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Anne is a passionate professional ‘cellist and music educator with an international performing career – spanning six continents – (fun fact!)  She has played in a freelance capacity for many years with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Symphony Orchestra amongst many others, and played in the West End pit for The Lion King. 

Her extensive teaching experience encompasses junior conservatoires, schools, and holiday music courses. Anne has taught at Brentwood School since 2017 and The Hall School, NW3 for the past nine years. She currently acts as a deputy ‘cello and Kodály teacher on the Junior Guildhall String Training Programme and has coached for various courses, including the English Schools’ Symphony Orchestra and Viva Strings.

Specially trained in Kodály methodology alongside her background in Early Years music education, Anne’s approach centers on internalizing rhythm, pitch, and expression through movement and singing. She brings this synthesis of elite orchestral experience and holistic pedagogy to her work with the National Youth String Orchestra, aiming to inspire young string players to build joyful and lifelong foundations in music.

British violinist Laura Rickard enjoys a diverse international career as a chamber musician, soloist, festival director and educator. As violinist of the Mila Piano Trio and Goethe String Quartet, she has performed at major venues and festivals worldwide, including Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw, and Royal Festival Hall. A passionate advocate for new music, Laura has commissioned and premiered works by leading composers including Eleanor Alberga, Martin Butler and Robert Peate. She is the founder and Artistic Director of Romsey Chamber Music Festival, praised as “world-leading” by Classical Source. She currently teaches at the Royal Academy of Music and King’s College London and regularly gives masterclasses internationally. She was awarded Associateship of the Royal Academy of Music in 2023 in recognition of outstanding contributions to music. 

Alun Thomas, a native of Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, gained his first professional appointment at the age or 20 as Co-principal 2nd violin in the Bournemouth Sinfonietta during his final year as a student at the RNCM in Manchester.

At the RNCM he was the leader of the college symphony orchestra during his final year, soloist with the college chamber orchestra and concurrently, leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (conductor Arthur Davison) for four years, appearing on Welsh TV as a soloist in Vivaldi violin concertos.

After lessons with Terry Strachan and Neville John while a pupil at Cyfarthfa HIgh School, several years with James Barton (founder member of the Allegri string quartet) at Cardiff University and later with Israeli violinist Yossi Zivoni, in London, he continued under Zivoni’s tutelage at the RNCM and, in his final year, with Russian violinist Lydia Mordkovitch – a student of the great David Oistrakh.

During his time at college Alun was joint recipient of the Cowen Prize for Violin.

Subsequently, as a professional musician he has played worldwide in many capacities with major orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Northern Sinfonia Philharmonia orchestras, Britten Sinfonia and London Mozart Players and continues to perform as a leader, principal and section violinist, also recently, as soloist with various professional freelance groups, including a performance of the Beethoven violin

concerto and other solo works with the Buckingham based, Orchestra of Stowe Opera.

He has given numerous recitals and chamber music concerts throughout the UK including a solo recital with piano for BBC Radio 3 in music by Bloch and Fritz Kreisler and was a founder member of Triptych Piano Trio, commissioning several new works as well as taking part in a jazz cross-over project with local school children.

Alun has also played with several well-known chamber groups including projects for the contemporary music ensemble, Smith String Quartet.

He ran his own group – Chamber Spectrum Ensemble for several years, giving recitals in lesser-known formats, including one with Italian harpist and teacher Gabriella Dall’Olio, alongside more traditional pairings. He also gave many recitals throughout Wales and Southern England with the Welsh, Hastings-based pianist Francis Rayner, mainly in the great German, Russian and French sonata repertoire.

A lover of the Bach solo violin works, Alun has also given performances of the full set of these six works in Cambridge, combining them in several recitals with Bach -inspired solo violin works by Ysaye and duos for violin and cello by Kodaly and Ravel.

Alongside his solo work and chamber music projects he has developed a growing reputation as an insightful pedagogue and committed teacher – as a faculty teacher and coach at Trinity Laban Junior as well as helping to develop string projects in state schools.

Writing about his work for various periodicals as well as giving many workshops at leading schools and colleges has helped him develop a practical means of passing on his years of experience as an Alexander Technique teacher and violinist.

Some of his particular interests areas have been featured in articles for the STRAD magazine – highlighting his work as an Alexander teacher in ‘a psychophysical approach to playing’; the psychological and pedagogical aspects of ‘inheriting other teacher’s pupils’; the importance of ‘musicians’ preparation’, and an appearance  as a guest on the STRAD ‘podcast’ talking about his work, generally.

He also writes occasional concert reviews for ‘Musical Opinion’ magazine and is currently putting the finishing touches to two books detailing, in different ways, the evolution of his approach to string playing.

Alun often seeks out advice from inspiring mentors from the older generation including among others, sessions with musicians such as violinist, the late Michael Davis, Adam Han-Gorski – one of the very few remaining students of Jascha Heifetz and, over the last several years, regular visits to see violinist and quartet leader, Kenneth Sillito.

He has adjudicated in several international competitions including the semi-finals of the Windsor International String Competition and, recently, for the finals of the Berkshire Young Musician of the Year.

Alun was head of the Alexander Technique teaching department at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of music and Dance for seven years until 2019 and during this period he also hosted, organised and presented his work at an international weekend conference at Trinity Laban for Alexander teachers worldwide working in music education.

For over thirty years he has been developing this psychophysical approach to playing and teaching while developing a deeper understanding of the use and development of bow technique and sound production – hopefully helping others gain a more rounded grasp of the fine art of violin playing – especially as exemplified by the celebrated violinists of the earlier part of the 20^th century.

Alun is based in Windsor where he lives with his partner, daughter and two black cats.

Vanessa is Principal 1^st violinist with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia which she has led on many occasions and performed as soloist. She has guest led other orchestras including The National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, London City Ballet and Co-led The Ulster Orchestra and Bournemouth Sinfonietta.  She has also worked with many of the finest orchestras including The Academy of St Martin in the Fields and English Chamber Orchestra. She has broadcast as a soloist on ITV, Radio 3 and Radio Wales. 

Vanessa has taught at Junior Guildhall for over twenty years. She gives Orchestral Classes for The Royal Academy of Music, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Birmingham Conservatoire.  She runs the Royal Ballet Sinfonia’s mentoring scheme with conservatoires.  She has coached the National Children’s Orchestra and is the Director The London Children’s String Orchestra and National Strings course. 

Becca has taught Dalcroze and Violin/Viola for the last 18years, working with students from 4-25yrs. Passionate to build a holistic musical education in every context she pursues, she has looked to interweave instrumental teaching with Dalcroze musicianship. She has taught on various junior conservatoire programmes, including Junior Royal Northern College of Music for 12yrs, and Junior Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD), Cardiff. Becca moved from Manchester to Cardiff in 2019 when she married. She teaches a wide range of classes each week, from Dalcroze in the Primary classroom, to Dalcroze and pedagogy for undergraduate and post graduate students at RWCMD.

Becca has written Dalcroze activities for Sing Up, a popular and well renowned resource for the Primary music curriculum in England. She wrote a Dalcroze strand for the award-winning music programme ‘Earthsong’ in Bristol. This has inspired the music service in Bristol to forge close ties with Dalcroze and their CPD training for teachers across the region. Becca has taught Dalcroze on many nationally renowned string residential courses, including National Youth String Orchestra, Pro Corda, Con Corda, Suzuki International Summer School UK, New Virtuosi, and Chetham’s Summer School.

Rebecca was the viola player in the Unthanks, a contemporary folk band 2009-19. They were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2009, and won Best Album at the BBC Folk Awards in 2016.

Ronan began his musical training as a chorister with the Palestrina choir in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral. He then took up the double bass and aged eighteen, went on to study in London and later, in Vienna.

He spent a couple of years touring Ireland as a member of the Irish Chamber Orchestra before becoming a member of the BBC Philharmonic, where he has played since 2002 and was appointed principal bass in 2015.

As well as enjoying touring Europe and the Far East, he is hugely enthusiastic about the wide variety of repertoire the orchestra performs each season.

As a guest principal bass, he plays regularly with Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, The Hallé, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Opera North.

As a chamber musician, he has enjoyed many interesting collaborations, with such quartets as the Voglers and the Callinas.

Ronan is passionate about teaching and bringing on the next generation of young bass players. He teaches, tutors and takes classes at the Royal Northern College of Music and has given masterclasses around Europe and most recently in China.

A chance encounter sparked a fascination with the Dalcroze approach to music education. Anita trained as a Dalcroze teacher and now delivers Dalcroze Eurythmics at The Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She has worked as a specialist music teacher in state primary schools for twenty-two years and uses the Dalcroze approach in all her classes. She delivers curriculum music and runs the choirs and musical ensembles. Her particular passion is Early Years Music. Anita leads CPD sessions for Dalcroze UK on Early Years and Primary school music teaching, and also provides staff training for The Kent and Medway Music Hub.

Biography coming soon.

Simon Smith is a violinist of wide ranging interests. He has been active as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher worldwide for 30 years.

He has performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the Philharmonia, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. Recitals have included the Wigmore Hall and the Purcell Room. He has performed extensively across Russia with recitals and concerto performances from Moscow to Vladivostock, and played concertos in Hong Kong and Beijing. His repertoire ranges from baroque to contemporary and he has made a speciality of performing Bach’s complete works for solo violin, in one evening.

A committed chamber musician, Simon was a member of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Octet, performing in concert halls and broadcasts worldwide. Other projects have included the release of a CD of duos and trios by Kodaly and Dohnanyi.

For two decades Simon taught in UK Conservatoires – the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, the Royal Northern College of Music, and Trinity Laban in London. For many years he was also a violin teacher and chamber music coach in the Royal College of Music Junior Department. He is currently Head of Strings at Wells Cathedral School, one of the UK’s specialist music schools.

www.simonsmithviolin.com

Adelaide Carlow, MA, MMus, is a community leader in music education, based near Kinross, in Scotland. She is founder-director of the innovative, outdoor-based Priory Farm Music Camp in Yorkshire, offering camping, chamber music and forest adventure since 2006. Adelaide is director of Milnathort Youth String Orchestra and has almost 20 years of experience teaching young people musicianship, violin, cello and piano through creative play.

Celia Waterhouse plays with the 1st Violins of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, which features prominently at the Proms every Summer and regularly tours worldwide. She studied at the RNCM graduating with first class honours and followed this with a master’s at the Johns Hopkins University in America.

Each year Celia teaches on summer chamber music courses in England and Germany and is currently Director of the National Chamber Music Course (NCMC). She plays as soloist and leader with the Tallis Chamber Orchestra and Arco Strings and has a thriving teaching practice in SW London.

Vanessa Gaidoni is an experienced viola teacher dedicated to nurturing young musicians and sharing a lifelong passion for music from her teaching studio in Hitchin. Over many years, she has helped students grow into confident and thoughtful musicians, with several going on to receive scholarships and places at leading institutions, including the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the University of Oxford. Her pupils are also regularly involved in inspirational organisations such as the National Youth Orchestra, National Children’s Orchestra, Aldeburgh Young Musicians, Britten Sinfonia Academy, Pro Corda and Arpeggione, where they gain valuable ensemble and performance experience.

Alongside her private teaching, Vanessa is a viola coach for the National Youth String Orchestra and serves as coordinator of the British Viola Society Young Violists, supporting the development of talented players across the country. She is also the viola tutor for the Benslow Late Starters.

Vanessa’s own musical training began at the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama before she was awarded a full scholarship to study at the Purcell School. She later continued her studies at the Royal College of Music in London, where she studied with the distinguished violist Roger Best. During this time, she benefited from coaching and inspiration from many prominent musicians, including Yehudi Menuhin, Yfrah Neaman, Sydney Griller, Manny Hurwitz, Emanuel Vardi, Simon Fischer, Rodney Friend, and Paul Berkowitz.

She graduated from the Royal College of Music with diplomas in both performance and teaching. After completing her studies, Vanessa worked as a freelance violist in and around London, performing widely and taking part in recordings for television and film scores, before finding her real love…..teaching.

www.violaness.co.uk

Rebecca Leyton-Smith was awarded instrumental scholarships to Magdalen College, Oxford and the Royal College of Music. She studied Cello with Hannah Roberts and Jérôme Pernoo and also gained a PGCE in Specialist String Teaching, Dalcroze and Kodaly at the RNCM.

She plays Principal Cello with the London Concert Orchestra and works regularly with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and CBSO, as well as in West End shows. She has recorded film, TV and commercial music including recent albums with Robbie Williams and Sheridan Smith.

Rebecca teaches cello at Uppingham, Oakham and Stamford Schools. She is married and has two young children.

Over the past twenty years Cathy has toured and recorded extensively with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. She teaches for the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music and has previously held positions at the Royal College and Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Cathy also maintains a lively private teaching practice. Many of her students play with the National Children’s Orchestras, National Youth String Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra. Past students now hold positions in major orchestras, work in the House of Commons and manage rock bands.

Throughout her career Cathy has been involved in teaching, publishing and training teachers. She loves teaching and was one of the pioneers developing good pedagogic foundations for young bass players in the 1980s and 1990s. Cathy is co-author of Boosey & Hawkes’ Millennium Award winning Essential String Method and runs a small publishing company, Bartholomew Music Publications, specializing in music for young bassists. Cathy is a mentor for the ESTA Postgraduate certificate in instrumental teaching. In 2009 the International Society of Bassists recognized her as a Young Bassists Ambassador and in 2014 she received the ESTA award in recognition of services to the European String Teachers’ Association.

A chorister at Lichfield Cathedral, Holger went on to win a music scholarship to Winchester College during which time he was also a cellist in the National Youth Orchestra. After reading Modern Languages at Oxford, Holger was awarded a scholarship to continue his studies on the cello and piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. From 2002 – 2004 Holger was Director of Music at St. Anselm’s and St. Cecelia’s, Kingsway. More recently he did an MA in Music Pedagogy at the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy in Kecskemét Hungary where he graduated with distinction, and he has had the privilege of being taught by some of the most outstanding teachers in the field of Kodály music education. As well as teaching at Colourstrings Music School, Holger is a tutor at the Mary Ward Centre for Adult Education in London where he delivers a wide range of music courses, and also teaches piano at Notting Hill and Ealing High School. He has been a tutor for the British Kodaly Academy and has lectured to the Gustav Mahler Society UK. Holger has extensive experience performing both on the cello and piano, and he is committed to helping each child achieve their full musical potential.

Japanese-British conductor, Theo Vinden, enjoys being part of the NYSO family as associate conductor and music assistant!

Theo is currently head conductor of the Wymondham Symphony Orchestra. He is also head conductor of the senior strings at the North London Conservatory and guest conductor for the Grim’s Dyke Opera company (formerly the d’Oyly Opera company). He is now conductor emeritus of the Keele University Philharmonic orchestra and choir, having held the position of head conductor between 2022-25. He resurrected the choir in 2024.

Recently he achieved successes and advanced to the semi-final round of the Ionel Perlea international conducting competition. In addition, in the past two years, he was offered scholarship conducting positions to attend the Cortona festival, and Mostly Modern festival. He was successful in progressing to the final rounds of the Trinity Laban Sir Charles Mackerras conducting fellowship in 2015.

During his time in the U.S., he was conducting Fellow of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, and interim director of orchestra at the University of Texas Permian Basin. The orchestra doubled in size during his tenure. Prior to going to the U.S., he was director of the chamber choir at the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy, Hungary, performing at important ceremonies across Hungary and Romania to commemorate Kodály’s birth and death anniversaries in 2017-18.

He studied conducting and cello at prestigious establishments including the St. Petersburg Conservatory, Russia, the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy, Hungary, and the Joint Course between the RNCM and Manchester University, U.K.. He also completed his Doctorate at Texas Tech University in the U.S., supported by scholarships.

As cellist, Theo has appeared as soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra and done freelance work with many professional orchestras in the U.K. and U.S., including Opera North, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra and the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra.

• Spring concert wear – NYSO teal T-shirt for the Spring workshop (1 t-shirt per player will be provided on arrival. Any replacements needed can be purchased for £10.00 on the residency).
• Summer concert wear – Smart, all-black concert dress, sufficient for 2 concerts. Don’t forget black socks/tights & shoes.
• Instrument & bow with rosin, spare strings, mute, music stand (named), pencils & eraser. For celli/bassi a spike holder, wedge cushion (if required), bass stool
• Towel & personal toiletries (bedding is provided)
• Alarm clock (if you wish to rise early – under 16s hand in all electronics overnight)
• Water bottle for use during rehearsals
• Clothes suitably comfortable for long hours of rehearsals
• Comfortable shoes in case of outdoor games
• Jumper & raincoat (our rehearsal spaces are in different buildings so students will often be required to walk outside between rehearsals)
• Suncream/sunhat/glasses in case of hot weather
• Swimming things (there may be an opportunity to go swimming during the summer residency)
• Optional spending money (there will be opportunities for students to visit Stamford town where there is a selection of shops to visit)

Gillian Thoday has been a cello tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester since 2009 and has taught at Chethams School of Music and the Guildhall School of Music Junior Department for many years. Her experience as a performer encompasses solo recitals, work with chamber ensembles, studio sessions and orchestral work with most of the major orchestras in London.

Her teaching is strongly influenced by her four years of study in Germany with Andre Navarra, one of the greatest soloists and pedagogues of his day, together with the fruits of her own extensive experience as a performer and teacher. Her approach combines a strong emphasis on technical schooling with a recognition of the need to always nurture the invidual voice of the student. She aims to give them the technical, musical and organiational skills to ultimately become their own teachers, and many of her students have gone on to successful performing careers in the music profession.

Alex currently divides his time between performing as Assistant Principal Viola of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and teaching, both at Wells Cathedral and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He has performed all over the world and taught many young professionals who are now working in the profession. His aim to get the best out of every student and enable them to become the best musician they can be.

Enrico Alvares was invited by Sir Neville Marriner to join the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in 1991. Working closely with all three Directors (Sir Neville, Iona Brown, and Kenneth Sillito) he was a full member for ten years, during which time he worked with a full roster of the world’s very greatest soloists. He has played with all the major British orchestras and is now a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA).

Enrico is a deeply devoted teacher and his teaching is a synthesis of his lineage. His father (his first teacher) was a pupil of Bronislaw Fryling, a Sevcik pupil; whilst studying at the Purcell School Enrico was a pupil of Carmel Kaine, an Ivan Galamian pupil (and leader of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields); Enrico studied with the Amadeus Quartet for six years, during which time he gained great insight into the teaching methods of Carl Flesch and Max Rostal; he was introduced at a young age to Paul Rolland’s immensely liberating approach to string teaching by the incomparable Roger Raphael; and finally, but most certainly not least, Enrico is the very humble and grateful recipient of the unique Auer and Heifetz tradition from many, many intense and closely-focused hours spent with Ayke Agus and Adam Han-Gorski. Enrico’s wish for his students is simple: freedom…of movement around the instrument and of emotional expression. The means and methods change depending on the student – but the goal is the same, freedom.

In addition to his musical achievements Enrico also has a deep understanding of the worlds of finance and investment, having been a partner in Mayfair-based Bramdean Asset Management. He has used this unusual mixture of skills to organise major charity concerts such as the Kosovo Concert in 1999, the Concert For Nepal in 2015, and the Concert For Afghanistan in 2021 – and he is now a regular promoter of socially-engaged concerts in general. Soloists for past concerts have included Steven Isserlis, Julian Bream, Nicholas Daniel OBE, Alina Ibragimova, and Wissam Boustany; conductors have included Sir Neville Marriner, Daniel Harding, and David Murphy.