faculty
TANIA PARK, Pianist
Tania was born in Korea, growing up in New Zealand where she completed her Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano with first class honours.
Arriving in London after being invited to study in Guildhall School of Music and Drama by Martin Roscoe, she has completed Guildhall Artist Master of Performance programme, specialising in piano accompaniment under the tutelage of Martin Roscoe and Laura Roberts, during which she took part in the masterclasses and concerts led by Susan Tomes, Daniel Adni, Graham Johnson, Eugene Asti, Lada Valesova, Gordon Back and Martin Lovette OBE in London. She has been the recipient of GSMD Iris Galley Award, Arts Waikato Scholarship, Lili Kraus Solo Piano Award, University Blues Award and Performance Award in the Lilburn Trust Student Composition Awards in New Zealand.
Her particular passion for chamber music saw her win the Sir Edmund Hillary Chamber Music Competition in 2005 and 2006. She has also made frequent appearance in the concert platforms during her studies in New Zealand, which includes playing the harpsichord in the sell-out baroque concert, "Baroque Banquet" in 2009 at the annual Hamilton Gardens Festival, NZ. Tania has been commanded in GSMD Accompanist Award in 2010 and is the winner of 2011 Chamber Music Awards in the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe. As a devoted chamber musician, she has appeared in the lunchtime recital in Dartington International Summer School with her piano trio, to which the trio was invited to participate with the generosity of Joan Haward Bursary. Her other recent UK appearances include Regent Hall Oxford Circus and St James’s Piccadilly.
Subject taught: Classical Piano
YUNHEE CHOI, Pianist
Yunhee, born in Seoul, South Korea, studied chamber music and song accompaniment with Pamela Lidiard at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. After achieving MMus and MPerf there, she has been working as a staff accompanist at the Guildhall, playing for classes and performances. Yunhee is enjoying her busy career both as a performer and teacher in London.
Yunhee thinks her life as accompanist probably began when she was nine, playing for mass with children’s choir in a local church. Her interests in humanities led her to study English literature and linguistics in university, but she still continued with musical activities such as conducting the school chorus and giving concerts. Then she went to Sungshin Women’s University to study piano where she was awarded full scholarship by Haesung Cultural Foundation. She studied with Namjoo Lee and Yoonjung Ahn in Korea.
After coming to London, Yunhee got regular coachings with Graham Johnson, Iain Burnside and Eugene Asti. She played in City of London Festival in July 2009, directed by Iain Burnside. Famous conductors such as Ralf Gothoni and Martin Katz also heard her playing in their masterclasses. Vocal classes with Sarah Walker, mezzo-soprano, and Adrian Thomson, tenor, are among many other classes she played for. Yunhee has been also building up duo works specially with violinists. Meanwhile, she won the second prize in a composition contest by Catholic Lay Apostolate Council of Korea in 2008.
Subject taught: Classical Piano
MARCO FATICHENTI, Pianist
Marco graduated with Honours from the Rossini Conservatoire in Italy and the Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas, USA, with a First Class Artist Certificate and Master of Music in Piano Performance. Recipient of Full Scholarship for the Postgraduate Diploma programme at the Royal Academy of Music of London, he graduated with the highest mark and the Dip.RAM under Christopher Elton. Marco was also recipient of the Myra Hess Scholarship sponsored by the Musicians Benevolent Fund and the Sir Georg Solti Foundation Scholarship. His engagements include the Auditorio Nacional de Musica in Madrid, the Teatro Arriaga in Bilbao, the Auditorio in Barcelona, the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Steinway Hall in London, Lazinski Fedora for Opera Holland Park, Petrushka with Yan Pascal Tortelier at London’s Royal Academy of Music, Shostakovitch Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Ten Tors Orchestra, his Swedish début playing Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Boras Symphony Orchestra, recitals for the European Piano Teachers’ Association, the University of Reading and Sunderland Pianoforte Society, Fairfield Halls with Gordon Hunt and Soloists of the Philharmonia at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
His recordings include a Debut Recital CD dedicated to Brahms and a second CD for Jacques Samuel Label with music by Chopin and Schumann.
Subject taught: Classical Piano
JUN ISHIMURA, Pianist
Born in Tokyo, Jun Ishimura graduated from Royal College of Music in London with Honours under guidance of Dina Parakhina and with full scholarship from the Associated Board of Music. She is currently completing a Masters of Performance at Royal College of Music with the Derek Butler Scholarship and the Japanese Government Overseas Study Programme for Artists.
Jun has performed in major concert halls including the International Music Day Festival in Tokyo and the Benefit Concert for UNICEF 2001 in Japan, the Festival D'Auvers-Sur-Oise, Cergy-Pontoise” in France, the “Encuentro de Musica de Santander” in Spain, in Russia, Israel, St. John’s Smith Square and Cadogan Hall in London. She has also performed with orchestras such as the Krakow State Philharmonic conducted by Roland Bader and the Yaroslavl Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Murad Annamamedov. Jun has won numerous prizes in international competitions, including the 26th Piano Competition by PTNA, the 5th Karamanov Competition in Ukraine, the 2nd Competition of the Art Center of Tokyo, the Ricci Foundation Awards in London, the “Maria Canals” Competition in Spain, and the Takamatsu Competition in Japan.
Her teaching experience range from early beginners to adults and advanced performers. She has been giving piano workshops in Japan (Yokoama and Tokio), Germany (Tuebingen) and conducting the Choir of St. Joseph’s Senior High School for various events in Japan after completing the Orchestration and Conducting Course at Royal College of Music. Together with a qualification in the Alexander Technique and Professional Teaching Technique from the Royal College of Music, Junyi holds Advanced levels of Aural, Music Theory, Music History and Composition from the Yamaha Master Classes in Japan.
She also have a First Class Degree in Chamber Music and Historical Performance (Fortepiano).
Subject taught: Classical Piano, Theory and Aural
MARTA BORIKIC, Pianist
Marta Borikic is a young Serbian musician who performs in concert venues in Serbia as well as abroad. She performs as a soloist and also in various chamber ensambles. Marta also played as the accompanist for violin, clarinet , cello, and singers. She began playing the piano in music school in Belgrade at the age of eight. After finishing highschools, both music and classical, she became a student of the Academy of Music Arts in Belgrade. She graduated in a class of Professor Jokut Mihailovic.
In the last few years, Marta Borikic has performed as a solist in concert venues in Belgrade and other cities in Serbia. She also performed in festivals and was a participant in competitions in Italy, France, Greece, and many other countries. She is a second prize winner of Nikolai Rubinstein competition in Paris. Borikic has attended several masterclasses and worked with teachers Agatha Leimoni, Fulvio Tourissini, Kemal Gekic, Evgeny Sudbin, Christofer Elton, Claudio Martinez,Hamish Milne and others. Beside performing she is currently teaching and would like to continue developing in that direction too. Marta graduated with MA at Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studied with Professors Colin Stone and Diana Ketler.
Subject taught: Classical Piano
GIANNI BOSCARINO, Pianist
Gianni Boscarino is an experienced piano and guitar teacher as well as an established performer. He can teach any style and any age and is also currently working with children with challenging behavior. Classically trained in piano, he eventually decided to specialize in jazz with a BA in jazz at Middlesex university and a MMUS in jazz performance at the Guildhall School of Music. Leading his on jazz quartet (www.myspace.com/gianniquartet) and playing in several other projects, he had a chance to record and perform in numerous venues and music festivals all over the country including Swanage, Swindon and Corsham (where supported the Stan Tracy trio). Gianni also recorded the album 'Magic Numbers' with the Tim Collinson Quartet, released in May 2007 on 33 Records.
Subject taught: Jazz Piano
KASIA DALECKZO, Pianist
Kasia graduated from the University of Music im. K. Lipinskiego Wroclaw, Poland, Prof. Olga Rusina Master of Arts degree in Music Performance and Music Teaching. She than completed her studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music with a Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance (Piano) under the guidance of Prof.Hugh Tinney and Prof.Therese Fahy.
As a soloist she performed in many international competitions, music projects, festivals, concerts, radio and TV auditions, but she also have a large experience in chamber music, vocal piano accompaniment and piano duo.
Kasia has a long experience as piano teacher in Poland and Ireland with students of any ages and level (from 3 years old children to adults), any music styles (classical music as well as blues, pop, rock, jazz etc) and the majority of her students achieving Distinction in their examinations or being awarded in many music competitions. Thanks to her long stage experience, she love to teach students how to become accomplished solo performer.
In 2009 she acquired the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England.
Subject taught: Classical Piano, Theory and Aural
DIMITRI SCARLATO, Composer and Pianist
Dimitri Scarlato is a composer/producer/conductor/pianist who has studied in Rome, Siena and London. He has worked in film, theatre, pop and classical mediums achieving high-level music for demanding directors and ‘creatives'. He has scored several short/films and his first feature film Per Sofia, is going to be released in October 2009.
Dimitri also worked in the pre-production of Sweeney Todd, the last feature directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp. He produced orchestral arrangements for the crossover opera band Appassionante. He has been songwriting, arranging and producing for Monica Iconica, Barbara Cavaleri, David Habbin, Sahara Collective.
In 2007 he has composed and recorded Voci, his first jazz record released by BDi music ltd.
He recently composed and supervised the music for the short film The City in the Sky, which has been selected to the 66th Venice Film Festival.
He is currently doing a Doctorate in Composition at the Royal College of Music and he teaches piano/theory at Highbury Grove College in London.
Subject taught: Classical and Jazz Piano, Composition, Theory–Aural
PETRA HAJDUCHOVA, Pianist and Harpsicordist
Petra is a classically trained piano and harpsichord player with a passion for a wide range of musical genres.
She studied harpsichord with James Johnstone at Trinity College of Music where in 2010 and 2011 obtained the TCM Trust Scholar. At the same year, Petra finished her BMus degree at Trinity College of Music (Trinity Laban).
Recent performances have included Händel's opera Giustino and Rinaldo (Blackheath Halls), the third Brandenburg concerto by Bach (St. Martin in the Fields), and concerts at the London Handel Festival (St. George´s Hanover Square) and the Greenwich Early Music Festival.
Petra performs regularly as a soloist, orchestral musician of the TCM Baroque Orchestra, chamber musician and as an accompanist. As an experienced music teacher, she enjoys teaching a wide age range of pupils, from pre-school age to adults. Working in The Yamaha Music School gave her an opportunity to work in an experimental way of keyboard.
Subject taught: Classical Piano, Harpsichord
GARETH WEEDON:Musical Director (Theatre), Pianist and Composer
Upon graduating from Durham University with a BA Hons Music Degree, Gareth initially performed as a Pianist (solo and in trios) at several prestigious venues around the world, before specialising in Theatre as a Musical Director in 2004. Since then, shows include "Joseph & the Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Blood Brothers", "FAME", "Beauty & the Beast", "Jolson & Co", "Spamalot", to name a few. He regularly composes and has had his music used for a Channel 4 Documentary, for corporate products and has written music for Theatre Plays performed in London and in the Edinburgh Festivals. Gareth enjoys regular group and one-to-one teaching sessions related to Theatre (singing, audition technique), solo Piano (Jazz, Classics, Modern and Improvisation Technique), Music Theory and Aural Harmony training.
Subjects taught: Piano, Performance (audition technique and repertoire), Music Theory, Aural Harmony, Composition.
RICCARDO BONCI, Organist and Pianist
Born in Terni (Italy), Riccardo graduated with top marks in Piano and Organ, having studied with F. Mastroianni, M. T. Gregorini, C. Brizi and W. Van de Pol. He also trained as Repetiteur with M. Boemi, E. Ferrari, R. Kettelson and R. Nicolosi, and was awarded the European Diploma by the “Teatro Lirico Sperimentale” in Spoleto.
Riccardo took part in masterclasses with some of the world’s most distinguished musicians (Aquiles Delle Vigne, Gustav Leonhardt, Ludger Lohmann, Helmut Deutsch, Daniel Chorzempa, David Ponsford, James O’Donnell, Sophie-Veronique Chaucefer-Choplin).
Riccardo graduated from the “Postgraduate in Performance” Organ course at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Distinction and the much coveted award of “DipRAM” for the outstanding final recital, studying with D. Titterington and S. Landale. The Royal Academy of Music has awarded him the “PIDEM Organ Fellowship” for the academic year 2005-2006. Riccardo is currently Assistant Organist at St. Barnabas Church, Dulwich, and Choir Director at Alleyn’s Junior School.
From 2010 Riccardo teaches Italian Baroque Organ at the Royal Academy of Music.
Subject taught :Classical Piano, Organ, Theory-Aural, Chamber Music, Choir Practice
ENRICA SCIANDRONE, Composer and Pianist
Enrica has a diverse and impressive CV, and works across many musical disciplines. Due to her versatility she teaches both piano and composition.
Graduated with Honours at the Refice Conservatoire of Frosinone with G. Buttà, she has performed as a soloist, chamber pianist and pianist in recording studios. She studied Chamber Music at the Imola Piano Academy with P. N. Masi and at the Constantinian Academy in Rome with K. Bogino. She has been teaching since 2000 classic/modern piano, specializing also in teaching for children (Yamaha method) and developing a personal method focused on an intuitive and creative approach to music.
As Composer, she graduated with Distinction at the Royal College Of Music (MMus in Advanced Composition) and with Honours at the Refice Conservatoire of Frosinone, First Prize at the Petrassi International Award in Composition and Composition for screen 2009, Enrica has been focusing on screen composition since 2005, achieving outstanding recognitions in this field. She teaches both traditional and contemporary composition, screen composition and sequencing / music production. In 2010 she was appointed Visiting Lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire teaching film music and composition. From September 2011 Enrica is Professor of Composition for Screen at the Royal College of Music.
Subject taught: Classical to Modern Piano, Composition and Theory-Aural.
ERI KAISHIMA, Percussionist and Pianist
Eri started her musical education with the piano. Born in the UK, Eri spent her childhood in Japan and came back to England to study piano and percussion at the Purcell School of Music. She went on to study timpani and percussion with Janos Keszei and Kevin Hathway at the Royal College of Music, gaining distinction in her final recital. She attended specialist marimba courses in Belgium and America and received coaching from influential marimba players Daniella Ganeva, Ludwig Albert and N.J.Živkovi.
An interest in music education is also at the heart of her work. Eri has completed a PGCE in Music at the Institute of Education, University of London and a Teacher Apprenticeship Scheme at the Centre for Young Musicians at Morley College in London.
She has given solo marimba recitals at St John’s Smith Square, the Britten Theatre and the National Gallery and as a keen chamber musician she has performed at prestigious venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Worcester Cathedral, the Yorke Trust in Norfolk, the Edinburgh Festival. With her Meridian duo she was accepted onto Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now Scheme and was invited by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival to run a special needs residency at Special Care Centre as part of their 2010 festival, consisting of workshops with a focus on communication through improvisation.
Subject taught: Marimba,Piano,Percussion Theory-Aural.
CHLOÉ DE BACKER, Mezzo-Soprano
After obtaining a General Diploma in Law in Paris, Chloé De Backer trained for a BMus at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where she went on to complete the Opera Course, studying with Robert Dean, John Llewellyn Evans and Laura Sarti. She has participated in masterclasses with Francisco Araiza, Robin Bowman, Jacqueline Bonnardot, Manuel Cid and Udo Reinmann.
In 2004 she was awarded an ERASMUS scholarship to study with Hartmut Höll and Mitsuko Shirai at the Karlsruhe Musikhochschule in Germany. Having given numerous recitals in Paris, London and Berlin and participating in opera productions at the GSMD she accepted a place at the International Opera Studio in Zürich in 2007. In 2008 she was a member of the Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, has toured for Scottish Opera, and has covered Javotte MANON for Scottish Opera.
Subject taught: Classical and Opera Singing
ANNA STARUSHKEVYCH, Mezzo-Soprano
Anna Starushkevych was born in Lviv, Ukraine and began piano and vocal lessons from the age of 7. After 2 years of Post Graduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Laura Sarti and completing her Master of Music in Performance degree, Anna had joined the Opera Course at the Guildhall School in September, 2011.
Anna has successfully performed in several competitions, including the Susan Longfield Award, the Jackdaws Vocal Award in Wigmore Hall and Lez Azuriales Opera Competition in Nice (France). Anna gave her solo recitals and took part in concerts in Brussels, London (Barbican Hall, St. Luke’s Church, 22 Mansfield St.,Pushkin’s House), Switzerland and Ukraine and toured through the cities of Austria as a soloist with a chamber orchestra of the Lviv State Musical College.
Anna’s opera debut was the leading role of Clytemnestra in the UK and European premiere of the first part of the opera trilogy “Oresteia” by Russian composer S. Taneyev in Leeds in November 2010. Opera magazine wrote a review about this performance in its February, 2011 edition.
Alongside her Classical career, she was the leading singer in the “Lviv-Jazz-Rock” band, performing in main music clubs of the Ukraine from 2004 till 2009.Therefore Anna teaches classical, jazz and pop style singing, and because she started her musical education as a pianist, she loves to accompany her students during the lessons.
Subject taught: Opera and Modern Singing
ILONA BONDLAR, Viola and Violin
Ilona completed her first degree in violin and viola at the Royal Academy of Music with Martin Outram and Yuko Inoue, than gained her Postgraduate Diploma in Viola at Royal College of Music with Lawrence Power.
Ilona performed as a soloist and a chamber musician at many festivals in Poland, Germany, USA and UK.
Semifinalist at the 13th International Brahms Competition in Portschach (Austria), she won the Crescendum Est-Polonia Scholarship for exceptional Polish artists. She was also awarded a second place at the RAM Theodore Holland Viola Prize, London. Ilona is member of the Kallisto String Quartet and the Muse Piano Quintet with who she performed in venues such as Southbank Centre, St Martin in the Fields, Royal Albert Hall, St James's Church Piccadilly and Royal Academy of Arts. In April 2010 the Kallisto were winners of the Gerald Heller and Rosemary Rapaport String quartet prize and in July the Muse Quintet was awarded 2nd prize at the 18è Concurs Josep Mirabent I Magrans in Barcelona/Sitges, Spain.
In August 2010 and September 2011 Ilona was a tutor of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq. This project included leading sectionals, chamber music coaching and private lessons with concerts taking place in Iraq and Germany. From September 2010 to June 2011 she was performing together with London Symphony Orchestra under the LSO Discovery String Experience Scheme. Together with the Muse Piano Quintet she took the position of the Richard Carne Junior Fellowship at the Royal College of Music. The group was also recently invited to be the artists of the Park Lane Group, with concerts including Purcell Room at Southbank Centre.
Subject taught: viola, violin, music theory
RACHEL GRIMES, Violinist
Rachel Grimes completed her B Mus (Hons) degree and Postgraduate Diploma at the Royal Northern College of Music, under the tutelage of Steven Wilkie and Benedict Holland.
Rachel is a recipient of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Milton Violin Award, which entitled her to the loan of a 1780 Nicholas Gagliano violin for 3 years. It also gave her the opportunity to perform throughout Ireland, including a live broadcast on BBC radio Ulster and a concert for the Duke of Edinburgh.
Rachel is guest leader for the Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra, Bristol and is a current member of the Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra. She is currently studying with Simon Fischer, after completing a post-graduate qualification at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama last year.
Rachel currently teaches violin for the prestigious Presdales School and has a wide teaching experience for students of all levels.
Subject taught: violin, viola, piano, music theory
JULIA ROGERS, Violinist
Julia is a vibrant young violinist who began her studies in Spain at the age of 7 and gave her first solo debut at the age of 10. She was the youngest member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, aged 13 and was then invited to play with Camerata Scotland. After attending St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh from the age of 16, she won an Undergraduate scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London to study under Maurice Hasson. Here she gained an Honours degree and also went on to complete her Postgraduate diploma with Distinction. Julia has been privileged enough to work with many important names in the musical world including Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Colin Davis, Sian Edwards and Garry Walker and has performed in venues across Europe such as The Usher Hall, The Queen’s Hall, The Royal Festival Hall, The Royal Albert Hall, The Birmingham Symphony Hall, The Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam and The Konzerthaus, Berlin.
Julia is a very keen Chamber Musician and was leader of the quartet “Midnight” throughout 2009. She has appeared on BBC Radio; Wales, Manchester, Liverpool and Derby and was recently featured on the ‘Classics Unwrapped’ programme on BBC Scotland. She has been invited to take part in the Mendelssohn on Mull chamber music festival with Levon Chilingirian for the past two years and was subsequently invited to participate in the West Dean chamber music course at West Dean College with her quartet, the Aros Quartet where they were asked to be the resident quartet. She has performed duo recitals in Spain, Switzerland and London and throughout Scotland and frequently plays with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Subject taught: violin, music theory
LUCA COMENCINI, Guitarist
Born in Verona (Italy), Luca gained a First Degree in Piano at the Music Conservatoire "Dall'Abaco" in Verona and a Teaching Diploma in Venice before moving to London. He started playing guitar at 13 and by the age of 17 joined one of the biggest "alternative" italian bands of the late 80's, Death in Venice, signed to Contempo Records. In London he is working as a session musician, mainly playing guitar and keyboards, and as a music teacher for Inner London Education Authority. In the 90's he worked with musicians like Chris Webber( Guns'n'Roses), Daniel Woodgate( Madness) and Elvis Costello. He also played guitar with a band called Stone, opening for Rod Stewart in Istanbul and Cardiff. His abilities as a songwriter and musician got him a job with Pro-Tools pioneers John McIntyre and Robbie Dredge, collaborating on the production of Duran Duran remix of "Girls on film" and Primal Scream duet with Kate Moss "Some velvet morning". In the past few years Luca started his own songwriting project, Adreenalize, securing a Publishing deal and getting a song played on television series C.S.I.New York, he also held several workshops on "rock guitar" and "live performance". In 2007 formed a new band with Robbie Dredge, The DeRellas, signed a record deal with an American indipendent label and has just finished a 3 weeks European tour.
Subject taught: Modern Guitar, Vocal
SARA GONZÁLEZ SAAVEDRA, Mezzo-soprano
Supported by Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Ministry of Culture of Spain Award 2005-2007, AIE, Charles Pitt Award, Alvarogonzalez Foundation, 2008 Silk Street award and GSMD Gold Medal finalist in 2007, Sara obtained BMus honors, MMus and MMP with distinction, Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and she now joined the prestigious National Opera Studio in September 2009.
Although Sara is a specialist in Classical music and Opera, she also enjoys working on Musical Theatre repertoire, with wide experience as singing and music teacher, both with children and adults.
Solo appearances include Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Cherubini’s Missa Solemnis, Rossini´s Petite Messe Solemnelle, Verdi´s Requiem, Haendel’s Messiah, Bach´s Johannes Passion, El Amor Brujo at Saint John Smith´s Square and Mahler’s Rückert Lieder at Barbican Hall. Operas include: Dardané Gluck´s La rencontre imprevue, Caroline Sallinen’s The king goes forth to France, Fyokla Martinu´s The Marriage, Purcell’s Dido, Le nozze di Figaro, The Third Lady (Die Zauberflute), Carmen, Charlotte (Werther), Mamma Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana in Barbican Hall and Cesena (Italy)
Subject taught: Classical and Opera Singing
MARTINO JOSE' SCOVACRICCHI RODRIGUEZ, Saxophone and Cello
Martino was born in Costa Rica and raised in Torino, Italy. He works extensively across the UK as a performing artist as a soloist and with the gypsy quintet Tatcho Drom collaborating with violinist Ms. Gundula Gruen. He is currently recording his first album of original compositions entitled "Melancolia Feliz". Winner of the Costa Rica Young Soloists Competition (2007), he has appeared as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica and alongside international artists including drummer Peter Erskine and harpist Catrin Finch.
Dedicated to contemporary music, he has delivered world premiere performances in several venues such as Southbank Centre, Bolivar Hall and Teatro Regio of Torino and has a solid repertoire of both classical and contemporary music for saxophone, with sound knowledge and improvisation both in and outside the jazz context (free and gypsy music).
A very experienced educator, Martino runs classical and gypsy workshops and master classes in the UK and Italy. Martino is part of the 'Ride for Good' project, which was formed to explore music traditions from Berber (Amazigh) people in Marocco, devoloping a teaching path in schools and villages.
An alumnus from the Berklee College of Music (2-year certificate), Martino graduated from the Royal Academy of Music (PGDip) and the Conservatorio G. Verdi of Torino (BMus). In addition to the saxophone, Martino is currently completing his second performance degree in cello with Dario Destefanohis. He has been awarded scholarships from the De Sono Associazione per la musica, the North American Scholarship, CRT Master dei Talenti, and Mosco Marener award.
Subject taught: Saxophone, Free Improvisation, Cello, Yoga for Musicians
FRANCIS GORINI, Sound Engineer
Sound Engineer, Composer & Producer and owner of musicXart studio in London, Francis has worked as a live recording engineer at numerous venues including London's Steinway Hall. He has mixed and mastered worldwide distributed CDs for jazz and classical labels. Francis is also co-owner of Arysound Ltd where he produces music for television advertising. Productions include works for Gucci, Disney and Electronic Arts. His work as sound engineer is also supported by his background and experience as a professional musician and composer. Francis has mixed and mastered hundreds of commercial tracks - including the ones on Admusiclibrary.com. Thanks to his passion for acoustic sounds and dedication to his work, Francis has earned the respect of many serious and successful jazz and classical musicians across London and beyond.
Subject taught: Sound Engineering, Recording Theory, Mixing, Mastering
Dr.STEFANIA PASSAMONTE, Artistic Director
Voting member of the Recording Academy for Grammy's Awards in the USA, Stefania is London based pianist from Italy.
After her Concert Recital Diploma at “Santa Cecilia” Academy in Portogruaro (Italy), Stefania gained the Postgraduate Diploma at Royal Academy of Music of London and then completed her studies at Ecole Nornale de Musique de Paris “Alfred Cortot”.
Founder of the London Piano Masters, Stefania has given masterclasses at some of the most prestigious music institution in England, Spain, Italy and France and has performed recitals all around Europe, some of which were televised broadcasts.
Her recordings include major works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann, and the complete "Transcendental Studies" by Liszt. Her last release, "Beethoven's Dramatic Sonatas" and "Chopin Heroic" were selected for the category of Best Album of the Year and Best Classical Instrumental Soloist at the 54th Grammys' Awards in the USA.
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