Our Teachers
Esther Platten (Singing and Cello)
Esther Platten began her music making in Norfolk. Showing an early interest in the ‘cello, she quickly became passionate about orchestral and chamber music. Esther was a founding member of the Norwich Cathedral Girls’ Choir, and its first Head Chorister under the direction of Neil Taylor.
Following a choral scholarship and music degree from Kings College London and the RAM, Esther entered the professional music scene in London and Oxford singing in many churches and cathedrals, working with various choirs, touring, recording and undertaking solo engagements.
She has performed widely across the UK as a soloist, and as a Consort singer in many venues across the UK and Europe. Equally content in a concert hall or jazz club, Esther has a versatile voice and enjoys singing many styles. Esther now enjoys a mixed portfolio of teaching, performing solo and as a consort singer, and coaching instrumental chamber music.
Stuart Brown (Drums)
Stuart Brown is a freelance drummer with over 35 years of experience. He graduated in July 2018 with a Degree in BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance from BIMM London.
Stuart is trained and qualified in Music Theory, Sight Reading, Music Pedagogy, Music Styles, Music Technology, Music Industry, Drum Techniques and Performance.
Aside from teaching, he is an active working musician, playing in a number of different settings. His previous work includes: House drummer/percussionist at The Hippodrome Circus, Theatre, Musicals, Function Bands, Gospel Bands and Big Bands.
Gary Ames (Violin, Viola and Piano)
Gary Ames grew up in Norwich and found a love for music playing both violin and piano from an early age. After completing A levels, he started his musical career in the Royal Marines Band Service where he completed three years military and musical training, specialising in performance. During his time in the Royal Marines, he performed as a soloist and as leader of the orchestra around the UK, in many foreign countries and, on many occasions, for members of the Royal family.
Upon leaving the forces he began his teaching career in Devon and Cornwall. A few years later he returned to Norfolk, where he has worked as an upper strings and piano teacher since. Mr Ames enjoys all genres of music and has played in a wide variety of ensembles including symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, big bands, function bands, ceilidh bands and, of course, marching bands! Nowadays he mostly enjoys playing in a string quartet with his friends, and enjoys composing using music technology.
Mr Ames has many years' experience teaching beginner to advanced strings and piano players in a wide variety of primary and secondary schools and has been involved with many exciting music education projects. He loves working with and inspiring our next generation of musicians and is proud to be part of the Inspiration Trust's Visiting Music Teacher Team.
Fiona Beeston (Woodwind)
Fiona Beeston studied the bassoon at Trinity College London and followed her graduate course with a Post Graduate Orchestral Training course at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
On completing her 5 years of study at Music College, Ms Beeston gained a huge amount of orchestral playing experience in London and regional Orchestras and worked extensively as a freelance musician in West End shows, and Opera productions, both domestically and internationally. In addition to her playing, she has always been passionate about sharing her skills and has been teaching woodwind instruments for, and have 25 years' experience in, state, private and specialist music schools.
Ms Beeston has recently moved to North Norfolk and is thoroughly enjoying her new challenges with Inspiration Trust. Ms Beeston teaches bassoon, oboe, saxophones, clarinet, flute and recorders.
Elizabeth Taylor (Piano and Keyboard)
Originally from Great Yarmouth, Elizabeth Taylor started playing the piano at the age of 4. She went on to achieve her grade 8 at the age of 15 and studied for her BMus (Hons) and MMus in piano performance at the University of Huddersfield. Whilst at university she was awarded the Rodwell prize for piano and won the Kirklees Young Musician of the Year competition.
Elizabeth has taught the piano for 20 years and guided many pupils through their exams up to grade 8 and beyond. Elizabeth completed her teacher training at Homerton college and spent 10 years teaching music in the classroom as well as teaching the piano.
Elizabeth performs regularly as a soloist and accompanist in the local area and her favourite composer is Frédéric Chopin!
David Ballard (Piano and Singing)
David Ballard is known as a performer and teacher across the East of England, where he is active as a conductor, organist, pianist, and singer. He has played or sung at many recognised venues including Norwich Cathedral, St Andrew’s Hall, The Norfolk Showground and the Assembly Rooms. He studied Music at the University of East Anglia, which was followed by both postgraduate music studies and a teaching award from the Open University.
As a performer, Mr. Ballard is the Musical Director of Sheringham & Cromer Choral Society and has worked with orchestras including the London Mozart Players and the Grammy-award winning Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He has given the first performances of works by renowned composers including Thomas Hewitt Jones, Michael Finnissy and John Rutter. He has been Musical Director for many theatrical shows at venues across Norfolk including Phantom of the Opera, Grease, and an award-winning production of Les Miserables.
Sam Baker (Guitar and Ukulele)
Sam grew up in Norwich, and from a young age he has been obsessed with music. He fell in love with the Guitar when he was 11, and started writing his own music at 14. After finishing school, he went on to study Music at college and soon discovered other instruments, as well as a passion for music theory.
Sam studied for his BMus (Hons) at Kingston University in London where he played Guitar and Bass, performing in several different bands while developing his skills in composition and music production.
Once he graduated, Sam discovered a passion for teaching, and has taught in Schools across Norfolk as well as a private music school. Sam’s favourite genres are rock, alternative, pop, and hip hop. He loves collaborating with other musicians and creating his own songs from his home studio.
Martyn Marshall (Piano and Singing)
Martyn was educated in Ruislip, Horsham and Petersfield and studied world music and education studies at the university of southampton. He has a diploma from the Royal College of Organists and a general music diploma. He has been playing the piano and organ for many years, being involved with choirs since the age of 7.
He has taught piano and organ from the age of 16 and has held many organist and choirmaster positions. He has directed many adult and children’s choirs and is a very experienced singer. As a performer, he has given recitals in the south of England as an organist, most notably in Chichester cathedral, as well as in Glasgow where he worked for ten years. He is a very experienced head of music working in schools all over the UK and has been musical director for many school productions, such as West Side Story, Les Miserables, Chicago etc. He has also led very successful school music tours to countries such as Belgium, Italy and New York.
As well as his current teaching, he now takes part as a recitalist in the annual recitals at Great Yarmouth Minster as well as playing for church services some weekends.
Bethanie Popple (Piano)
Bethanie grew up in a musical family and began her musical journey with the piano, of which she has been playing for nearly 25 years. She also played the organ and drums in a band that toured around Norfolk, but her passion has always been classical music (especially Chopin!) and wanting to help young people have the same experience she had of learning music from a young age.
As many children do not get the opportunity to have private piano lessons, she started running after-school piano clubs in local primary schools, and it was then that she realised her love of teaching. Now, Bethanie has over 12 years of experience in teaching the piano as a private teacher, and is now proud to be a part of the Inspiration Trust Visiting Music Teachers team.
David Wragg (Woodwind)
David was introduced to wind instruments and group music-making at school. His first rehearsal with his high school wind band was the watershed moment when he realised he wanted to learn, teach and play music with other people for the rest of his life.
Pursuing an interest in education, David completed a PGCE at the University of East Anglia before teaching in mainstream and complex needs schools in Gloucestershire and Norfolk. While refining his teaching skills and gaining experience across the spectrum of learning support, David spent 2 years travelling to London to study saxophone with a tutor from the Royal College of Music. During this time, he expanded his performing experience by taking part in music college events across the country, gaining insights from some of the world’s leading saxophonists. In 2008, David was awarded a performance diploma on saxophone from Trinity College London.
David has performed with numerous wind, jazz, musical theatre and chamber ensembles, and currently enjoys leading his saxophone quartet in performances across the county. He continues to teach privately, on top of his work with the trust, passionately believing that the discipline of learning a musical instrument and the transformative experience of shared music-making can open doors for all our young people.
David "Dai" Lewis (Brass)
Dai started his musical journey down in Wales by taking up the French Horn at school. He enjoyed the benefit of participating in a very good county youth orchestra which travelled up to London often to take part in “Music for Youth” competitions in various concert halls.
After school, Dai studied at the Royal Academy of Music where he gained an LRAM. After leaving the Academy, he performed with London and regional orchestras, and was fortunate enough to perform in many Italian cities also. Later he played in many “West End” musicals including….Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Singin’ in the rain and 42nd Street.
It was around this time Dai embarked on his teaching career working in several schools around North London for the next 35 years covering the whole range of brass instruments. He has taught many hundreds of students over those years including all ages and styles, classical to jazz and guiding them through grade exams or playing ‘just for fun!’
As well as teaching, Dai enjoys conducting orchestras and bands. He was involved with brass coaching and conducting a London Borough youth orchestra for many years, and feels very privileged to have conducted them at the Royal Albert Hall in showcase concerts.
Just recently moved to North Norfolk, Dai is now enjoying encouraging and expanding the next generation of young brass players!
