Ciaran McCabe – First Violin Tutor

Ciaran enjoys a varied musical life as soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Recent solo engagements include the concerti of Bruch, Dvorak, Mendelssohn and Barber with ensembles such as the Ulster Orchestra and Orpheus Sinfonia. He was a recipient of the Milton Violin Award and the Young Artists’ Platform Award from the Arts Council of N.Ireland, which included a BBC studio recording of virtuoso violin works.

He was a founding member of the Cavaleri Quartet (2008-16), performing in major venues such as the Musikverein, Vienna, Rachmaninov Hall, Moscow, Auditorio Nacional, Madrid, Wigmore Hall, London and throughout New Zealand and Australia. They were First Prize winners at the 2012 Hamburg International Chamber Music Competition, Second Prize winners at the 2014 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition and in 2011 won the Royal Over-Seas League Competition.

Ciaran has appeared as guest leader of the RTE Concert Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of India and English Touring Opera and as co-leader or principal with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the John Wilson Orchestra. He is also a member of the London Chamber Orchestra and has performed with ensembles such as the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, English Chamber Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Nordica, Sweden and the Rasumovsky Ensemble. Ciaran studied with Yossi Zivoni at the Royal College of Music, London as a Yehudi Menuhin Scholar and later in the chamber music class of Günter Pichler in Madrid.

Caroline Pether – Second Violin Tutor

Caroline is the Leader of chamber orchestra Sinfonia Cymru and holds the Co-Leader position at Manchester Camerata. She enjoys a regular duo partnership with Camerata's principal cellist Hannah Roberts and was the first violinist of the Zelkova Quartet from 2010 to 2019. Caroline studied at Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music with Professor Wen Zhou Li and is now developing her own pedagogical career as a violin tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Caroline is passionate about her involvement in a number of chamber music projects. During her time leading the Zelkova Quartet, the group were winners of the 2017 St Martin's Chamber Music Competition and the 2014 Royal Overseas League Elias Fawcett Award for Outstanding Chamber Ensemble. In 2018 they were Hattori Foundation Senior Award winners and Concordia Foundation Selected Artists. The quartet recently recorded a CD of music written by Nicholas Simpson with the label Stone Records and have also been heard on Radio 3 numerous times. Caroline continues to enjoy a variety of chamber music collaborations with colleagues at Sinfonia Cymru, Manchester Camerata, Manchester Collective, Vonnegut Collective, Psappha Ensemble and Ensemble Deva.

As a soloist Caroline holds a Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians and a Postgraduate Performance Award from Help Musicians UK (formerly know as Musicians Benevolent Fund). Highlights include directing Vivaldi's Four Seasons with Sinfonia Cymru and performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto in Bridgewater Hall with conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier. Caroline also loves collaborating with amateur orchestras; past performances include Brahms' Violin Concerto with New Bristol Sinfonia, Mozart's A major Violin Concerto with Guernsey Camerata, the Brahms Double with the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra, and both the Walton and the Sibelius Violin Concertos with the Chandos Symphony Orchestra.

Caroline has a particular fondness for the Australian comedy violin duo TwoSetViolin and playing the violin at her church on Sundays. Caroline plays on a violin made by the internationally acclaimed maker Stephan von Baehr.

David Aspin – Viola Tutor

David Aspin studied at the Royal College of Music with Roger Best and Simon Rowland Jones. He is a founder member of Chroma, resident at Royal Holloway, University of London. The group has forged an enviable reputation for its commissioning of new work, collaborations and education work. With groups such as Psappha he has performed at the BBC Proms, in Buenos Aires, Lisbon and St Magnus Festival as well as recording for CD, BBC Radio 3 and webcasts.

As a soloist, David has performed in the UK and overseas including the RNCM’s Turnage Festival, Mozart in Gstaad, Switzerland, Three Choirs Festival and a recital and masterclass for the New Zealand National Music Teacher’s Association. David has performed and recorded the Telemann viola concerto with the Lancashire Sinfonietta. Other concerto appearances include works by Bartok, Berlioz, Britten, Bruch and Vaughan Williams and most recently the Walton concerto with the Orchestra of Opera North.

David is principal violist of the Orchestra of Opera North. He has also appeared as guest principal with the BBC Philharmonic, Halle, Royal Scottish National, Bournemouth Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC NOW, BBC Scottish Symphony, Philharmonia and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestras. David is a viola tutor at the RNCM and a regular sectional coach of NYO. He is often to be found walking in the Pennine hills with his dog or pursuing other activities such as yoga and swimming.

Bozidar Vukotic - Cello Tutor

Bozidar Vukotic is the founder member of the Tippett Quartet, with whom he performs regularly at Kings Place, Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, on BBC Radio 3 as well as playing at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Opera House, Bridgewater Hall, The Sage Gateshead and at the BBC Proms. He has recorded extensively, to much critical acclaim, for EMI Classics, Decca, Naxos, Vivat, Signum, Guild, Dutton Epoque, Somm, Boosey & Hawkes, Classic FM Records and Peter Gabriel’s ‘Real World’ Records, covering a diverse repertoire of Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky through to the complete quartets of Tippett, Gorecki, Lutoslawski, Penderecki, Rozsa and Bernard Herrmann.

A prize-winner in the National Federation of Music Societies and Jeunesses Musicales International Cello competitions, Bozidar has performed throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Far East. In 2010 he made his debut solo CD for EMI Classics on Howard Goodall’s ‘The Seasons’. His most recent London solo performance was with the world renowned violist, Lawrence Power and the English Chamber Orchestra at Kings Place. He has an impending release of Stravinsky and Schnittke for Somm Recordings with the pianist and composer Alissa Firsova.

Bozidar was the principal cello of the Oxford Philharmonic for 10 years and has been invited to play as guest principal with many of the UK’s finest orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, London Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Ballet Sinfonia and Spain’s Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife. He studied with Stefan Popov at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where he was awarded the prestigious Premier Prix. He continued his studies with William Pleeth and completed his training with Alexeander Kniazev in Moscow.

He teaches at the Royal Academy of Music in the Junior Department where he is also Head of Lower Strings and is about to start teaching at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music. He has given classes at the Royal Colege of Music, Cambridge University, Royal Holloway University of London and Toronto University. He was made an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2012. He plays on a beautiful 1720 Milanese cello made by Santino Lavazza.

Dominic Dudley - Double Bass Tutor

Dominic Dudley was born in Dundee, Scotland, and began playing the Double Bass at the age of thirteen with Ronald Large. Dominic continued his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Thomas Martin and Kevin Rundell. In 1994, Dominic was appointed Section Leader (Principal) Double Bass with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland at the young age of 23. In recent seasons he has also been Guest Principal at the RPO, CBSO and the Ulster Orchestra.

As a concerto soloist, he has worked with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, as well as the Hiberian Orchestra, Dublin City Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Irish Academy Symphony Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Dominic has played with many leading International musicians, including Nicola Benedetti, Philip Cassard, John O’Conor, the Vanburgh Quartet, the Con Tempo Quartet, the Danish Quartet, and Jorg Widmann, as well as numerous chamber concerts with members of the NSOI. He also performs regularly at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. Dominic also enjoys playing in a crossover group called meascan (meaning mixture in Irish), featuring the bluegrass music of Mark O’Connor.

In 1996, Dominic was appointed Double Bass professor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Since then, Dominic has become increasingly interested in Music Education. He was a Music Facilitator for the NSOI, involving school visits and workshops. Dominic plays on an English Double Bass by Lott 1820, as well as an instrument by his teacher, Thomas Martin.

Meyrick Alexander – Woodwind Tutor

Meyrick Alexander has had a long and varied career as a bassoonist. He held the position of Principal Bassoon in the Philharmonia Orchestra from 1980 until 2010 when he left to become Head of Woodwind at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where he served for seven years, becoming a bassoon tutor in 2017. He was also on the staff of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for thirty years, Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Northern College of Music. He is in demand as a teacher and lecturer worldwide and has given recitals and classes in Europe, USA, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. For several years he has been the bassoon coach of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and the woodwind tutor of the Ulster Youth Orchestra.

Meyrick is Principal Bassoon of the London Chamber Orchestra and was formerly a member of the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra and the Northern Sinfonia. He is currently also freelancing with many British orchestras and plays period instruments with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He has appeared as a soloist and chamber player with many of the UK’s leading ensembles. In 2017 he was awarded the RWCMD President’s Medal and became a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He has featured on many recordings including a recital CD “The Wandering Bassoon” with the RWCMD’s distinguished departmental pianist Catherine Milledge.

“Meyrick was not only very nice and patient but also provided great musical advice and direction.” UYO member 2015"

Sue Dent - Horn Tutor

Sue has over 30 years experience teaching the horn at secondary and tertiary level specialist music institutions. She has held teaching posts at many of the UK Conservatoires and now is London-based at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the Royal College of Music Junior Department whilst retaining close ties with The Purcell School. In continued professional development, she recently completed with Distinction a Postgraduate (Guildhall School of Music & Drama) Certificate for Performance Teaching and she now teaches and mentors on the programme. Sue is also a tutor for NYOGB and NYOInspire.

For many years Sue worked additionally as a freelance musician and was a member of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. She has considerable experience as a chamber musician playing with groups such as The Endymion Ensemble, The Albion Ensemble and Configure8. And as a specialist in period instruments, she held Principal positions with the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, the English Baroque Soloists and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, all with whom she toured and recorded extensively.

Ewan Easton – Brass Tutor

Ewan is Principal Tuba with the Hallé Orchestra and Tutor in Tuba at the RNCM and Manchester University. He is also passionate about making classical music relevant to contemporary society. Over the past decade, Ewan’s pioneering work with the ground-breaking project Hallé4Brass has been recognised by the Daily Mirror ‘People's Award’, the Butler Trust Award for ‘Skills in Education’, and has even seen Ewan receive an MBE from the Queen. As a tutor for NYO, Ewan takes delight inspiring the students to engage with local communities. Ewan also serves as a councillor for the National Youth Brass Band.

Christopher Bradley – Percussion Tutor

Chris Bradley is a member of the Orchestra of Opera North. He has worked with most of the British orchestras and ensembles but also with the Finnish Radio, Finnish Chamber, RTE NSO, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, World Orchestra for Peace, Philharmonia Hungarica and at the Salzburg festival with the Vienna Philharmonic. He teaches percussion at Huddersfield University and is a visiting tutor at Birmingham Conservatoire. He was a tutor for the East Riding of Yorkshire for 12 years and the NCOGB, including directing their Northerlies Orchestra. In recent years he has tutored the percussion sections at NYOS, NYOGB and the Ulster YO. He will be directing Yorchestra on their 2017 Summer course, their 25th anniversary. He has adjudicated at many competitions and for BBCYM in 2011 and appeared on Ant & Dec's "Push the Button" coaching members of the public to play the xylophone part for "Carnival of the Animals".

Since 2000 Chris has been involved with the World Orchestra for Peace performing at the BBC Proms and festivals in Edinburgh, Beijing, Moscow, Berlin, Rotterdam, Budapest, Brussels, Krakov, Jerusalem and Salzburg. Chris has been tutor in percussion at the University of Huddersfield for over 25 years and has tutored for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland (2014, 2016), the Ulster Youth Orchestra (2015), the National Youth Orchestra of GB (2015, 2016) and Yorkshire Young Sinfonia (2015, 2016). He is a visiting tutor at Birmingham Conservatoire and an advisor for Yorkshire Young Musicians. He has also conducted Yorchestra (youth orchestra based in York) on several occasions and led their first Orchestral Experience Day in February 2016 and returns for their 25th anniversary in August 2017.

Chris also plays cimbalom and has performed with most of the British orchestras and ensembles. In recent years with the London Symphony Orchestra in the Stravinsky Festival/Gergiev (2012), the Turnage Festival/Harding (2013), and with the Philharmonia 'Gladiator Live' (2014) and the UK premiere of John Adams' 'Scheherazade.2' with the LSO in 2015 with further performances in Dijon and Paris in 2016; as well as international ensembles such as the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (2016-live stream from Helsinki), Finnish Chamber Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the Salzburg festival, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, RTE NSO and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. In 2012 he was involved with the Royal Academy of Dance recording the music for their examinations

Tanya Houghton – Harp Tutor

Originally from Birmingham, Tanya studied in Cambridge, London and Paris before embarking on a freelance career based in the UK and Ireland. She enjoys playing for a wide range of ensembles from symphony orchestras to chamber groups, and accompanying soloists and choirs. Her recent orchestral work includes appearances with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Ballet Sinfonia and the RTE NSO in Dublin and she is principal harpist of the chamber orchestra Orchestra of the Swan. As a choral accompanist she is fortunate to have worked with composers and conductors including John Rutter, Bob Chilcott, David Hill and Graham Ross, with whom she has appeared on BBC Radio 3's 'In tune' programme and also features on his CD of music by Imogen Holst, recently nominated for a Gramophone award. The recording ‘A rose in the middle of winter’ in which she accompanies Commotio choir in music by Bob Chilcott reached the top of last year’s classical charts. Last year she played for Britten’s 100th birthday concert in Wigmore Hall, accompanying tenor Nicholas Mulroy, and works regularly as a recital accompanist for singers. Aside from playing, Tanya works as an examiner for both the ABRSM and the Royal Northern College of Music, and has adjudicated the harp class at the Bromley and Redhill & Reigate competitions. Also a singer, she directs and sings in Melisma, the Belfast-based 8 voice choir.
“Tanya was so lovely and such an excellent teacher. Did not restrict the sectionals just to the course repertoire- shared information on general harp technique and repertoire. She gave us flowers!” UYO member 2015

David Quigley - Piano Tutor

Award winning Irish pianist David Quigley enjoys a wide and varied career as a recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician. He has performed in many of the world's greatest concert halls including the Philharmonie Köln, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Symphony Hall Birmingham, Musikverein Vienna, Mozarteum Salzburg, Palais des Beaux-Arts Brussels, National Concert Hall Athens, Wigmore Hall London, Konserthaus Stockholm and Carnegie Hall New York.
As a concerto soloist he has appeared with many orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the Ulster Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Camerata Ireland, Southern Sinfonia and Cairo Symphony Orchestra. He has collaborated with distinguished conductors such as Barry Wordsworth, Barry Douglas, Takuo Yuasa, Sachio Fujioka and David Porcelijn.
David is also a much sought after chamber musician and performs with internationally renowned artists including oboist Nicholas Daniel, clarinettist Michael Collins, violinist Nathaniel Vallois and soprano Ailish Tynan. He also performs regularly with his sister, the violinist Joanne Quigley in both duo recitals and in trio recitals with cellist Jonathan Aasgaard. He has recently formed a new chamber group, Incus Ensemble, with clarinettist Jack McNeill and violist Rose Redgrave.
David's discography includes Piano Music From Northern Ireland (Lontano records), Saint-Saëns Carnival Of The Animals with Jeremy Young and the Lancashire Sinfonietta, Rediscoveries: Old and New music of Ireland with his sister Joanne Quigley (Ischia Records), Piano music by Philip Hammond (Lontano records) and his latest release, Piano Classics (El Greco Records). He broadcasts extensively on both radio and television for the BBC, RTÉ, Classic FM, RTÉ Lyric FM and Dutch Radio 4.
Recent performing highlights include a multi city solo recital and masterclass tour of China and chamber music recitals at the National Concert Hall Dublin, Barber Institute Birmingham and RNCM Concert Hall Manchester.
Aside from performing, David is passionate about musical education. He is a member of the piano faculty at Birmingham Conservatoire, one of the UK’s leading music colleges. He is co-founder/director of Newry Chamber Music, a concert society that provides concerts and education projects in his home town and surrounding areas. David is also frequently invited to give Masterclasses and to adjudicate piano competitions throughout Ireland and the UK.
David was a member of UYO from 1994 - 1996 and was also the first concerto soloist to play with the orchestra, performing Rachmaninov's second piano concerto.