Andy Astle
I took up the guitar when I was twelve years old. After basic lessons from a family friend I
attended a course of formal classical guitar lessons at my local music school.
Although initially an acoustic guitarist, my formative influences were electric players, notably Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Robert Fripp. More recently I have become interested in the music and improvisational approach of New York based guitarist Wayne Krantz.

Dave Seckleman
I was born in 1983, and began having classical (nylon-string) guitar lessons in 1991.  Before I finished my A-levels I completed grade 8 level examinations in guitar, and grade 7 level examinations in musical theory.  In 2001, I moved to London to read music at City University, where I graduated in November 2004.

Jack studied music at university and his post-graduate studies were in classical guitar and later in electric guitar at the Los Angeles Music Academy.

William Allen
Worked with Braeside Community Theatre Group as musical advisor for Summer School.
Worked with Malcolm Drummond's Theatre Group as Musical Director.

Paul Cascarino
Paul Cascarino has been involved in the music industry for more that twenty years. He trained as a guitar player and percussionist from an early age, and has performed and toured with various groups for many years.

Martin Bell
Martin started playing guitar at the age of 13 when a friend introduced him to the opening riff from Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple!  11 years on and Martin has completed a Diploma in Popular Music and enters the 3rd year of his Bachelor of Music Degree this September, in which jazz and music production will play a big part.

John Blackwell
Self Taught from age 7, my first musical inspirations were The Shadows and The Beatles. Progressed to gigging covers bands by age 14, on the London “Club and Pub Scene.” I discovered Jazz at University and studied with top British Jazz guitarists Dave Cliff, John Etheridge, and Phil Lee

Sandra Lascarro
Sandra's chamber and solo experience includes work with the Monocco String Quartet, Quartz Quartet and the Lyndon Ensemble and performances of Saint-Saens and Bach concertos. Other Biographical Details Sandra's schooling took place at the Purcell School (1986 - 1988). Sandra's graduate studies took place at the Royal Academy of Music (Professional Certificate (Hons) 1990 - 1994) and Ithaca College (Masters, 1996 - 1998)

Stephanie Niemira
Stephanie Niemira studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Mark Knight, and early music with John Holloway.
Her professional career hasembraced a wide variety of styles' including orchestral and chamber music, opera and ballet,theatre, big-band, and backing popular artistes at home and abroad.

Sali-Wyn Ryan
Sali-Wyn Ryan was born and brought up in Swansea before winning a Sixth form scholarship to Chethams School of Music, Manchester.
She studied violin with Professor Pauline Scott at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. In 2000 she gained an honours B.Mus degree and the LGSM and ARCM performance diplomas.

Helena Smart
Helena Smart began studying the violin aged 8 and studied at Chethams School of Music and, following that, at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she graduated in 2002 with a 1st Class degree, having won several prizes and scholarships, performed concerti with the Hallé, RNCM Sinfonia and Teeside Symphony Orchestras; and performed recitals around the country, including the National String Finals of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2000 and at St. James’ Church, Piccadilly.

Heather Badke
Heather Badke is from Boise, Idaho in the USA. She began the violin at the age of 5, and at fifteen was the youngest person ever to win a position in the Boise Philharmonic. She participated in music festivals such as Music Academy of the West, The International School of Musical Arts, The International Music Institute at Round Top, Encore School for Strings and was selected to take part in the National Symphony Orchestra’s summer festival for young artists where she performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

Christopher Suckling
As a cellist he is focussed on the past and on the future. Looking back with period instruments he has recorded for Deutsche Gramophon, BBC Radio 3 and ClassicFM, whilst peering forward with computers he is a member of the Hyperbow electroaccoustic collaboration between the Royal Academy of Music and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Alexander Walker
Alexander Walker has a passion for education. He began learning the double bass and cello at an early age and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He is a graduate from Bristol University in music and followed his studies there with post-graduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the St. Petersburg State Conservatory in Russia.

Vicky Lester
London born Vicky Lester is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music where she studied as a scholar to attain a Masters degree in performance with distinction. Her studies at this level were generously supported by the Musicians Benevolent Fund and a 'Star' Award from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.

Alexander Walker
As a double bass player, he has a busy free-lance career working with orchestras and ensembles such as the Brunel Ensemble, Stowe Opera, and St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. Whilst still a student he was Principal Double Bass of the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra and London Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

Nick Doyne-Ditmas

My teaching experience dates back over 15 years. I gained a post-graduate Certificate in Teaching Music to Adults from Goldsmiths College in 1993. In the same year I ran a Composition Workshop at Amhurst College in Massachusetts. Since 1994 I have been a lecturer in the Music Department at Lewisham College, running the BTEC National Diploma in Music Practice (vocational A level) since 2001. I teach composition, theory, performance, music technology, music business, improvisation, keyboards, electric bass, guitar and drums.