Meet Our Tutors

Passionate Musicians, Inspiring Teachers – Helping Every Student Thrive

Meet Our Expert Music Tutors

Our dedicated team of professional musicians and educators are passionate about inspiring the next generation of musicians. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, our tutors provide expert guidance, helping you develop skills, confidence, and a love for music.

Experienced & Passionate Teachers

Our tutors are not only accomplished musicians but also experienced educators, committed to nurturing talent in a supportive and engaging way.
Specialists Across All Instruments & Styles

From strings, brass, and woodwind to keyboards, percussion, and music theory, our tutors cover a wide range of instruments and genres

A Personal Approach to Learning

Every student is unique, and our tutors tailor lessons to suit different learning styles, ensuring that each child reaches their full potential.

More Than Just Lessons

Our tutors encourage students to join ensembles, take part in performances, and explore new musical opportunities, making learning both fun and rewarding.

Meet Our Team

We talk a lot about hope helping and teamwork.

Dan Hield

Director

Dan Hield

Director

Dan is Managing Director of York Music Education and a piano/keyboard player.

Jill Garside

Administrator

Jill Garside

Administrator

Jill is a very experienced and qualified woodwind teacher. She is also the part-time administrator for York Music Education.

John Atkin

Conductor

John Atkin

Conductor

John, with 45+ years' experience, has directed 140+ theatre shows and concerts, from Sondheim to Sibeli.

Marcus Bousfield

Strings

Marcus Bousfield

Strings

Marcus studied Violin with Haroutune Bedelian at Chethams school of Music in Manchester and Erika Klemperer at the Guildhall School of Music

Alexis Cairns

Woodwind

Alexis Cairns

Woodwind

Alexis has a BA(Hons) in Jazz Studies from Leeds College of Music and an MA in Music Education

Jake Adams

Guitar

Jake Adams

Guitar

Jake is a composer, guitarist, gamelan player, researcher and teacher based in York. He has worked as a peripatetic music teacher since 2016

Tom Andrews

Guitar

Tom Andrews

Guitar

Tom is a guitar teacher and leads the SEND session (Soundwaves) at York Music Centre.

Ben Fessey

Guitar

Ben Fessey

Guitar

Ben is an experienced guitar tutor teaching guitar, bass and ukulele in many primary and secondary schools around North Yorkshire.

John Haslam

Multi-instrumentalist

John Haslam

Multi-instrumentalist

John teaches various instruments including drums and guitar.

Caspar Haslam

Drums

Caspar Haslam

Drums

Caspar is a drum and percussion tutor at York Music Centre and also teaches privately.

Agnieszka Zimniak

Piano

Agnieszka Zimniak

Piano

Agnieszka teaches individual piano students at York Music Centre.

Christian Topman

Double Bass (guitar)

Christian Topman

Double Bass (guitar)

Christian teaches Double Bass and Bass Guitar at York Music Centre as well as leading the Big Band.

Lesley Schatzberger

Associate Woodwind Tutor

Lesley Schatzberger

Associate Woodwind Tutor

Lesley is a clarinet specialist working regularly the York Youth Orchestra.

Angus Williams

Voice

Angus Williams

Voice

Angus has been with York Music Education in several capacities over the last few years and is currently leader of the Senior Choir and pro..

Lindita Simaku

Piano

Lindita Simaku

Piano

Lindita is a Graduate of Tirana Academy of Fine Arts and piano teacher.

Catherine Strachan

Cello

Catherine Strachan

Cello

Catherine studied modern and baroque cello performance with Myra Chahin and Alison McGillivray.

Kacie Rickells

Piano

Kacie Rickells

Piano

Kacie teaches piano/keyboard at York Music Centre having graduated from York St. John University with a First-Class BA (Hons) and MA in M...

Nichola O’Connell

Piano

Nichola O’Connell

Piano

Nicola teaches woodwind, piano and music theory at York Music Centre.

Rachel Letham

Woodwind

Rachel Letham

Woodwind

Rachel has a BA(hons) in music, MA in music therapy and PGCE (secondary), LTCL (Teachers), ALCM (Performers). She is able to teach piano....

Karen Marshall

Music Education Improvement Advisor

Karen Marshall

Music Education Improvement Advisor

With over three decades of experience in various music education settings, Karen Marshall brings a wealth of expertise to her role.

Rachel Meredith

ABRSM Exam Accompanist

Rachel Meredith

ABRSM Exam Accompanist

Rachel graduated from Bristol and Cambridge Universities before playing the violin abroad in the early 1980s.

Connor McLean

Brass

Connor McLean

Brass

Connor is a trumpet specialist working with the York Youth Orchestra.

Sarah Loughran

Strings

Sarah Loughran

Strings

Sarah is a Whole-Class teacher. She conducts the Intermediate String Orchestra at York Music Centre on Saturday mornings and leads two...

Nina Kumin

Strings

Nina Kumin

Strings

Nina leads the Minster Minstrels and also a Whole-Class teacher.

Dr Jon Hughes

Piano

Dr Jon Hughes

Piano

Jon Hughes is a sound artist, composer and researcher based in York, working collaboratively with practitioners from a wide range of fields.

Bethan Kelly

Early Years

Bethan Kelly

Early Years

Bethan is an Early Years specialist and helps lead the Junior Strings ensemble and is part of the I Can Play! team.

Billy Hickling

Drums

Billy Hickling

Drums

Billy leads the World of Rhythm sessions on Wednesday evenings as well as taking Whole Class sessions in schools.

Andy Hillier

Brass

Andy Hillier

Brass

Andy Hillier is a graduate of Leeds College of Music, where he earned a BA in Jazz Studies

Dan Hands

Strings

Dan Hands

Strings

Nick Garside

Conductor

Nick Garside

Conductor

Nick has considerable experience 16 (or so) years as a freelance musician playing in a variety of professional big bands.

Imogen Clarke

Strings

Imogen Clarke

Strings

Imogen, teaches Violin and Viola at York Music Centre as well as teaching privately and in primary and secondary schools.

Ben Crick

Youth Orchestra Conductor

Ben Crick

Youth Orchestra Conductor

Ben is a former BBC music fellow and works with orchestras throughout the UK and Europe. He conducts the York Youth Orchestra.

Jessica Freitas

Woodwind

Jessica Freitas

Woodwind

Jess teaches woodwind in York schools as part of the Whole Class Ensemble Tuition programme.