Tutors

Originally from Scotland, Mairearad studied music at the Royal College of Music in London. For several years she taught and performed professionally in London before moving to Cheshire with her husband. She is now in demand as a teacher and conductor, involved in a diverse range of teaching and music projects throughout Cheshire. She teaches clarinet, saxophone and piano at the Grange School in Hartford and conducts their Swing Band.

Mairearad is also the conductor of Cheshire Youth Orchestra.

Alex comes from Worsley, Manchester and began playing the trumpet at the age of 8. After playing with the local youth orchestras and brass bands he soon realised that playing the trumpet was something that he wanted to pursue as a career. In 2000 he began studying the trumpet with Gareth Small (Halle) and was appointed principal trumpet with the Halle Youth Orchestra. In 2002 Alex secured a place studying trumpet at the Royal Northern College of Music with Rhys Ownes (RLPO) and John Miller. After graduating from the RNCM in the summer of 2006, Alex went on to take his PGCE, specialising in instrumental teaching. Since then Alex has taught brass for Cheshire County Council, Wigan Instrumental Teaching Provision, Salford Music Service and the Queens School Chester.

At present Alex teaches brass with Cheshire West and Chester, Love Music Trust and the Queens School. Away from teaching Alex is an active musician playing trumpet in a variety of different ensembles including brass bands, big bands, orchestras and brass ensembles.

Catherine graduated from university with an honours degree in Music focusing on performance and composition with additional training in teaching strings and conducting. During her time since graduating, she has enjoyed a wide and varied career in music including performing in ‘pit’ orchestras for operatic performances, performing regularly in a quartet, teaching, composing and conducting.

Catherine has vast experience working with young people from the ages of 3 to 19 through working as the music specialist at a pre-school, a director of music in a youth theatre, a music teacher in key stage 3 and 4 in a special school and a teacher of strings in Cheshire West and Chester music services.