Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Tutors and Staff (A to Z)
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Margaret Fingerhut
Piano Tutor
Margaret Fingerhut has performed in many different countries and has become well-known for her imaginatively designed recital programmes 'Piano Themes' in which she explores the highways and byways of the piano repertoire. As a concerto soloist she has appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra,...
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Steve Fishwick
Visiting Tutor
Steve Fishwick is widely considered to be one of the best jazz trumpet players ever to come from the UK, and is rapidly gaining a global reputation thanks to his flawless technique and his beautifully flowing, harmonically rich improvisations. He is one of an increasing number of trumpeters who have been heavily influenced by...
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Charlotte Forrest
Vocal Coach
Charlotte is a Senior Vocal Coach for Glyndebourne Festival Opera and currently a regular member of visiting music staff for English National Opera, Grange Festival, Garsington Opera, Longborough Opera and Opera Holland Park. Charlotte spent 10 years as a member of music staff at Opera North and collaborated regularly with...
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Jez Franks
Jazz Guitar Tutor
Jez took up the guitar aged 15 and attended Leeds College of Music acquiring the College's Jazz Guitar Prize. He co-leads and writes for the band 'Compassionate Dictatorship' who recently released their third album 'Entertaining Tyrants' and toured extensively last year. He has also played, recorded and toured with a variety...
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Jonathan French
Senior Tutor in Accompaniment
Jonathan French's work at the Conservatoire involves accompanying students for recitals, exams, competitions and auditions, as well as teaching and coaching. Away from the Conservatoire, he is a freelance concert pianist and accompanist. His performances have included piano concertos with various orchestras including the City...
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Dr Devorina Gamalova
Violin & Viola Tutor
The Bulgarian-German musician Devorina Gamalova obtained her violin performing and teaching diplomas from the Music Academies in Sofia (Bulgaria) and Dresden (Germany), PG certificates from RCM and GSMD in London and in 2008 was awarded a PhD degree outright from the University of West London. Among her professors were Grigory...
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Dr Bobbie-Jane Gardner
Lecturer in Composition
Bobbie-Jane Gardner’s music has been described as “lyrical”, “harmonically subtle and rhythmically agile” and often takes as inspiration the sound worlds of jazz, Hip-Hop, soul and funk. She has received commissions from the CBSO, LSO, Spitalfields Music, Onyx Brass, G Plus Ensemble, Wild Plum Arts and others. Collaboration...
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Max Garrard
Performance Coach and Mentor
Max plays Fourth Horn with Welsh National Opera, having been previously based at Opera North (2010-2019). As a freelance musician (2002-2010), Max was based in London and regularly worked with orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Opera House. ...
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Alexej Gerassimez
International Solo Percussion Consultant
Alexej was born in Essen, Germany. He studied with Christian Roderburg at the Cologne Conservatory of Music, Hanns Eisler at the Berlin Conservatory and Peter Sadlo at the Munich Conservatory of Music. Alexej has had much success in competitions including winning the International Marimba Competition in Nuremberg, the European...
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Peter Glenville
Clarinet Tutor
Peter studied clarinet at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and then completed his studies at the Royal College of Music, on the Postgraduate Performance Diploma course. Since then, he has performed in countries across the world. He has received numerous scholarships and awards, including First Prize in the Shell Chamber Music...