String tutors

GSM

Deirdre studied at the Guildhall School of Music with Leonard Stehn and Raphael Wallfisch and with Robert Gardener in Aspen, Colorado. She has played with many of the country’s leading orchestras and was a member of the Usher Piano Trio for more than 15 years. During this time, she also qualified as a Music Therapist and worked part-time in the Mental Health sector and with autistic and disabled children. 

Deirdre has also appeared as a soloist, performing the Concertos of: C.P.E Bach, Saint-Saens, Haydn, Elgar, Martinu and Kabalevsky, Tchaikowsky’s “Rococo” Variations, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, the Brahms Double Concerto, Kurt Nystedt’s “Stabat Mater” for solo cello and choir and an arrangement made especially for her of Clara Schuman’s “Romances” for cello and orchestra.  

Deirdre has enjoyed innovative collaborations, including the “Past Lives” Project: performing new compositions alongside archive film footage and she is also a member of the band ‘Be’ which created a unique soundscape for the “The Hive” at the Milan Expo. Combining science, art and music, ‘Be’ perform with a live stream of 40,000 bees and have performed at numerous UK festivals (including Glastonbury), in “The Hive” (now residing at Kew Gardens) and given live performances on BBC Radio 6.

As principal cello of Sinfonia Viva, Deirdre is involved in a variety of orchestral and chamber music concerts as well as the education and outreach work in the community, notably numerous special needs projects with young people in SEN schools. During the Covid19 lockdown Deirdre was awarded an Arts Council Grant to deliver 40 online concerts into Care Homes and Hospices across the Country.

BSc, LRAM, ARCM (Classical Guitar)

Christopher Bell gained both Performing and Teaching diplomas while working as an engineer, studying guitar with teachers including Narciso Yepes, Alirio Díaz and John Mills. He became a professional musician in 1979, since when he has taught guitar and lute, both privately and in colleges and schools including Nottingham High and Stamford Endowed.

He has performed several of the major concertos and still gives the occasional solo recital. Accompaniment of singers and instrumentalists on guitar or lute is a particular interest.

Gary graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 1981. He has been active as a guitarist/bassist for over 40 years and a full time professional teacher for over 30 years, teaching both privately and in schools and colleges. He regularly performs and records as both solo and ensemble artist. He covers a wide range of techniques and has a strong grounding in theory, composition and improvisation. You can find out more about him by visiting his website.

Gary teaches guitar and bass and is available Monday to Friday from 10am through to 9pm, and Saturday 10am to 5pm. 

Contact email: garyfraserlewis@yahoo.co.uk

Please note that Music Department facilities can only be used for lessons by members of the University of Nottingham. While some of the tutors do offer tuition to members of the public, these are private arrangements and University facilities cannot be used.

As a performer Danny has played for many artists and has been fortunate enough to have performed at some of the UK’s most prestigious venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Sheffield City Hall and Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club to name a few. Danny now fronts his own projects but developed his craft as a guitarist supporting artists such as Paloma Faith and Alisha Dixon.

Other past credits include performing with high profile groups such as Opera North, guitar sessions for computer game companies and a recent guitar session for BBC's Songs Of Praise.

GRSM (Hons) and Cert Ed

Since studying at the Royal College of Music with Frederick Riddle, Isobel juggles a busy freelance playing career with diverse teaching commitments.

At present she works regularly with orchestras, including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia Viva, and teaches at Redhill Academy and Uppingham School. She also has a strong interest in outreach work and, when she can escape from sitting in a viola section, has fun taking part in a wide variety of community music projects.

Contact email: isobeladams74@gmail.com

GBSM, ABSM

Janet studied at the Birmingham School of Music with James Coles and Josef Aronoff gaining graduate diplomas in both Violin Performance and Violin Teaching. After moving to Nottingham she was soon combining teaching at all levels with a busy freelance orchestral career. 

She has performed with many professional orchestras, primarily Opera North and Sinfonia Viva, gaining experience of operatic, symphonic and chamber repertoire of all periods and has also led various amateur orchestras including the Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra and the Helix Ensemble.

She has been a violin teacher at both Nottingham and Loughborough Universities for many years. She has taught at Trent College, Oakham, Uppingham and Ockbrook Schools and presently she teaches at Repton School.

Janet Hall also offers private tuition on the violin.

Contact email: jhviolin2@gmail.com

Please note that Music Department facilities can only be used for lessons by members of the University of Nottingham. While some of the tutors do offer tuition to members of the public, these are private arrangements and University facilities cannot be used.