Staff

Summer 2010 Staff List:

Peter Cash - Business Manager

Mark Rolfe - Course DIrector/Music Teacher

Lynn Kawalec - Music Teacher

Sarah Severn- Music Teacher

Emily Cash - Music Teacher

Jenny Morton - Music Teacher

Carly Goodfellow - Music Teacher

Yolanda Mitchell - Music Teacher

Rachel Louca - Childcare and Admin Manager

Julianne Oakes - Childcare and Admin Manager

Tom Limb - Music Assistant

Alice Armitage - Music Assistant

Gabi Wright - Music Assistant

Tom Coirie: Music Technician/Assistant

Mark Randall: Music Technician/Assistant

Mischelle  Paris-Elvey: Childcare Assistant

Sally Morton: Trainee Music Teacher

Staff Profiles

Peter Cash - Business Manager

Peter's profile is under construction

Mark Rolfe - Course DIrector/Music Teacher

Mark Rolfe was grew up in Nottingham and as a child taught himself to play piano, drums and guitar. Spending 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. 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. Mark is also a huge advocate of contemporary music such as indie, rock and folk music and is a big fan of Neil Young, Bjork and many underground bands and singer songwriters.

Mark is a passionate educator teaching Classical and Electric Guitar alongside running many orchestra's, chamber ensembles and bands. After working at a school run Easter music course in 2007, Mark decided to start The Music Makers business in 2008. Mark holds a Bachelors Diploma in Music, A Diploma in Guitar, Grade 5 in Clarinet and is registered with the RGT (The Registry of Guitar Tutors), He is a keen composer and arranger and has recently completed a project writing a new arrangement for the musical "Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" premiered at Nottingham Girls High School in March 2010.

Alongside writing, playing and performing music Mark is a huge animal lover and has a cat named Juno. He is also a bookworm curry connoisseur and movie buff and cites Return of the Jedi, Amelie, The Straight Story and The Lost Boys as his all time favourite films. Mark is a huge sports fan and is a season ticket holder at The Nottingham Panthers Ice Hockey Club and watches Notts County "whenever possible". Mark is also a huge fan of American Football and has been to the states to see several matches and can often be found playing the "big game" in Nottingham on a Sunday morning!!

Lynn Kawalec - Music Teacher

Lynn's profile is under construction

Sarah Severn- Music Teacher

Sarah's is under construction

Emily Cash - Music Teacher

Emily's profile is under construction

Jenny Morton - Music Teacher

Jenny's is under construction

Carly Goodfellow - Music Teacher

Carly holds a Diploma in Music with a Classical Voice Concentration and a Piano Minor from Douglas College in British Columbia, Canada. Carly also holds a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts with a Major in Music Composition from Simon Fraser University in B.C, Canada composing music for string quartets, mixed quartets and duos, voice and piano, and Concert Band and has had read-throughs by members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Carly has studied and taught Voice performance for the past 17 years covering Classical, Jazz, Popular and Musical Theatre styles. Carly has gained extensive experience performing in several Concert and Jazz choirs including the British Columbia Honour Concert Choir (1st Soprano) and the Delta Choral Society. Over the years, she has developed a love for vocal jazz and has since composed for, recorded and performed in various Jazz ensembles.

In addition to her first love and concentration instrument, Carly has also acquired proficiency on the piano, guitar and the flute with complimentary course work in Brass and Percussion instrumental techniques leading to many years experience performing in Concert Bands including the Delta Music Makers (Flute and Electric Bass), UBC Honour Concert Band (Flute) as well as performing in the pit orchestra of two Delta Secondary productions (“South Pacific” 1992, “The Wiz” 1995).
Carly is a Canadian and UK fully qualified teacher and is the founder and Choir Director of The Little Dons & Divas Children’s Choir. Throughout her career as a Music Teacher, Carly has taught Intermediate Concert Band, Senior Jazz Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Choir, general Music Appreciation (KS3, KS4, AS/A2) and Music Composition and Technology. Carly is currently completing her Research Dissertation on the therapeutic effects of singing towards her MA in Integrative Psychotherapy. Carly currently teaches privately and works as a counsellor/therapist.

Carly is an animal lover and often befriends the neighbourhood cats. My friends call me the Cat Whisperer!

Yolanda Mitchell - Music Teacher

Yolanda Mitchell, aged 25 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 went to Leeds Universtity 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 in her fourth year of teaching music at Ashfield Comprehensive School, Kirby-in-Ashfield. 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.
 
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.

Rachel Louca - Childcare and Admin Manager

Rachel's profile is under construction - check back soon!

Julianne Oakes - Childcare and Admin Manager

Jullianne's profile is under construction - check back soon!

Tom Limb - Music Assistant

Tom learned to read music as a church choirboy in the 50s, and hasn’t stopped singing since.  He met his wife leading a children’s choir as she played piano.  He worked through the grades on trumpet as a youngster, but it’s as a singer that he’s entered for Grade 8 this year.  “I thought after all this time I’d take lessons and learn how to do it properly,” he quips.
He has had a career in primary education leading music in schools: recorder ensembles, classroom percussion, KS2 Music and beginner orchestras.  He currently teaches djembe drums and guitar as part of his work with boys excluded from schools.
He is completely dotty about J.S. Bach and currently sings with Nottingham Bach Choir where he is Concert Manager.  He took up piano when his wife got a new one some years ago. “Now I’m quite addicted to pressing black and white things,” he adds, “and I’m determined to play a Prelude and Fugue even if it kills me! No need to worry for my health just yet!”

Alice Armitage - Music Assistant

Gabi Wright - Music Assistant

Gabrielle Wright was educated at The Becket School, West Bridgford, where she studied A-level Music, French and Geography and will continue her studies at Leeds University next year, reading for a BA Music degree. An active musician in the community, Gabrielle was involved in the Nottingham Youth Orchestra over 7 years, including leading the viola section. She also played with the Nottingham Youth String Orchestra for 4 years, and spent the final year as lead violinist. This year, she has progressed onto joining the Nottingham Symphony Orchestra as well as the East Midlands String Orchestra. This summer marks the end of a year which Gabrielle has spent volunteering with various musical charities and local schools to build up a strong portfolio of experience with music and youth. Gabrielle is a keen chef and legendary double-chocolate cake is famous throughout Nottingham!

Tom Coirie: Music Technician/Assistant

Tom is a 33-year-old French expatriate settled in Nottingham, currently bringing up two little boys bilingually with his Irish fiancée. 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, and 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!

Mark Randell: Music Technician/Assistant

Mark currently works for Nottingham Trent University at their Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism.

He also works for the 11th Session Workshops as a guitar teacher, helping to develop up and coming bands. He has an HND in music performance and is a qualified music teacher. Mark has many years of experience as a music technician working for Castle College, where he supported staff and students with music resources and equipment. As an experienced music technology teacher, Mark has recorded many local bands helping them achieve good success.

Mark has worked with live sound in pubs , clubs and festivals and  is no stranger to working with musicians of all ages and genres.  Mark has performed and toured across the UK with his band Blinded playing many venues and festivals. He is currently in the middle of recording for a new project called “The Guilt Ridden Authors”. He plays Guitar, Bass and Banjo.

Along with music Mark has a love of film, and has worked on the creation and editing of several independent film projects. When not making music he spends his time watching Top gear, Family Guy and out walking his dog. 

Mischelle Paris-Elvey: Childcare Assistant

MIchelle's profile is currently under construction, check back soon!

Sally Morton: Trainee Music Teacher

Sally's profile is currently under construction, check back soon!