KATHY TAYLOR-JONES

Operatic roles include Carmen, Marchellina (The Marriage of Figaro), Berta (The Barber of Seville), Mrs Noye (Noye’s Fludde), The Mother (The Consul). Last year, she appeared as the French mother/chorus in Yoshi Oida’s acclaimed production of Death in Venice at the Aldeburgh Festival and the Bregenz Festival, Austria, where she also appeared as an Allure in Benedict Mason’s Playing Away, directed by David Pountney, and in the chorus of Tosca. With D’Oyly Carte at the Savoy Theatre in London, she appeared in Iolanthe, Yeoman of the Guard and HMS Pinafore. At Buxton Opera House roles have included Leila (Iolanthe), Inez and Vittoria (The Gondoliers). Kathy has narrated A Soldier’s Tale for Hand Made Opera, and Façade for The Opera Project. She has worked extensively on C20th and contemporary repertoire, most recently appearing in the premiere and tour of Helen Porter’s The Highwayman and Other Songs from The Shadows. She is working with Opera North until June 2008, appearing in Peter Grimes, Madame Butterfly, the premiere of Jonathon Dove’s new opera Pinocchio, Macbeth, and Romeo & Juliet.

PAUL DENEGRI

Education • Wilmslow Grammar School (1973 – 1978) • The Judd Grammar School Tonbridge (1978 – 1980) • The Royal College of Music – Junior Exhibitioner (1978 – 1981) • Trinity College of Music London (1981 – 1985) Summary of qualifications • Fellow of Trinity College of Music London (1984) • Licentiate of Trinity College of Music London – Teachers Dip (1982) Current Position • Head of Brass Jazz and Commercial Music at Wells Cathedral Specialist Music School (1986 –) Some of the main responsibilities are: • Directing and conducting of all brass ensembles, conducting the Big Band and Musical Director of Commercial Music projects including musicals. • Teaching individual instrumental lessons • To conduct annual assessments of both staff and students. • The selection of students for ensembles • Co-ordination of timetabling for 5 teachers and master-classes from national and international artists and consultants (9-10 visits a year) and workshops. • Organisation, promotion and delivery of public concerts both external and internal. Over 40 a year in brass jazz and commercial music alone. • Director of The Wells International New Years Festival of Brass and Percussion. This event is held annually and is a weeklong event of concerts, master-classes, workshops and outreach work. • To co-ordinate outreach projects within the local community and further afield. • Organisation of foreign tours. Recent tours include; San Francisco (2000), Washington and New York (1998), Scandinavia 4 countries (1990), Northern Europe (1988) • Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra for concerts but also in preparation and consultation with concerts conducted by Conductor in Residence Christopher Adey. • Senior Tutor for a group of 15 sixth form pupils. Involving amongst other duties; pastoral care, careers advice, UCAS and music college applications, academic monitoring and assistance, academic grades assessing and report writing. • Recruiting on a national and international level, new young musicians to Wells Cathedral School • Raising the profile and reputation of brass studies at Wells Cathedral School both on a national and international level. • Senior member of the audition panel for the main annual auditions and also pre-auditions throughout the year. • Management of a budget and meeting financial targets. • Develop outreach and partnership programmes in the community • Nurturing links with The Cathedral both musically and for participation in religious services. • To contribute fully to the life of a busy boarding school • In addition to the above post I also held the post at Wells Cathedral Specialist Music School of Head of Percussion from (1986 – 1998) and also Head of Woodwind (1992 – 1994). As the music department developed and capacity grew it was on my suggestion the school appointed a separate Head of Percussion, to give Wells Cathedral School a unique selling point. I was also invited to be the acting Head of Woodwind while the school sought a new head for the department of woodwind. So for 2 years I was Head of four specialist music departments. Current Positions Held Outside of Present Full Time Post • Principal Conductor of The Schools Philharmonic Orchestra (2003 -) • Brass coach for The National Youth Wind Orchestra (1999 –) • Brass coach for The National Children’s Orchestra (1990 –). I have also conducted this orchestra. • Brass coach for The National Youth Wind Ensemble (2003 –) • Brass coach for English Symphony Youth Orchestra (2000 -) • Brass coach for The National Children’s Wind Orchestra of Great Britain (2003 –) • Brass coach for music courses promoted by the IAPS (1998 –) • Wind Brass and Percussion coach for The West of England Schools Symphony Orchestra (2000 -) • Trumpet coach for West of England Schools Symphonic Wind Band (2000 -) • Brass Coach for The South West of England Youth Wind Sinfonia (2003 -) • Orchestral Conductor Music Makers Courses Hampshire (1998 -) Current Occasional Engagements • Regular reviews for Music Teacher Magazine (3-4 times a year). • Speaker and INSET director for LEA’s: Recent subjects have included; Gifted and Talented Musicians, Progressive Aural Techniques with the Instrument, Composition and Arranging for Unusual Combinations of Instruments and Ensemble Directing • Guest Speaker for The Royal Academy of Music Junior Department on career advice for year12 and 13 students. • Music Adjudicator for all instrumental groups and chamber music. Recent adjudications include, Royal Academy of Music Junior Department, Badmington School for Girls, Felsted, Radley, Queens School Reading and Pembrokeshire Music Service. • Regular Columnist for The Friends of Music at Wells Cathedral School Magazine. • Trumpet consultant and advisor on new music for Brass Wind Publications Ltd. • I have also written articles and reviews for; MMA journal, Early Music News, Classical Music and Wells Journal for whom I have undertaken local concert reviews. Performing Experience • Freelance professional trumpet player performing with BBC Symphony Orchestra, Southern Sinfonietta and Kent Opera (1985 – 1986). • Trumpet Player with The London Festival Orchestra (1990 – 1997), Including tours, recordings with ASV and appearing as soloist. • Still a very busy professional freelance trumpet player, performing regular as an orchestral musician, in musicals and shows and ensembles. As much as 60 - 70 engagements a year. Music Theatre Experience • Since 1998 I have been Artistic Director of Pandon Ltd, a company for which I was a founding director. Pandon Ltd is dedicated to the promotion of Youth Music Theatre and the encouragement of new musicals. As well as producing and promoting shows for Pandon in venues around the West Country I have also organised 2 recent tours of new musicals to The Channel Islands. • I have written 5 full-length musicals. My writing includes original story line, full script, music and orchestrations. The musicals are; Guv, Everything and Nothing, Liffery, Peace of Mind and Crying in the Shadow. All have received public performances. • In 1999 I was invited to write a musical with money supplied by The Department for Education and Skills for a joint project between Wells Cathedral School and inner city comprehensive schools in Bristol. I also produced and directed the show. The success of this project resulted in a further invitation from the DfES in 2003 to write another musical this time in a partnership with state schools from Somerset and Wells Cathedral School. • In 1998 I was commissioned by the Gloucester Academy of Music and Performing Arts in partnership with the Gloucester Branch of the NSPCC to write a full length musical (Said the Spider to the Fly) on the challenging subject of child abuse and then to direct a week of workshops and a performance with young people aged 11- 21. • Professional recording on West Coast Records of my musical Peace of Mind (2000) • I am currently a busy trumpet player on the professional theatre circuit. Recent shows include Sweet Charity, Gigi, My Fair Lady, Candide, Crazy for You. Composition • I have written many original compositions and arrangements for brass, jazz band and big band. These works have received many performances by many recognised brass ensembles including; Munich State Opera Brass Ensemble and London Brass. One work Naman, has received much acclaim and was recently recorded by The Harper Ensemble in 2001 and the work is currently the centre piece for a tour (2004) of France by L’Ensemble de’cuivres d’Ile de France. A leading brass ensemble in France. • Musicals. See Music Theatre Experience • I have written music for local television and radio, mainly seasonal compositions, fanfares for HTV and BBC Christmas Services from Wells Cathedral. • Commission for the Cheltenham Festival (1986) for a work for viola and Piano Other Relevant Experience • Setting of the new Guildhall School of Music Trumpet Syllabus • Head of Brass for Gloucester Academy of Music and Performing Arts (1996 – 1999) • Guest Conductor of The Sani International Orchestra based in Greece (1994 – 1995) • Director of The Peace of Mind Band. A seven-piece professional function band, with whom I also played trumpet and percussion. • Professor of trumpet for Bristol University and Exeter University (1996 – 2002) • Trumpet consultant for Downside Abbey School, St Augustine’s Comprehensives School, Hazlegove School and Kings Taunton School. • Good IT skills Professional memberships • MMA • British Trombone Society • British Horn Society • International Trumpet Guild Interests and activities • I am a very keen follower of sport. I am a season ticket holder for Yeovil Town Football Club. I also watch hockey and tennis. All of which I took an active part in as a schoolboy. • Collector of Autobiographies and Biographies, especially sportsmen and women • History and Archaeology • Rock Music • Fell walking.

HYWEL JENKINS

Hywel Jenkins began learning the violin aged 11 at Elmhurst Grammar School in Street, joining the MSO in 1975 on his return from University. He became Leader in January 1980, and has led every concert since then, except for three which he conducted. In addition he has performed several times as soloist. He has also led extensively for local opera companies and choral societies.

He is now String Consultant for Somerset Music, teaching, running playing days and tutoring with the Somerset County Youth Orchestra.