in cello.

‘I am dedicated to helping each young person have a unique and positive experience within their music lesson. Each session will individually cater to the needs of each student, encouraging pupils to thrive in their musical learning.’

Jen PARR

Whilst studying on the cello for a BMus(Hons) at Huddersfield University 2008-2011 Jennifer was an avid ensemble player belonging to the university’s Chamber Orchestra, New Music Ensemble, String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra, leading the cello sections in her final year.

After graduating Jennifer discovered a passion for teaching whilst working for a music charity in Rotherham for 5 years. Alongside individual music tuition she was a class music teacher at numerous primary schools in Rotherham and the surrounding areas for which she wrote curriculum based schemes of work which gave students opportunities to explore, compose and perform on various instruments.

Now a private instrumental tutor, Jennifer teaches the cello, violin, piano, ukulele, double bass and music theory. Her teachings are inclusive with students aged 3 to 79 years, as well as those with special educational needs and physical disabilities. Jennifer has been a member of Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra’s cello section for 7 years playing everything from popular symphonies to world premiers by local composers, supporting numerous internationally acclaimed soloists and performing in several concerts a year.

“My aim as a music tutor is not just to teach my students a particular instrument but to give them the knowledge and transferable skills which allow them to become well rounded musicians, to explore pieces on their own and play in ensembles.”

Billy Woodfield

Billy Woodfield is a professional musician from West Yorkshire. With years of experience in the live music sector, Billy is an accomplished Multi-Instrumentalist and can play a wide range of genres.

Billy has performed live across the UK and abroad including appearances at festivals like the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally, work with P&O Ferries plus opportunities supporting artists like Steve Pilgrim (of Paul Weller band) and Rick Buckler (Drummer of The Jam) as a solo artist. Other work includes The Specialz, a tribute to The Specials. The band's recent tour was a sell out including an exclusive at the HMV Empire in Coventry. Billy is currently the bassist for Power-Trio Sharp Class. Highlights for the band include a recent US tour, performances at The Cavern Club, Liverpool, supporting The Vapours on their 2023 UK tour, and the highly acclaimed Quadrophenia nights as well as a debut album released on Heavy Soul Records.

Billy holds multiple music qualifications including a grade 8 in bass guitar. Billy is also a tutor at Distort Music Tuition, teaching guitar and bass to a wide range of students. Billy has two years teaching experience at distort yet in that time developed a 100% pass rate with RSL.

Lewis Meredith

Lewis began his musical journey on the classical guitar at 8 years old, working his way up the grades and performing in many local concerts with the Doncaster Music Service. Around the age of 13, he discovered rock and heavy metal, setting off down a new path on the electric guitar. He formed many school bands and performed in concert halls and auditoriums, as well as achieving grade 8.

Lewis went on to study music at the University of Hull, graduating with a 2:1 Honours Degree in Jazz and Popular Music, as well as a Distinction award MMus Master's Degree. During his time at Hull, Lewis also became highly proficient in music technology.

In recent years Lewis has been teaching classical, acoustic, electric and bass guitar, taking on students of all ages and abilities.  He is keen to help students develop their listening skills as well as their performance, using his own method for teaching relative pitch. 

He enjoys teaching the Trinity syllabus for classical guitar and the Rockschool syllabus for acoustic, electric and bass, supplementing these with his own materials to maximise student's learning.