Tutors
Phil Hallett, Chief Executive
Phil joins Coda from the Southbank Centre, Europe's largest performing arts centre, where he worked as the music producer within its Learning and Participation Department. He has almost 20 years experience in arts education and as well as the Southbank Centre has worked within the Baylis Programme at English National Opera, a pioneering centre for arts education projects and practice in the 1990s, and with Sonic Arts Network, where as Chief Executive he devised and instigated award-winning and internationally acclaimed projects and festivals, including the Sonic Postcards education project that has reached thousands of school children in the UK and across the world; and with BBC Radio 3, the Cut and Splice Festival which explored the links between sound and art in digitised culture. Phil has a total commitment to participation in the arts and a passion for engagement. As an incompetent musician with a keen interest in music of all kinds he is continually inspired by the people with whom he works and the music that he hears. In his spare time he is building an encyclopaedic knowledge of mushrooms and a practical understanding of beekeeping.
Guy Gardner
BA Hons Music, PGCE.
Guy studied piano privately with several renown jazz pianists. He studied composition at Dartington college of arts and later gained a PGCE in post 16 adult education. Since leaving university in 2000 Guy has performed nationally with top rank jazz players including Pee Wee Ellis; Roger Beaujolais; Dave O Higgins; Jim Mullen; Derek Nash and Mornigton Locket. He has recorded two albums, one featuring his own trio and one with vocalist Sue Hawker. Guy continues an active performance schedule as well as teaching.
Chris Hopgood
Chris Hopgood - a highly experienced and versatile guitar player who has been successful in a wide range of music genres. He is equally at ease with Folk, Blues, Country, Jazz, Funk, Rock, Metal, and Punk or with original pieces on electric or acoustic stringed instruments. He was lead guitarist for the highly acclaimed folk rock band, Arlen, and also Lady Winwoods Maggot. He has played at many of the national festivals including Glastonbury.
Chris is also a committed teacher. In addition to an HND in music performance and a Cert Ed he has five years experience of teaching students aged between 8 and 80. He brings experience from his teaching at the highly respected South Downs College and many other establishments across Hampshire to Coda.
He is a charismatic teacher and mentor who will encourage students to play music for enjoyment.
Linda Cameron
Linda trained as a music specialist teacher at Newton Park College, Bath, gaining a distinction in the Practice of Education. She has been the Musical Director at a number of schools, where extra curricular activities have involved her with many projects including; The Welsh National Opera and The Bournemouth Sinfonietta. In 2004 Linda trained 100 children in Salisbury for a performance of Britten’s “Noyes Fludde” broadcast from Salisbury Cathedral on BBC 4. Linda’s love of Musical Theatre has led her to direct several Musicals, including “The Boyfriend”, “Oh what a lovely war” & “Salad Days”.
She currently enjoys teaching at Stagecoach Theatre Art schools in Salisbury and Downton, where, for 11 years she has prepared students vocally for performances of Bill Kenwright’s touring West End productions. These include “Joseph and the amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Whistle down the Wind”, “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Scrooge”, Half a Sixpence” and “Dr. Doolittle”. She prepared children for Ellen Kent Opera International performances of “Tosca” in 2007 and 2008.. Linda has directed a Stagecoach Regional Choir (Test Valley), winning the Cup at the Stagecoach International Choral Festival in 2006 at the Birmingham Symphony Hall. Linda now enjoys bringing her enthusiasm to her local community in the New Forest, where she enjoys directing the CODA choir each week.
Rachel More
www.rachelmore.com
Rachel became involved in singing as a teenager on the local theatre circuit with lead roles in productions shows such as Salad Days, The Wizard of Oz, Carmen, and West Side Story. On moving to London she trained as a classical singer which led to her first professional work as lead soprano for Voices Theatre Company. She then moved on to more contemporary singing, setting up her own show band, which toured Europe, and did session work as a backing vocalist for various pop and rock bands.
Whilst living in London, Rachel studied with the highly regarded West End singing tutor Penni Harvey-Piper, and was directed by David Kernan in a series of musical theatre workshops at The Theatre Museum, Covent Garden. Other theatre work includes concert performances of Les Miserables, Cats, gala tributes to the work of Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Through her links with Kingston University’s Drama department, she became involved in Sir Peter Hall’s high profile ‘Rose of Kingston’ Theatre project appearing in fundraising concerts with celebrities from theatre, film and music including Dame Judi Dench, Samantha Bond, Charles Dance and Laurie Holloway.
Over the last 4 years she has been building up a following on the UK jazz circuit as a singer / songwriter. Her debut jazz album All My Tomorrows, released by 33 Jazz Records, has been well received and benefits from regular airplay on a number of radio stations both in the UK and overseas. She has performed her own cabaret show at Live on the Park, and other appearances include the National Theatre, Radio 4’s Loose Ends and ITV’s Meridian Tonight. She has already worked with many notables in the music industry such as bassist Geoff Gascoyne, currently on tour with Jamie Cullum, Alec Dankworth, Derek Nash (Jools Holland Band) and Scott Hamilton. Recent events include headlining at the renowned Jazz Divas Festival. She is currently working on her second album a jazz / pop fusion which will include more of her own compositions and arrangements.
In addition to teaching at Coda, Rachel is a singing tutor at the Swish of the Curtain Drama School. Her teaching covers individual and group tuition in vocal techniques and performance where she is able to draw upon her varied music experiences.
Meherunisha Vurchio
Meherunisha studied at Winchester School of Art & Music (cello and piano) and has completed a training programme for teaching music to young children using the Kodály approach. She has been working in schools for 4 years with classes age 3 upwards providing general music lessons and group instrumental lessons in recorder and keyboard.
Laura Toms
BA (Hons) Arts & Event Production
Laura has trained in Ballet, Tap and Modern Jazz/ Street and performed at the Millennium Dome in 2000 and for the Queen and Prince Phillip in 2004. Laura graduated from the Arts Institute at Bournemouth in 2004 and has been CODA's Music Projects Officer since October 2003 organising the ‘Play Making Music Weeks’ and administers the Coda Fiddle Orchestra. Laura set up the Baby Ballet class at Coda in September 2005. Her teacher training and certificates are with the British Theatre Dance Association in Leicester and Royal Academy of Dance in London.
Stephen Kenyon
BA, Dip ABRSM
Stephen took a 4-year postgraduate course of guitar and composition at Trinity College of Music and has attended many masterclasses. He is the musical director of the Dorset Guitar Society. He is an active composer and his music is included in all the exam syllabuses. He has produced three guitar concertos; the third has been played frequently in Germany whilst the first was premiered in June 2003. Stephen has an interest in jazz, folk, Indian – has played internationally - and is a member of the Quartetto Concertante.
Simon Mellish
Simon Mellish has won the British Snare Drum Championships and performed in many local theatre productions as acting Musical Director and show percussionist. He has performed with Robert Palmer, Earl Carpenter and Universal recording artist Colette van Sertima - taking over the drum chair from Sting's long time drummer Vinnie Coliauta. Simon enjoys teaching and has written drum instructional books for the Drumsense Teaching Project. One of these has become known as the "Snare Drum Method" and is used as part of the Trinity College Drum Kit exam syllabi.
Carol Davies
GWCMD PGCE
Carol graduated from the Welsh College of Music and Drama where she studied piano, recorder and violin and then gained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Cheltenham. She taught for several years at St Peter's School Bournemouth and now works for Dorset Music Service. She enjoys teaching a wide range of pupils and has gained the RSA, CertSPLD (Dyslexia). Carol also plays crumhorn and cornamuse and has taken part in productions of Twelfth Night and Britten's Noye's Fludde
Sandra Black
BA Hons Music
Sandra is a graduate of Colchester Institute's School of Music. She plays both oboe and piano. Sandra has taught piano to both children and adults as well as leading groups of young people on educational adventure holidays.
Gillian Tolliday
B.Ed, Dip.Ed, ALCM, LTCL
Gill graduated in music & education at Southampton University and obtained her diplomas at Trinity College and London College of Music. She is Professional Team Leader at Coda Music Trust. Gillian leads the Grainger String Quartet and plays viola in Stromenti String Quartet. Gillian also plays violin ‘Grapelli’ style in ‘Swing 39’ jazz quartet.
Joseph Koos
Joseph moved to London from his native Hungary and studied the cello with William Pleeth at the Guildhall School of Music and after that in Paris, with Paul Tortelier. He has freelanced with all the major London Orchestras. He joined The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and later The BBC Symphony Orchestras. In 1969 he was offered the principal cellist position in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, which position he held for 27 years. He teaches at CODA Music Centre and frequently coaches the NCO and NYO.
Susan Nares
GTCL, PGCE, MT, FAMI
Susan obtained her music degree at Trinity College of Music and went on to become a teacher, performer and workshop. She joined the Coda team in 1995 and later went on to train as a music therapist at Bristol University where she gained her post graduate diploma in 2004. Susan was awarded an advanced practitioners fellowship (FAMI) in Norway in 2008 and currently lectures in advanced improvisation and music and community at Chichester University.
Julia Wade
BA (Hons) Music, MT
Julia graduated from Canterbury Christ Church University College in 2000 where she studied the violin and piano. She worked as a care support assistant in a number of settings, including as a live-in personal care assistant to people who had spinal cord injuries. She went on to train as a music therapist at Roehampton University where she qualified in 2007. She joined the Coda team in 2008.
Liz Le Rossignol
BA Hons Music, PGCE
Liz has worked as a Music Co-ordinator in Primary and Nursery schools and as a Kindermusik tutor at Coda for many years. She has been involved in training Early Years practitioners since 2003 and has run courses at Coda and also for Bournemouth Borough Council and Dorset County Council. She is presently doing Music Outreach work from Coda in Early Years settings around the New Milton area.
