Staff

Molly began studying recorder and then piano from age 5 and won many prizes in county music festivals on both instruments. She took up percussion at the age of 14 and aged 16 won a place in the Buckinghamshire County Youth Orchestra, who she performed with as timpanist and principal percussionist for 5 years.

She read music at Bristol University, with Baroque recorder as her recital instrument, and developed a passion in particular for music history and analysis. She specialised in conducting with Dr Alan Rump and conducted several ensembles, including the University Wind Orchestra. In her final year she was president of the University Music Society.

She studied for her teaching qualification in London at Goldsmith's College, and moved straight from there to sunny Ramsgate and Chatham House School. She has taught at the school for 24 years, and established the community music group Percussion School at the school 21 years ago. She performs regularly as a percussionist with local orchestras and choral societies and is also an internationally award-winning photographer.

Annalee began playing the piano from age 6, shortly followed by the flute. At the age of 12 she played for the county wind band and soon progressed to The Three Counties Wind Band and Orchestra where she became principal flute at the age of 16. With a Welsh background she frequently competed in the Urdd Eisteddfod and won many prizes in county music festivals.  She took up Alto Saxophone at the age of 16.

She read music at Royal Holloway, University of London with Flute as her recital instrument. Annalee played Saxophone in ensembles during her time at University and developed a love of Singing, leading her to many professional performances in a variety of venues. Before becoming a teacher she cemented her love of Music Technology by working as a DJ and was also a vocal coach at Kent Youth Theatre.

She studied for her teaching qualification in Canterbury at Christ Church University, and has taught here since 2007.

Oskar began piano lessons aged 8 and then took up drums at the age of 14. He is also an accomplished guitarist and has recently started to play the Saxophone.

After studying Music Technology here at Chatham House, he went on to study Popular Music and Technology at Christ Church University, Canterbury.

He has performed with numerous bands, particularly on the local gig circuit and while at University spent two years performing on cruise ships and at ther music venues and holiday parks (as well as his shameful stint as a wedding DJ!).  

Oskar has been working in and running studios for 10 years now and has worked as a live sound engineer all over the country.

He teaches Music Technology at CCFG and is also the Music, Media, and Drama technical support hero!

Since graduating from Canterbury Christ Church University in 2003, Abs has taught singing to all ages and has successfully entered her students for examinations (ABRSM, LCM and RSL). As well as teaching peripatetically, Abs has taught curriculum music in secondary schools KS3-5, including GCSE, A Level, and BTEC L2&3 courses.

Abs currently teaches singing both privately and in local schools, including Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School, Herne Bay High School and Kent College. Abs covers many styles of singing, including Classical, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Pop. She is very enthusiastic about the benefits singing can have on a student’s musical development, well-being and health.

Abs has trained with Ava June, Mary Burman, and Tania Williams. At university, she specialised in vocal performance, winning first prize in the prestigious Alan Parnell Singing Competition and several prizes in The Kent Singing Competition.

As an experienced singer and performer, Abs currently performs in several groups for weddings and events and is also working on writing and recording projects.

More information can be found at: www.abspascoe.co.uk

Honeysuckle rose (Vocal arrangement): https://youtu.be/E-xVDaaGT50

Averil began playing the piano at 7 years old and also started learning clarinet and saxophone when she was at middle school. She achieved grade 8 on all three by the time she had left secondary school and went on to study Music, Music Technology and English A Level at College.

Averil has always played in orchestras, wind bands and jazz bands throughout her education and has performed in lots of different venues around the country as well as taking part in local competitions.

Averil achieved a BA Hons Degree in Music at Colchester and specialised in Music Education and Music Arts Administration where she developed her love of teaching. She then went on to do her PGCE in Secondary Music at Canterbury Christ Church University. She taught Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 Music in secondary schools in Essex and Kent for 14 years as well as running choirs, bands and other musical ensembles in schools. Averil then went on to become a full time peripatetic tutor and she has enjoyed teaching piano, clarinet and saxophone privately and in local schools, developing student’s love of music as well as preparing them for ABRSM and Trinity exams.

I studied Music at Canterbury Christchurch University where I gained a BA (Hons) and a Masters Degree in Music. I am an active professional flautist holding regular positions in a number of amateur and professional orchestras and ensembles as well as playing for the OrbiPlaya Wind Ensemble on Alto and Tenor Sax. As a performer I have given solo recitals throughout Kent and have established excellent relationships with the leading musical organisations across the county.
I have almost 20 years experience teaching flute, clarinet, saxophone and recorder to pupils aged from 6 to 18 and from beginner to diploma standard. My pupils have
achieved excellent results in competitions as well as both recorded and live examinations and many have gone on to study Music at some of the UK’s top universities
and conservatoires.
I believe in playing music for love and so whilst I like to work towards exams, building and developing the techniques needed for excellence on our instrument, I also believe that it is important to explore all its capabilities and to delve into as many genres as possible. My students and I have great fun playing along to rock’n’roll, jazz and disco backing tracks as well as brushing up on our Bach and Mozart.
I am the proud leader of the newly formed CCGS Flute Group and look forward to welcoming many more members in the terms to come. My experience as both teacher and performer has enabled me to give my pupils the best possible preparation and to help them develop into confident young musicians.

Chloe has played piano from aged 6, dabbling in various different instruments while growing up and eventually settling on vocals. From aged 12, she started attending Pie Factory Music Group, singing in choirs and recording original music in their recording studio. From aged 16, she began teaching there, recorded her first EP and featured on a track which was named BBC Radio 1xtra’s 'Hottest Track of Week’.

After studying Music and Music Technology here at Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School, she went on to study Professional Musicianship at the British and Irish Institute of Modern Music, with specialism in Vocals. In that time, Chloe sang as a lead vocalist with Jamiroquai and as a backing vocalist for Amy Winehouse’s band (Forever Amy).

Chloe sung in a live dance function band for over 4 years, travelling internationally and in 2019, the band supported Alexander O’Neal and Aswad.

Chloe continues to perform, do session work and teaches privately, as well as in other schools. She has hopes of specialising further with vocals by completing a Masters Degree/PG Cert in Vocal Pedagogy.

Heather studied with the violinist Amina Lucchesi and the renowned viola player Bernard Shore and went on to gain a music degree from the Royal Northern College of Music as a violinist. The was swiftly followed by a few years of freelance playing, teaching and classroom teaching, having gained a PGCE from Bretton Hall. Heather is currently working as a peripatetic violin/viola teacher for Kent Music and continues to play regularly as an orchestral player, undertaking a wide variety of work with quartets, orchestras, choral societies and shows. In her spare time Heather also 'fiddles' for a North-West Clog Dancing Side and more recently for a Border Morris Side.

 
If you are interested in taking violin, viola or theory lessons, please visit the Kent Music website where you can find details for tuition, application forms, fees etc.

Julia Started playing the guitar at the age of 10. She studied music at Canterbury Christ Church University and now teaches the guitar at CCGS, Kent College and various primary schools in Thanet. She enjoys teaching students of all levels from beginners through to grade 8. Many of these take Trinity/ABRSM exams but some learn purely for pleasure.

Originally from Margate, Lorraine started taking drum lessons at Dane Court Grammar School when she was twelve years old. She continued her study of jazz performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, graduating with First Class Honours in 2009.

She has performed at prestigious venues including Tokyo Opera House, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the Royal Albert Hall, Isle of Wight Jazz Festival, Big Sky Jazz Festival, the Vortex Jazz Club, Queen Elizabeth Hall, amongst may more, as well as recording for BBC introducing and BBC Radio Four.

Lorraine has performed a series of gigs with accomplished singer Christine Tobin and her band. She features on Christine’s latest recording “Pelt.”

A career highlight was to perform the Don Cherry tune “Guinea” with international bassist Dave Holland. This collaboration inspired her to form her latest quartet, paying tribute to the music of drummer Ed Blackwell.

Mentor Jeff Williams comments on Lorraine's playing having "a magical quality which is the rarest of all things musical."

Lorraine embarked on a 19 date UK tour to promote her debut album "Eden" in 2018. The album received a five star review in BBC music magazine and a four star review in the Guardian/Observer.

Lorraine is committed to her teaching career which has grown extensively in the last ten years, and she enjoys running the community group "Percussion School" rehearsing at Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School on Thursday evenings.

Martin Rendle attained his performer's diploma of Licentiate at the London College of Music, is a Fellow of the Guild of Musicians and Singers and a Fellow of the Academy of Saint Cecilia. Martin is a classically trained singer and has been teaching singing for over 25 years. He is a regular performer of Opera, Operetta and Oratorio. He has toured nationally and internationally including the Far East, Asia, Middle East, Europe and the USA, working with companies such as, Glyndebourne, Opera Box, Columbia Artists, European Chamber Opera, London City Opera and Raymond Gubbay ltd. Along with work on the stage he has appeared in broadcasts on the BBC and Sky Arts. Martin continues to tour with Opera Brava in their summer productions, and in 2021 he is appearing in their productions of Tosca and The Marriage of Figaro. He will be touring in Carmen in 2022.

Martin is the Musical Director for the Thanet Male Voice Choir and the Kent Police Male Voice Choir and also works as a freelance workshop leader and vocal animateur. He has worked on a number of education and outreach projects both in schools and in the community for Glyndebourne Opera, East Sussex Music Service, Mencap, and Opera Brava.

Michael started playing piano at the age of 5 and immediately showed a love for the instrument. Michael has since achieved his grade 8 piano and received a BMus Honours degree, studying at Canterbury Christ Church University, where he developed as a jazz pianist, alongside his classical training. 

Michael has nearly 20 years of teaching experience across Kent, and, as well as 1:1 teaching, he also has extensive experience delivering workshops, ensembles, and bespoke projects for organisations, including Pie Factory Music and Kent Music. Michael has taught hundreds of young people over the years and has seen many go on to have successful careers in music, as well as enjoying playing for pleasure. 

As well as teaching, Michael is one half of the Margate-based duo, mas, where he utilises his skills in composition, arrangement and production to write, record, and release original music with his wife. As a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Michael has performed across the UK and internationally.

Michael is able to take students through Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM) examinations in both piano and music theory, and offers 30-minute lessons in both disciplines. He can accommodate both face-to-face and online lessons, depending on preference.

Michael is incredibly versatile in his approach to teaching and is able to adapt this to meet the needs of each student. Whether the focus is on taking students through their grades, learning contemporary songs, playing by ear, or developing improvisation skills, Michael believes that it is important to keep a good balance of musical skills in the development of players. Michael is passionate about facilitating students to build confidence, increase their ability for self-directed learning and, ultimately, find a deep, life-long passion for music.

Sean had always displayed a passion for music and grew up in a house where his dad played many but mastered none! At around the age of 16, he began to take singing seriously and found himself mostly at home in musical theatre productions. Through friends made here, he performed as part of a barbershop quartet and a what was initially a 'solo' creative outlet became a passion for choral and classical music.

After completing his PGCE at Canterbury Christchurch with a specialism in primary music, while working as a full-time primary teacher, Sean became well known for his work with young voices. This has led to opportunities for his pupils such as singing services in Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral alongside the choristers there, working with local musicians to record their own charity single and one pupil making his way through to the finals of BBC 'Chorister of the Year'.

He still continues to teach at Ramsgate Holy Trinity alongside his commitments to teaching musical theatre and being Director of Music at St. Andrew's Church Reading Street and is continuing to learn his craft; working towards his own ABRSM diploma in singing and singing as part of the Thanet Chamber Choir.

Steve took an interest in music in the late 1980s, experimenting with synthesizers, guitars and bass guitars.

This interest became an obsession, which is yet to recede.

He has been studying music since the age of 15 and joined his first band at the age of 17.

Early on, calls started to come in asking him to work on sessions, and over the years he has played in hundreds of bands, which has culminated in over 3000 performances in various parts of the world in too many situations and styles to detail here.

Upon relocating to East Kent in 2004, Steve completed a degree in Commercial Music with First Class award, and decided to split life between performance and teaching.

This has led to teaching guitar and bass to literally hundreds of students across Kent in schools including Langton Girls Grammar, YMS, Duke of York’s Royal Military School, St Lawrence College, and many others. Not forgetting of course, the wondrous Chatham House!

Steve also teaches as a sessional Lecturer for Canterbury Chirstchurch University and has covered Modules on a Commercial Music Degree, a Music Business Course and a Masters Course – subjects include Performance, Ensembles, Music Theory, Computer Music, Songwriting and more.

Steve is still an active performer on a slightly more local basis but performing with some of the top South Eastern musicians almost every week of the year.

He also writes his own material (and has done since his first band!) and regularly contributes to other artists work to this day.

More information can be found here: www.steverickwood.wix.com/musician

Coming from a family of musicians, Natalie began her musical journey on the piano at aged 6. After inheriting an old trumpet from her granny, she soon discovered a love for all things brass! Whilst a pupil at Dane Court grammar School, she continued to study the trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn and joined the Kent Youth Wind orchestra, Kent Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Wind Orchestra.

She studied music and trumpet performance in Manchester, before returning to Thanet where she taught brass in schools and continued to play in the Medway Brass Band, local orchestras and jazz groups. On completion of her PGCE, she moved to Maidstone and taught class music and brass in various schools after a two year stint as Head of Music in an international school in Africa. Many of her students have had success in festivals, competitions and exams – ABRSM and Trinity (100% pass rate) and some have also gone on to music conservatoires to continue their studies. Natalie knows that not every pupil is the same so lessons are tailored to suit the individual and help them realise their potential. Most importantly, lessons are fun and enjoyable with every musical taste catered for!

She returned home to Broadstairs in 2018 with her family of brass players and hopes to continue to inspire the next generation of brass in Thanet. In addition to teaching brass at CCGS, Natalie also teaches at St Peter’s Junior School, Dane Court and as part of the ‘Sounding out’ project in The Kings school, Canterbury.