Gavin Osborn is a flautist, teacher, composer & sound-artist based in Cheshire. He holds Graduate & Professional Performance Diplomas from the Royal Northern College of Music, a 1st Class MusB(Hons) from the University of Manchester, & a PhD in Composition (also from Manchester).

​

Teaching occupies a central role in Gavin's work, with a practice spanning primary age through to adult. He has taught flute at HCCS for over 25 years, with students often going on to high achievement, & his pupils & ensembles play a strong role in the musical & wider community life of the school. Outside of HCCS, he is Tutor in Flute at the University of Manchester, & teaches privately. Other teaching posts have included Manchester Metropolitan University & as a Special Consultant in flute to the University of York.

​

A specialist in solo & chamber ensemble performance, Gavin is best known as a performer of contemporary music, often working with composers to premiere new work, & regularly plays in many of the UK's top international festivals & venues. As a composer/sound-artist his work has been shown across the UK & online. He is currently co-director of Trio Atem, one of the UK's most dynamic new music ensembles, & co-director with Elizabeth Ditmanson of Geode, a creative duo specialising in cross-media installations & performances.

Mark Landon is a professional percussionist and Teacher based in the Cheshire area. He studied at Huddersfield University under the guidance of percussion teacher Chris Bradley and gained a 2:1 Bmus (hons) music degree. He now teaches at many high schools in Manchester and Cheshire as well as teaching percussion at Salford University and Manchester Metropolitan University (Crewe). He has taught all ages and provided many percussion workshops based on Samba, African drumming, and Trash percussion.

Mark is currently the principal percussionist for the Fodens Brass band who are based in Sandbach. He has been a member since 1999 and toured both the UK and abroad playing in many well known and exciting venues as well as competitions. During the year Mark works with some of the country’s best young musicians tutoring them at the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and National Youth Brass band of Scotland. In addition he also works as a freelance musician playing in shows, local Orchestras and chamber music ensembles.

Steve has achieved his Associate of Trinity College in London. He has taught at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School for 8 years and teaches all styles of guitar including classical rock, jazz and blues. Steve is employed by many Cheshire and Staffordshire schools and has been teaching for over 20 years. He teaches all age groups from primary school children through to adults in his music studio at home.

Many of Steve’s pupils have progressed to have a career in music from music technology to appearing in various festivals and performing with rock legends, such and Jeff Beck and Robert Plant. He is also one part of the popular Jazz duo ‘The Blue Bossa’ which play various styles of Jazz and Blues in Venues around the area.

Bio to follow.

Graduating in 2021 with a Mmus and 1st Class Bmus (hons) from the Royal Northern College of Music, Billy now teaches across the North of England in Cheshire, Manchester and Yorkshire with students ranging in ability from Grade 8 on Classical, Electric and Acoustic guitar to full classes of primary school ukulele beginners.

​

After taking lessons growing up with his Dad, Billy went on to complete his undergraduate and post-graduate studies under classical guitarist Craig Ogden. He’s performed extensively across Manchester as a soloist and chamber musician on the Classical Guitar and as a pit musician for theatre productions. Varied highlights include a Performance of Steve Reich’s 2x5 with contemporary music group ‘Bang On a Can’, a duo Classical Guitar concert at Buxton Pavilion Opera House and a performance with the RNCM’s big band featuring renowned Trombonist Barnaby Dickinson.

After studying first at the Junior department of the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham's School of Music, Joanne graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester with a Bmus(hons) degree. 

​

While at college, she started a busy teaching career, teaching piano, flute and theory to pupils of all ages and abilities both privately and in schools. As a performer, Joanne has had the opportunity to freelance with orchestras in the UK and Spain, has performed in smaller ensembles as both flutist and pianist, and is sought after as an accompanist for exams, competitions, events and auditions.

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

Based in Manchester, Juliet performs for opera companies throughout the UK and has recorded music for TV and radio.  Operatic credits include Fiametta The Gondoliers, Peep Bo The Mikado, Zorah Ruddigore (National G&S Opera Company), Adalgisa Norma (Preston Opera), Susanna The Marriage of Figaro (Opera on Location), Countess A Dinner Engagement (MOE) and Valencienne The Merry Widow (Preston Opera).  Juliet has performed with the chorus of Opera North and Scottish Opera and was a Young Artist in Buxton Opera’s MacBeth.

A keen recitalist, Juliet has sung at the Edinburgh Arts Festival, the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the Howard Assembly Room in Leeds.  She regularly performs opera galas and concerts and, in non-covid times, joins Theatrical Adventures as a performer for their European river cruises.

​

Juliet enjoys teaching for Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, Yorkshire Young Musician, The Singing Practice and Ramsbottom Music Centre. She has extensive experience in preparing students for ABRSM, LCM and Rockschool exams and many of her students have successfully auditioned for musical theatre, classical singing and popular music courses in higher education.

For more information please visit www.julietmontgomerysoprano.com

Poppy Philligreen is a Saxophonist based in Manchester. Originally from Derbyshire she acquired her BMus (Hons) from the Royal Northern College of  Music in 2018. She teaches woodwind in schools across Manchester. 

As a performer Poppy specialises in the realising of new music, most recently being involved with the premieres of works by composers such as Mark Dyer and Tywi Roberts. Alongside her performance practice Poppy is involved in the running of Special Virtuosi, a weekly music group for children and adults with additional needs. She has also worked in a production capacity for opera companies such as The Opera Shack and Manchester Contemporary Youth Opera.

Peter is a professional violinist and teacher, he studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In the early part of his career he was lead violin in many touring musicals including Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and Miss Saigon. After a long stay in Manchester with "Phantom" Peter ended up marrying the viola player and settling in the Northwest. Touring life became less appealing with 2 children at home so teaching and freelancing was the way forward.

Freelance work includes playing with symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, string quartets, opera, ballet and musicals. Some of the most enjoyable gigs have been playing for Gary Barlow, Anton and Erin, Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins,  Karl Jenkins,  Russell Watson, being the only Welsh member of Bjork's Icelandic string octet for part of the European leg of her world tour and more recently filming an episode of Peaky Blinders.

Peter teaches violin and viola from beginner to grade 8 and beyond, cello to grade 5, piano to grade 5, and once taught a beginner double bass.

Amy grew up in Stockport and attended Chetham's School of Music in 1999 where she studied the piano and violin. Amy received a scholarship to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and went onto study with the Head of Piano, Malcolm Wilson and Victor Sangiorgio. Amy has recently completed her Masters of Performance on the piano and artistic research at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. She now works as a Freelance Pianist/Violinist and teacher. Amy has worked as a soloist, accompanist and piano duettist in concert venues around the UK and internationally as a pianist including the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Amy is a solo pianist- guest entertainer on cruise ships, giving a series of classical concerts and an accompanist for a variety of musicians and performs as part of a successful concert duo with Clarinettist, Sarah Douglas. They play in recitals around the UK and as Guest Artists for international cruise contracts. Amy has been on the management committee for EPTA UK (European Piano Teacher’s Association) and has written articles/book reviews for the magazine 'Piano Professional' and has delivered and organised workshops and events across the UK.

After finishing his A-Levels at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive, Ben went on to study music at The Manchester Music Base where he graduated with Distinction* and gained the prestigious award of Student of The Year from Edith Bowman. 

​

He now plays all over the UK at recognised venues such as Albert’s Schloss, the Museum of Natural History and various festivals such as We Out Here, Secret Garden Party and Kendal Calling.

​

He works as a session drummer/teacher and has a passion for inspiring people of all ages about drums and percussion!