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

Piano

Harpsichord

  • David Francis

Organ

  • Simon Leach
  • Simon Passmore (St Ann's Church)

Strings

Harp

Violin

Viola

  • Susie Meszaros (RNCM, Chilingirian Quartet, RCM London)
  • Lucy Nolan (RNCM, Eblana String Trio)
  • Alex Roberston (RNCM, Endymion Ensemble, former Brodsky Quartet founder member)

Cello

  • Heather Bills (Pleyel Ensemble, former Hallé Orchestra)
  • Jonathan Pether (Hallé Orchestra)
  • Simon Turner (Principal Cello, Hallé Orchestra)

Double Bass

  • Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley (Jazz and Popular Music, also bass guitar)
  • Michael Escreet (former Principal Double Bass, BBC Philharmonic)
  • Rachel Meerloo (Hallé Orchestra, Chetham's School of Music)

Vocal Studies

Voice

Classical and Opera

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

All of the above tutors also teach general vocal technique and some Music Theatre.

Jazz and Popular Music

  • Nicki Allan (RNCM, Hull University
  • Ellen Beth Abdi (Jazz and Popular Music) 
  • Nishla Smith (Jazz, composer, curator) 
  • Anna Clayton (Popular Music, especially Music Theatre, Estill voice trainer) 

All of the above tutors also teach general vocal technique, some Music Heatre, and songwriting. 

Woodwind, Brass and Percussion

Woodwind

Flute

  • Victoria Daniel (BBC Phil, also Hallé and Opera North)
  • Noémi Gyõri (Junior RNCM, international projects)
  • Gavin Osborn (perfomer, composer, interdisciplinary projects, Trio Atem, also Baroque flute)
  • Kathryn Williams (performer, composer, also researcher at RNCM, orchestral and contemporary music)

Clarinet

  • Jill Allan (Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Ensemble 10:10)
  • Liz Jordan (Principal Clarinet, Northern Chamber Orchestra)
  • Daniel Mawson (Klezmer)

Bassoon

  • Ben Hudson (Chetham's)
  • Adam Mackenzie (Principal, Opera North)
  • Graham Salvage (Principal, Hallé, RNCM, Chetham’s)

Oboe

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

Saxophone

Recorder 

  • Chris Orton (RNCM) 

Brass

Trumpet

Trombone

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

Euphonium

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

Tuba

  • Ewan Easton (RNCM, Hallé)

Percussion / Drums

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).

Drum kit

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

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.