Academic Music Department Staff  

John Brierley

Head of Academic Music

Qualifications

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Subjects Taught

Organ /Music Theory / GCSE / A-Level

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A native of Liverpool John Brierley read music at University College, Durham where he was Assistant Organist and a Rothwell Prize winner. He won a Major State Studentship for post-graduate study at King’s College, London and held the post of Director of Music at St Peter’s Church, Streatham. Now living and working in Worcester, John enjoys a varied freelance career which includes directing choirs, being Musical Director for Shakespeare at the Commandery productions, working as an accompanist for both singers and instrumentalists and teaching at the Elgar School of Music in Worcester where he is also a School Governor. He is Organist and Choir Director at St John-in-Bedwardine, Worcester. As an organist, John gives recitals throughout the country at cathedrals, concert halls and major churches.

Janine Parsons

Qualifications

BMus, PGDip, ALCM

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Subjects Taught

Piano / Music Theory

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OPENING HOURS 

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The School office is currently closed. All our staff are working remotely during the lockdown period. 

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The School e-mail accounts are being checked regularly, but please bear with us for any delay. 

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Any queries, please email us:

enquiries@elgarschoolofmusic.org.uk

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ADDRESS

 

The Elgar School of Music

16-21 Deansway

Worcester

WR1 2ES

e. enquiries@elgarschoolofmusic.org.uk

t. 01905 28613

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Music For All

PRIVACY POLICY

President: Julian Lloyd Webber

Chairman of the Governors: Peter Sheeran

CEO Kate Fawcett

  Head of School: Noriko Tsuzaki

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© 2016 The Elgar School of Music

Wilhelm Theunissen

Head of Vocal Studies

Qualifications

BA, HED, B.Ed (Hons)

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Subjects Taught

Vocal Studies

CME Mentor

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Wilhelm Theunissen is a professional tenor and singing teacher based in Worcester, England. He studied singing in his native South Africa with Professor Werner Nel before continuing his postgraduate studies in Italy and Germany. He returned to lecture in South Africa where he developed a programme to take classical singing into the townships. This eventually resulted in launching the careers of several opera singers, including that of bass baritone Vuyani Mlinde, currently a member of Opera Frankfurt. Wilhelm performed in all the major concert venues in South Africa.

Among the highlights were performances in Il Seraglio, Le Nozze di Figaro, Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Tosca. Wilhelm’s specialism is in the world of oratorio. He has sung the role of the Evangelist for Bach’s St Matthew and St John Passions on many occasions, in both German and English. Since moving to England in 2003, Wilhelm has pursued a teaching and performing career. Apart from the role of the Evangelists, he has performed solo in Handel’s Messiah and Ode to St Cecilia, Haydn’s Creation, the Verdi Requiem, Britten’s Company of Heaven and Elgar’s Coronation Ode. Wilhelm gives regular recitals of lieder by Schumann and Schubert for concert clubs around the country and has performed with various ensembles, including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Symphony Orchestra, the Manchester Camerata and the BBC National Chorus of Wales. He currently runs his own studio in Worcester and teaches at the Elgar School of Music where he is also Head of Vocal studies.

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Harriet Amos

Qualifications

BMus(Hons)

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Subjects Taught

Community Choir Leader / Piano

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Harriet graduated from Newcastle University in 2013 with a BA honours degree in music, specialising in classical piano performance.
Since her return to Worcester, Harriet has performed 3 professional piano recitals at Huntingdon Hall in Worcester. She is also a vocal coach at The Academy Dance School, piano teacher at Cutnall Green C of E First School, and the Music Director for WODYS (Worcester Operatic and Dramatics Society Youth Section) Harriet was also the Music Director for the 2014 Annual Friends Of The Swan production at the Swan Theatre.
Harriet is delighted to have recently become part of the Elgar School of Music, and is looking forward to lots of exciting new opportunities with the Community Choir.

Erika Mädi Jones

Qualifications

BMus Hons, MMus Hons, PGAD, MISM

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Subjects Taught

Voice

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British Jugendlich-dramatischer soprano Erika Mädi Jones debuted to critical acclaim as Elisabeth in
Tannhäuser at Longborough Festival Opera in summer 2016.
Winner of the 2017 Dvořák Society for Czech and Slovak Music Prize at the Emmy Destinn Young Singers
competition and highly commended in the finals of the 2015 UK Wagner Society singing competition. She
was awarded first prize in the 2013 Elisabeth Schumann Lieder Duo competition and second prize in the Roy
Pleasance Competition that same year. Erika is supported by Help Musicians UK, and is the recipient of the
Goodall scholarship from the UK Wagner Society, Friends in New York of TCM London Award/ Edgar TP
Comley Certificate of Excellence. In 2015 she was a chorister at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and a Les
Azuriales young artist.
A Britten Pears Young Artist, Erika performed in the 2016 Aldeburgh Festival as part of the Thomas
Quasthoff Brahms song course. She has had the pleasure of studying with Eugene Asti on his Brahms and
Richard Strauss Projects at Trinity Laban, notably performing Strauss’s Opus 27 songs with pianist Clare
Simmonds. Together with pianist Panaretos Kyriatzidis, she has performed a wide variety of German lieder
from Hindemith to Korngold, Wolf to Berg and recently Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder. The duo were invited
to sing in a masterclass with Ian Partridge CBE in the 2014 Oxford Lieder festival and a masterclass with
Roger Vignoles in the 2013 London Song Festival.
In concert Erika has performed orchestral works such as Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder and
Ravel’s Shéhérazade and worked with conductors including Howard Williams, Diego Masson and Gerry
Cornelius.
Opera credits include: Ellen Orford, Peter Grimes (Dartington International Music Festival), Donna Anna,
Don Giovanni, (Moon-Little Theatre & Co Opera Co). Leonore, Fidelio (Guildford Opera), Helena, A
Midsummer Night’s Dream (TL Opera Scenes). Die Marschallin, Der Rosenkavalier (TL Opera Scenes), 2
Magd, Daphne (with Opera at Home), 2nd Lady, Die Zauberflöte (in a workshop with Simon McBurney/
Complicite ahead of his new staging of Die Zauberflöte for De Nederlandse Oper), and Miss Jessell, The
Turn of the Screw (TL Opera scenes)
Erika grew up locally and attended schools in South Shropshire. She read music at Cardiff University Music
School, graduating in 2003 with honours before pursuing vocal studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of
Music and Dance in London. Gaining Distinctions in both Masters of Music and Postgraduate Artist’s
Diploma, her studies were supported by the Robinson Hearn Scholarship, Stopford Westminster Bursary, the
Kathleen Roberts Scholarship, Trinity Laban Postgraduate and External courses bursary funds. Additionally,
Erika was a member of the 2013/14 Trinity Laban mentor scheme at English National Opera.
She has had the pleasure of performing in masterclasses with such artists as Cheryl Studer, Susan Bullock,
Rosalind Plowright OBE, Diana Montague, Ryland Davies, Susanna Stranders, Wendy Dawn Thompson, Ian
Kennedy, Richard Jackson, Sarah Leonard, Martin Handley and Rodney Clarke.
Erika is based in Worcestershire.
www.erikamadijones.com

Sarah Davison

Qualifications

B Mus (Hons) TCM

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Subjects Taught

Voice

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Sarah was raised in Herefordshire while she attended the Cathedral School Sixth Form and studied singing with Elizabeth Ritchie, before continuing with Hazel Wood at Trinity College of music where she gained a First Class Honours degree. She was the first recipient of the Friends of the Hereford Three Choirs Festival Bursary and has performed in concerts for the festival.  She has performed in a masterclass with Emma Kirkby and sung under Sir Charles Mackerras also taking the solo roles in Purcell’s opera King Arthur, Montverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea and the premiere of Tim Lissimore’s Triumph of life. Sarah has performed as a soloist with many Southern and London based choral societies whilst being a singing teacher at Brigthon College, UCS and St Cecilia’s Wandsworth.  Currently Sarah teaches in Worcestershire and Herefordshire and at the ESM in Worcester. 

Stephen Shellard

Qualifications

BMus, LRSM, ARCM

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Subjects Taught

Vocal Studies / Piano

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Stephen Shellard comes from Dublin. He began his musical career as a chorister in the choir of St Bartholomew’s Church Ballsbridge, later moving to St. Patrick’s Cathedral where he became Head Chorister a Winstanley Scholar. He continued his musical education at Trinity College Dublin during which time he became the youngest ever Alto Lay Vicar Choral in the 800 year history of St. Patrick’s. In 1990 Stephen moved to join Worcester Cathedral Choir where he is now Senior Alto Lay Clerk. Stephen’s solo career has included working the Worcester Festival Choral Society as well as many other choral societies. He has sung and recorded with specialist early music ensemble ‘Musica Contexta’, singing solo on their debut recording of Sheppard’s Cantate Mass for the Herald label (HAVPCD195) and on the group’s three-disc Palestrina project for Chandos. Their recording Music for Holy Saturday (CHAN 0679), was in the Editor’s top ten choice in the July 2002 issue of Gramophone, was nominated for a Gramophone award and was a critic’s Disc of the Year choice in the December 2002 issue. Stephen also sang solo in the group’s Wigmore Hall debut in 2001, which was broadcast on Radio 3.

Other solo engagements have included Britten’s Abraham and Isaac, and Handel’s Messiah with Sir David Willcocks, both at the 2002 Three Choir’s Festival and Bach’s St Matthew Passion with Armonico Consort of which he was a founder member. In October 2003 Stephen sang solo in the choir’s debut at the Wigmore Hall with Emma Kirkby, in recently discovered works of Alessandro Scarlatti. He has also featured on the group’s recordings of works by Scarlatti and the Victoria Requiem on the Deux-Elles label.

In 1998 Stephen founded the Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir to further his lifelong passion for conducting. He made his orchestral conducting debut in Worcester Cathedral in March 2000 with the combined Chamber and Cathedral Choirs and the London based Westminster Chamber Orchestra in Bach’s St. John Passion. Since then he has developed the choir’s repertoire and conducted them in performances including Brahms’ Requiem (version with two pianos); Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Durufle’s Requiem. Stephen has also directed the choir in six recordings: ‘ Sing Choirs of Angels’ (2002), ‘Jerusalem’ (2004), ‘A Worcester Evensong’ (2006), ‘Hodie’ (2009), ‘Rise Heart’ (2011), and ‘The Guest’ (2013).

Stephen formed the Worcester Chamber Orchestra to perform with the Chamber Choir and to develop his conducting career. Stephen has a thriving teaching practice. He teaches singing at the Elgar School of Music, the Worcester Sixth Form College. Stephen holds Performer’s Diplomas in Piano (LRSM) and Singing (ARCM).

Lindsay Martin

Qualifications

CME

Subjects Taught

Jazz Vocals. ESM Contemporary Vocals

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Lindsay Martin is a singer and singing teacher currently teaching and performing throughout Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. Lindsay has sung with a variety of bands including Back From The 80's, The Boogaloos, Mainstreamers International Jazz Ensemble and the Gloucestershire Youth Jazz Orchestra. She sang backing vocals for the UK Pink Floyd Experience for six years, touring the UK theatre circuit. Lindsay studied for a Higher Diploma in Popular Music Performance (Vocals) at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, gaining a Distinction. Lindsay teaches contemporary vocals at The Elgar School of Music, The Rock Project Cheltenham, at primary and secondary schools in Gloucestershire and is part of the Let's Play Music family of private music tutors. Lindsay currently performs around the UK with DIY punk band Fight Rosa Fight!, party band Koala Groove and her jazz trio.

Hannah Grove

Qualifications

LRSM

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Subjects Taught

Voice (Soprano)

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Equally at home as an oratorio soloist and as a consort singer with both vocal and instrumental ensembles, soprano Hannah Grove performs regularly across the UK and abroad. Known for the clear quality and agile nature of her voice, recently described by a reviewer at Birmingham's Symphony Hall as "vocal balm", she has a particular affinity for the repertoire of the Renaissance and Baroque eras and has appeared as soloist with the Academy of Ancient Music, Ars Eloquentiae and the Corelli Orchestra in both chamber and oratorio settings. 

 In addition to her frequent performances of early and classical repertoire, she is in demand for her interpretation of many 20th century and contemporary works, and has given the world premiere of several new compositions, including David Lawrence’s Ballad of a Lost House. Future projects include Bach’s cantata Ich bin vergnügt for solo soprano with Bybrook Baroque, Couperin’s Lecons de Tenebres, Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man and a series of concerts with female a capella group Papagena.

Away from the concert platform she sings regularly in workshops on performing arts in a leadership context, participates in educational projects, and has recently been appointed to the vocal department of the Elgar School of Music.  Whilst expecting her young son she discovered a love for Baroque Dance, which she continues to study with renowned dance teacher Philippa Waite.

Andrew Randall

Qualifications

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Subjects Taught

Voice

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Baritone Andrew Randall, was raised in the heart of the Peak District; currently working and residing in Birmingham, he is taught by the renowned tenor, Paul Bambrough. Previously Andrew studied his bachelor’s degree at the University of Nottingham, and is a Masters graduate from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Throughout undergraduate study Andrew was a semi-professional international in the sport of Archery—he narrowly missed out on a position at the 2012 Olympic games. On top of many other freelance engagements, Andrew is Principal Bass lay clerk for Worcester Cathedral, sings with the renowned choir Ex Cathedra (under the direction of Jeffrey Skidmore) and with the Armonico Consort (under Christopher Monks). 

Andrew has performed lead roles in many operatic works. Most recently, as Guglielmo in Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte, and as Count Almaviva in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (a role which he will reprise this summer). In Michael Wolters’ new opera, Ava’s Wedding, Andrew created the role of Ian Hobbs; he has also performed the title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Sid in Britten's Albert Herring, Marcello in Puccini's La Bohème, Bartley in Vaughan-Williams’ Riders to the Sea, and Salieri in Rimsky Korsakov’s Mozart and Salieri.

Andrew’s recent oratorio engagements have included: Bach’s Magnificat, St John Passion, St Matthew Passion, and cantata for solo voice Ich habe genung, Dvorâk Te Deum, Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem, Handel’s Alexander’s Feast, Duruflé’s Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem and Regina Coeli. 

Andrew has been a very active competition singer. He has been awarded: first prize for the Andrew Downes’ Contemporary Music competition; winner of the John Ireland Music prize (a discipline-wide competition); first prize in the Edward Brooke’s English Song prize; winner of the Ashleyan Opera Prize; second prize in the Mario Lanza Opera Competition; second prize winner in the Edward Brooke’s Lieder Prize; finalist in the Somerset Song Prize; second prize in the Cecil Drew Oratorio competition; second place in the Cameron Smith French song prize; and previously won a residential scholarship to the renowned international summer school in Oxenfoord, led by the inimitable Malcolm Martineau. 

Kimberley Kainey

Qualifications

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Subjects Taught

Voice

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