Biography Home

I was born in Staines in 1980 and went to Wraysbury Primary School where my interest in music first developed. I had played the keyboard since the age of 3, picking things up by ear, and eventually had piano lessons at the age of 10 with James Gunns. However, this did not last long because I stopped practising all together resulting in my parents taking me out of lessons after a few weeks. At Primary School I learnt to play all the school songs by ear and also wrote my first piece (Dream Tunnel). As I worked out everything by ear, I did not have a clue how to read music. The school music teacher Mrs. Burd organised for a man to come in from the borough who had notation software on his computer and as a result of that Dream Tunnel was notated.

In 1991 I went to Churchmead Secondary School where, under the direction of the head of music (Mr. P. L. Bull), my interest in music and music education developed. I wrote many piano pieces in pastiche styles and even attempted a symphony of which the first movement was submitted as GCSE coursework. It was during my time at Churchmead that I began studies with Mark Robbins who tutored me in violin playing and fed my thirst for knowledge about music history and the great composers. I began piano lessons again in 1993 returning to James Gunns who coached me through to Grade VIII in 1997. I also became great friends with David Iggulden who shared my vision for playing great music and winding up teachers.

In 1996 I got all my GCSEs (including A* in music) and went to Langley College where I studied Music, History, and English Literature. I also began giving piano lesson to a few family friends and eventually worked part time as a peripatetic teacher at Wraysbury School.

It was in the summer of 1998 that I met my wife Louise at a concert at Magna Carta School. She was playing the flute and I played an arrangement of An American in Paris and my own Etude Fantasia. We went on to get married in 2003.

In September 1998 I went to Kingston University to pursue a music degree. In the third year I majored in composition and performance receiving a first-class honours degree and commendations for both performing and composing in 2001. I went on to complete a PGCE at Kingston spending my first practice at The Brigidine School in Windsor under Dr. Millan Sachania. My second practice was at Churchmead under my old music teacher Mr. P. Bull.

Between 2002 and 2006, I worked as a secondary music teacher at a school in Maidenhead where I was second in department and coordinator for music and ICT. In 2003 I started a Masters Degree in education for which I received a distinction when I completed in 2005. Iand in September 2004 I became the musical director of Voices Anon, an adult choir in Maidenhead whom I thoroughly enjoy working with.

Most recently, I have completed a Masters in composition at Royal Holloway (supervised by Tansy Davies) and I am presently studying for a PhD in composition, also at Royal Holloway under the supervision of Mark Bowden.

Aside from music, other interests include karate, literature, plays, good humour, and excellent company.

Curriculum Vitae

Academic Qualifications:

1992-1996:
8 GCSEs (1 A*, 1 A, 3 Bs, 3 Cs)

1996-1998:
A-Levels, Music (A), History (B), English Literature (C)
Key Skills certificate in ICT

1998-2001:
Bachelor of Music degree with first-class honours from Kingston University. In addition I was awarded commendations for composing and performing for achieving double firsts in both areas

2001-2002:
Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Kingston University, with advanced standing.

2003-2005
Masters degree with distinction in Teaching and Learning from Reading University

2006-2008
Masters degree in composition from Royal Holloway University of London

Other Qualifications:

1995: Grade III Piano (Distinction)
1995: Grade III Theory (Distinction)
1995: Grade V Piano (Pass)
1995: Grade V Theory (Distinction)
1996: Grade VI Piano (Distinction)
1998: Grade VIII Piano (Distinction)
1999: Grade VI Theory (Distinction)
Grade III Violin (Pass)
Grade IV Violin (Distinction)

Awards:

1996: Young Composer of the Year, Burnham Music Festival
1999: Highest County Achiever at Grade VI theory
2001: Winner of the Kingston University composers' competition

Employment:

1996-2001: Peripatetic piano teacher at Wraysbury Combined School
1996-2002: Private tutor for piano and music theory
2000-2001 Piano and harmony tutor to undergraduates
2002-2006 Music teacher at Furze Platt Senior School
2006-2008 Arts and ASPIRE Coordinator for St Mary's Church Slough
2004-present Musical Director of Voices Anon

Publications:
Most of my music is published through this site.

In preparation for publication: