Staff - 2011

2011 Workshops: Music Explorations, Ukulele Orchestra, Orchestra, Beginners Rockband, KS1 Music

Mark Rolfe grew up in Nottingham and as a child taught himself to play piano, drums and guitar and has been actively involved in music since. Mark spent most of the mid-nineties and early 2000's as a live musician touring and playing throughout Europe with the band Lorna, which also included a celebrated concert in Hollywood in August 2005. In the summer of 2000 having just started working at Nottingham Girls' High School, Mark signed a 25 year deal with EMI International Publishing as a songwriter and composer. Inspired by Music Education, Mark returned to Education in 2003 studying Music Theory, History and Composition and developed a keen interest in the life and works of Edward Elgar, Aaron Copland and neo-classicalism. After working at a school run Easter music course in 2006 with Derek Williams and Anna Bruce, Mark decided to form The Music Makers business later that year.  In 2008 Mark started working one day a week at The Elms Junior School alongside Anna Bruce and Emily Cash whilst continuing to do four days a week at Nottingham Girls’ High School with Derek and Christine.

Mark is a passionate educator teaching Classical and Electric Guitar and Music Theory alongside running many orchestra's, chamber ensembles and bands. Mark holds a Bachelors Diploma in Music, A Diploma in Guitar and is working towards Clarinet Grade 8, he is also registered teacher with the RGT (The Registry of Guitar Tutors). Mark is also currently studying Violin having attempted to teach himself as a teenager and is working towards an ALCM in teaching acoustic guitar. As well as having a huge love for Classical and traditional music, Mark is also an enthusiastic advocate of contemporary music genres such as indie, electronic rock and folk music.  In his spare time Mark is an active supporter of animal rights and is a very proud father to his pug dog Belle and Juno his cat. Mark is married to Sharon, a keen cook in Indian and vegetarian cuisine, a Notts County fan and season ticket holder for the Nottingham Panthers.

Peter has had a long career in business working as a Company Director, Business Development Manager, Project Manager and Trainer. He currently offers careers and business advice, as well as collaborating with Mark Rolfe to progress the growth, development and future success of The Music Makers. Peter has had a passion for music throughout his life and is the "biggest fan" of Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan. A keen bass guitarist, he has been a member of several bands and is currently working on a new blues rock venture. You may well see him treading the boards at a gig near you...........

Peter often surprises people with his musical connections. Sinead O’Connor once had a bath at his house. Last year he sat next to Micky Dolenz on a flight from LA, and he was recently spotted in a pub in Nottingham with the drummer from the Prodigy....

2011 Workshops: Choir, Beginners Guitar, Ukulele Orchestra, Popstars

Emily epitomises a true music enthusiast, specialising in voice and guitar. Post-Grade 8, Emily gained a distinction graded diploma in Classical Singing and relished every moment of her study towards it, especially the singing of pieces by her favourite Romantic composer, Fauré. Emily’s other passion is live music – watching (if only she could afford Michael Buble!) and performing, which recharges her musical batteries. She has performed at Nottingham's "Rescue Rooms" and anyone who listens to the radio may remember her being the outright winner of the opportunity to play at "Rock City" in aid of The Concert for Liam. Currently extending her diverse musical qualifications with Grade 8 Acoustic Guitar, Emily also plays classical and electric guitar... as well as the Appalachian Dulcimer (have a chat with her about it). She has recently taken up the piano with an aim to teach classical singing in her retirement! At the moment, Emily is full of zest for her home teaching practice of young guitar pupils, whose visits are the highlight of her week. Her greatest accolade to date is being branded "The best guitar teacher ever" by one of her pupils in a Christmas card. Emily is currently in a year out of study and lending her expertise to the music department at The Elms (Junior school to Trent College) with Mark Rolfe and Anna Bruce and teaching Guitar, Voice and Piano privately.

Emily’s big buzz is charity work. She has spent rewarding times supporting children with special needs at a local primary school, been a "right-hand man" organising charity concerts and most recently co-ordinated a huge food parcel event for Framework, visiting their homeless refuges and vowing to do more.

Emily likes to think that she has had a musical hand to play in the nation's healthy eating habits – she was recently singing at a London party with The Food Doctor in her audience!!! (He loved her by the way and was inspired to create a new seed mix on the spot!.....well here's hoping!) Emily enjoys books, curries, skiing holidays, friends and music!!

2011 Workshops: Music To Film, Orchestra, Popstars

Alice Armitage was educated at Nottingham High School for Girls, before leaving to study human biology at the University of Birmingham. She has played the violin for 13 years, and the piano for 5 years. She was a member of Nottingham Youth Orchestra for 4 years, participating in 4 European tours, and is currently a member of the University of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. She enjoys reading, music (obviously!), running and badminton.

Alice has ridden an ostrich, and lives to tell the tale!

2011 Workshops: Orchestra, Chamber Music, Choir, Beginners Strings

Rene made his Music Makers debut having a fantastic Easter Course in 2011.  A student of The Royal Academy Of Music (Voice), Rene is a musical graduate from University of Nottingham.  Specialising in voice, Rene is also a multi-instrumentalist playing Violin, Viola, Saxophone and Piano.

Anna was born in Derby in 1964 and began playing the violin at the age of six. During her school years she worked her way through the violin grades reaching grade 8 (distinction) at the age of 16.In 1981 she successfully auditioned for the County orchestra and after a year became their leader. During this time she travelled abroad with the orchestra and performed with them as a soloist. She also performed with many of the local orchestras in Derby and Nottingham.

Whilst still at school she won a County scholarship enabling her to receive professional tuition from Felix Kok (past-leader of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra) with whom she studied for two years. Anna finally decided to follow a career in medicine and subsequently trained for three years as a Radiographer graduating in 1987.

She worked in a number of hospitals over the years and finally as a part-time senior radiographer in the children’s Diagnostic Imaging department at the University Hospital Nottingham whilst also teaching part-time as a peripatetic teacher for Nottingham. In 2005 Anna decided to leave her career in radiography to pursue a full time career as a peripatetic teacher. During this time she continued to perform in a variety of orchestras and venues throughout the Midlands and beyond and enjoys both playing and teaching.

She is a member of the Nottingham Symphony orchestra and violin tutor for the Nottingham Youth Orchestra. She has served on committees for both organisations with roles in publicity, marketing and sponsorship/fund-raising.

2011 Workshops: Music Technology, Percussion, Advanced Rock Band

Tom is a 34 year old French expatriate settled in Nottingham, currently bringing up two little boys bilingually with his Irish wife. He has been teaching his native language in further education and corporations, but is now preparing to go into primary teacher training, volunteering at the Walter Halls Primary School and studying Children's Literature at the Open University.

He has nurtured a love for all things musical since his teenage years in Paris, learning the classical guitar and joining local bands as a bass player. He then discovered computer-aided music, trained for a BTEC in Music Technology and Recording and joined a Nottingham dance company as a composer and stage performer, playing Glastonbury Festivals between 1999 and 2003. He also played a number of French festivals as a solo act, and with his former band Elixircus. His music has received airplay in several countries, and was released on compilation albums through French and English labels.

Tom is a bit of a film buff and a fan of David Lynch; he loves DIY, gardening and hiking. He is also a keen collector of small and unusual instruments, including a variety of H’mong harps (Vietnamese jaws harps) and children’s toy instruments - which he has to share whenever his offspring manage to sneak into his studio!

2011 Workshops: Music Technology, Beginners Guitar, Ukulele Orchestra, Advanced Rock Band

Daniel is a sixth form student at Redhill School Nottingham. At just 17 years old Daniel is already an accomplished musician and a great mentor to the young. He has been studying guitar under Alan Fearn for 8 years and is currently studying for his Grade 8 with Emily Cash. In his short musical career Daniel has already played many local shows including the Arnold Carnival in 2010. In his spare time Daniel enjoys literature and history and is applying to study Modern Language and Teaching at university.

2011 Workshops: Music Technology, Beginners Guitar, Ukulele Orchestra, Advanced Rock Band

Christine developed a love of singing whilst at school, taking part in Eton Choral Courses and becoming a member of Cantamus Girls Choir and Rodolfus. In 1995 Christine was awarded a First Class Honours degree in Music from the University of Nottingham, where she specialised in Vocal Performance and Music Analysis.

Christine has taught singing at Farnborough, Alton and Peter Symonds (Winchester) Sixth Form Colleges, in addition to the Nottingham High School for Girls (with Mark Rolfe and Derek Williams), where she founded the Girls Sixth Form Vocal Ensemble and the Joint Choir with the Boys High School.  She has coached many students through high attainment with ABRSM Singing Grades 5-8. Christine’s former students have gained places in the National Youth Choir, on Eton Choral Courses and as Choral Scholars with various university colleges. Christine has also been the Assistant Director for both Surrey and Hampshire County Youth Choirs.

After training as an Advisory Teacher and Choral Animateur with Suzi Digby OBE, Christine worked for The Voices Foundation (a leading National Music Education Charity), delivering In-Service Teacher Training within the Primary Sector across the UK. She has also run Singing Workshops for the general public in London and the South East. Christine was invited to create Ensemble Singing Workshops for various corporate clients, including BP, for their Management Training and Team Building conference activities. She lives in Nottingham with her husband and their 3 daughters.

Qualified Nurse Rachel joined in the Summer of 2010. A Parent of three music makers students Rachel became active with the course first as a volunteer in 2009. Rachel is an expert on each child's medical information and allergies. Rachel also doubles up as our Administration Manager during the course and is in charge of the safe keeping of student records and details. Rachel is also famous during the Music Makers for her ad-hoc sessions of "Musical Chairs"

2011 Workshops: Choir, Music Theatre, Beginners Keyboard, KS1 Music

Lynn Kawalec, 21 (for the second time) has had a love of music her whole life. She began playing piano at the age of 7, and achieved Grade 8 before she went on to study A-level Music at Bilborough College. Following this, she studied a B Ed in Expressive Arts at Rolle College in Exmouth and has been teaching for the last 23 years. Her last 10 years have seen her teaching in Derbyshire, where she has led a Junior School Choir to great success; having won the Best Choir in Bolsover award a number of times in the last few years. Not satisfied with this level of singing and conducting prowess, she went on to establish community youth choir ‘Elements’. They’re pretty good, even if she says so herself. To add to this collection of choral achievement, Lynn has also worked with the Bestwood Male Voice Choir, and is involved with the national 'Sing Up' initiative as a co-facilitator on one of their Vocal Force teams. Lynn feels that her greatest achievement was making Rolf Harris a cup of tea in her very own mug at school, when her school choir supported him in recording a song! Rolf later went on to perform this at Glastonbury! The mug has never been washed since, bids on ebay, anyone!?

2011 Workshops:  Orchestra, Steel Pans, World Drumming, Mixed Band

Yolanda Mitchell, aged 26, is a local girl from Mansfield who returned to her roots after leaving for university in 2002. She is a keen violinist, pianist and now calls herself a saxophonist after passing grade 3 (a monumental achievement to say that she struggles to play it in tune!). After leaving school, she attended Leeds University and studied for a BA (Hons) degree in music, specialising in composition and performance. During her time at university she played as lead second violinist in various orchestras, chamber ensembles and even sang in the choir. She then went on to do a PGCE in secondary music education and is now Head Of Music at Redhill Schoold. Alongside her full time position, Yolanda is the strings, percussion and steel pans teacher for 11th Session music workshops which runs on a Saturday morning at Redhill Secondary School, Nottingham. Yolanda also teaches alongside Derek Williams at Nottingham Youth Orchestra

In her spare time Yolanda plays violin for the J26 Sinfonietta, a local chamber orchestra and accompanies the school choir at numerous venues around Mansfield. Her taste in music can only be described as diverse with her main love being for Muse, Pink, Linkin Park and anything that she can dance to.

Mischelle is a teaching assistant at Horsendale Primary School, working with the thirty-one very youngest members of the school in reception and foundation stage as well as with year 5 children at the older end of the school. She has worked with all age groups from age 4 to age 11 and is very involved in one-to-one personal support sessions with special needs children. Mischelle’s ethos for working and teaching is lots of hands-on fun and enjoyment surrounded by care and special attention for all. Her lively enthusiasm will be there to support all of the children attending The Music Makers and her infectious personality is guaranteed to bring a happy smile.

Out of school, Mischelle enjoys a regular fitness and weight training program, inspiring her two children aged 11 and 9 to take part in many sports and activities, including Boys Brigade, kick boxing and Badminton. They enjoy music and both are learning to play the piano and are steadily progressing through the grades.

2011 Workshops: Music Tech, Music To Film, Advanced Rockband

Tom started his musical journey when he was very young, taking piano and violin lessons at school. He remembers grumpy old teachers and boring scales, enough to put anyone off music for good! One rainy lunchtime when he was 13, he picked up a guitar to mess around with, and he's not put it down since! After deciding that music was what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, he decided to study it full time when at age 17. He has just finished his Degree, for which he received First Class honours. He's been teaching the guitar almost as long as he's been playing, both privately and in school. Tom's real passion is passing on his love for music. He loves teaching eager students, and will talk your ear off about all kinds of music given the chance. Tom plays in various bands both in the studio and live around Nottingham. He loves writing music, almost as much as he loves teaching it, but he doesn't think of himself as the next Mozart just yet! When he's not got a guitar in his hands or headphones on his noggin, he can be found reading, watching movies and, occasionally, sleeping!

Tom made his Music Makers debut in April 2011 running workshops in Music Technology.

2011 Workshops: Beginners Strings, Chamber Music, Orchestra

Derek Williams conducts the Youth Orchestra of which he was founder member. A violinist, Derek is well known on the Nottingham music scene and teaches at both Nottingham Girls' High School and Nottingham High School.

He began his musical career the age of six, studying the violin. Later, whilst a student at Nottingham High School, he became a member of the National Youth Orchestra. In demand as a soloist, both locally and beyond, his repertoire included most of the major violin concertos, including those by Beethoven, Elgar and Sibelius.

Derek’s interest in conducting began during a successful period in Bedford where he founded the Bedford Festival Opera and conducted a number of local orchestras. At this time he studied conducting with Michael Rose, George Hurst, Colin Metters and Norman del Mar. In 1983 he returned to his home city of Nottingham to become Musical Director of the Nottingham Symphony Orchestra. Recent highlights with NSO have been conducting a special concert before HRH Queen Elizabeth at the opening of Nottingham's Ice Arena and, in November 2003 at Nottingham's Albert Hall, fulfilling a lifetime ambition conducting a performance of Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring' at a special concert in celebration of his 20 years with NSO. Derek has toured extensively with the NYO of which he was co-founder, performed in a number of major venues and appeared in live radio and television broadcasts. in 1986 he was appointed senior string teacher at Nottingham High School and formed his own highly successful string quartet, 'Sounds Interesting' see them at www.soundsinteresting.biz.  Derek is involved in a wide variety of local music-making, ranging from chamber music to large scale choral works such as Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Elgar's Dream of Gerontius and the Verdi Requiem. He was jointly responsible for the creation and success of the Natterjack Music Concerts, an innovative venture designed to bring classical music to children and young people. He has been highly praised for his rapport with audiences and is noted for his informative and informal approach in communicating with large audiences. Works tackled have been ambitious, often extending well beyond the standard repertoire.

Derek joined the Music Makers in April 2011 and has worked at Nottingham Girls' High School with Mark Rolfe and Christine Jones for many years. Against Mark’s will, Derek is a huge supporter of Nottingham Forest.

2011 Workshops: Orchestra, Choir, Singing Techniques, Music Theatre

Born and bred in Nottingham, Geoff has been working as a freelance singer and animateur (workshop specialist) in Cambridge and London for the last three years. He has worked with Ely cathedral and King's College on their outreach projects. He is the director of the 'Cambridgeshire County Council Choir' which has collaborated with the county's twin city 'Kries Viersen' to perform 'Carmina Burana, Messiah, Adiemus and the Rutter - Magnificat'. Before that he went to Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge where he graduated in music.