Becky Dell
BMus (Hons) – Piano, voice, percussion, drum kit, music theory & GCSE tuition
I graduated from Trinity in 2002 and joined the cast of Stomp! where I performed in both the West End & European shows. I then went on to be in a band, had a record deal, played Glastonbury and had many wonderful adventures. I recorded with the BBC, started teaching students including Jools Holland’s daughter and Hugh Laurie’s kids as well as a whole host of other fabulous and lovely people around Blackheath.
I love making music fun, from wonky dubstep to majestical Rachmaninoff. I also have a personal interest in pedagogy, the science of teaching, and love sharing what I’ve learnt. I have undertaken disability training and happily welcome applications from disabled/dyslexic/dyspraxic students. I firmly believe anyone can be taught with the right approach and tools.
I am a BBC Ten Pieces Champion, a nationwide project aimed at encouraging children to fall in love with and understand classical music and have recently filmed for CBeebies through that initiative. I have also been interviewed as an “expert opinion” for news articles on music for the BBC and have been named one of the top 100 female entrepreneurs in 2019. More recently, I have helped start up the Citizen’s of the World Choir, a choir for refugees and friends, for which I am musical director and conductor. My favourite cake is a triple layer chocolate fudge cake; now you know how to bribe me!
“Becky is someone who instantly put a smile on my face when we had our lessons (even if I was in the middle of exams!). I’m so grateful that she was able to encourage me to take my singing further whilst also making me feel more confident! Not only has Becky been a brilliant singing teacher, but she’s also much more than that to me, so I wish you all the best Becky and can’t wait to keep in contact. Thank you for everything, I’ll miss you!” -Joanna, graduating student.
Fraser Bowles
BMus Hons, MMus – Cello
Hi, I’m Fraser and I teach cello and piano for the Becky Dell Music Academy. I started learning cello at the age of six and loved it so much that I went on to study at the Kent Music Academy and then at both Trinity (BMus) and Guildhall (MMus).
Chamber music is my thing. I’ve performed at Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, the Southbank Centre, and the Barbican. I was also awarded the ABRSM Marguerite Swan memorial prize in both 2003 and 2010 and was a finalist in the Vera Kantrovich competition in 2015.
Although I love to play classical music, I’ve played with some pretty cool bands, too. Matt Emery, VLMV, Ben Laver, Taz Modi, Heather McClelland. As a member of Parallax Orchesta, I’ve played with Eminem, Alter Bridge, Sweet Billy Pilgrim, Bring Me The Horizon, Jennifer Ann, The Irrepressibles, dodie (the YouTube star) and Ardyn to name a few!
I am also a founding member of the contemporary music group, Ret Frem. We are committed to the performance and promotion of music of exquisite craft by living composers – established, emerging or underrepresented.
When I’m not hanging out with Eminem or playing at Wigmore Hall, I am partial to a slice or two of Red Velvet cake!
Glenda Allaway,
BMus (Hons) – Harp, violin, advanced piano & theory
Hello! I’m Glenda and I teach harp, piano and violin. I grew up in a tiny town on the Welsh borders before moving to Manchester to study at Chetham’s School of Music and then to London to go to Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
My musical life is very varied, taking me from concert halls to festival stages, the classroom to secret gigs across the country – I’ve even braved taking my harp onto the Queen’s rowbarge, the Gloriana! My favourite thing is to keep my love of music central to everything that I do and I aim to help my students to do the same.
I’m a bit of a funny one when it comes to cake… Courgette cake anyone?!
“Glenda is a very positive teacher and always keeps the students happy during lessons. My old teacher can not be compared to Glenda, for example she can’t be compared by her jolliness and helpfulness. […] I cannot say more she is an amazing teacher and I recommend her to all little girls and boys that play the harp and need help playing…” – Amelia, age 10, student.
VIOLA LENZI
BMus (Hons) - Advanced piano
Hi! My name is Viola (yes, like the instrument, the flower and the colour...), I grew up in Tuscany (Italy) and I play and teach piano!
I studied piano at the Conservatoire of Pietro Mascagni in Livorno, where I completed my
Bachelor degree with first-class honours, followed by a Master degree in piano performance.
Under the Erasmus+ scheme, I came to London in 2018 to study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of music and Dance in Greenwich, where I’m currently undertaking my Postgraduate Advance
Diploma!
From my own experience of having such wonderful teachers during my studies, I want to continue to inspire my students through the musical world, as I like every kind of music and sharing it in many different ways helps you to enjoy it and have fun with it even better!
In my space time I love hanging out with friends, watching movies, cooking and my favourite cake is the meringue pie!
Meg Ella Brookes
BMus (Hons) - Voice, piano, cello & songwriting
Hi! My name is Meg (not short for Megan!) and I am from West Wales by the sea.
The thing I love about my job is that it involves so many different roles - session musician, musical director, composer, songwriter, arranger, project manager - so I get to work with so many inspiring people. I've been lucky enough to work with artists like ABBA, Elbow, Jools Holland, Jules Buckley, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Nitin Sawhney, Wolf Alice, The Staves, Laura Mvula, Basement Jaxx and many more as well as working on feature films, TV shows, in theatre, circus and around the world.
I help manage organisations like Citizens Of The World Choir (Assistant MD), a refugee choir based in Greenwich and London Contemporary Voices, London's leading contemporary session choir which always leads to lots of exciting opportunities.
I also have my own artist project, MEG ELLA, which is currently Arts Council funded and have been featured on BBC Radio London and at Glastonbury Festival.
Everything I learn along the way I try to pass on to my brilliant students and we always focus on building self confidence, creativity and building up a happy, healthy mindset.
When I’m not playing music (which isn’t very often) I like going on long, windy walks with my Mum's collie, swimming in the sea (we even go in on Christmas day) and cooking Italian food. I will happily eat any cake under the sun, but my real weakness is tiramisu...and pastries.
“Meg is bubbly, encouraging and can bring out the best in anyone. Her goofiness and kindness makes you feel totally at ease and her love of music is obvious and translates into every piece- lessons go by in a blink!” – Anna, student
Rob Griffin
BMus Hons - Woodwind and pop/jazz piano
Hi, I’m Rob and I teach woodwind (saxophone, clarinet and flute) for the Becky Dell Music Academy. I recently graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire with a 1st Class degree and was awarded the Trinity Laban Jazz Achievement Award in 2016! I have played at venues all over London and the rest of the UK including Ronnie Scotts, Kings Place, Royal Festival Hall and many more.
I have been teaching students of all ages for a long time and although my favourite genre is jazz, I love to teach pop, classical and some funkier stuff just as much!
"Rob is great at making learning fun and identifying ways to improve my technique. I always look forward to the next lesson." Jon, BDMA Student
Joel Waters
BMus - Drums, percussion & band coaching
Hi there! I’m Joel and I teach Drums and Guitar. I have been teaching since I was 15 and have been playing drums since I was five years old. I graduated with 1st Class Honours from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. I love all styles of music, from heavy metal to jazz to classical, and have worked with various different bands and artists across the UK. In my spare time I love to play table tennis and go running. My favourite cake has to be a good old Victoria sponge especially with fondant roll up icing – I could eat that by itself!
BARNY JONES
MMus (Hons) - Piano (Advanced - all styles)
Hi everyone, my name’s Barny and I’m a pianist from London. I studied classical piano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and I graduated in 2017.
After I graduated I moved to Italy and did a Masters (more classical piano), taught English, went to the beach and ate a lot of Pizza! This formative time very much solidified the Tiramisu as my favourite cake/dessert.
I grew up playing in church and studying classical music and now I mainly play and study Jazz as well as playing pop music in function bands. I also work with producers as a session musician, performing and composing in a variety of genres. In my free time I enjoy going down to the local climbing wall to exhaust myself, reading and baking bread.
Amy Kearsley
BMus Hons – Singing & Piano
Hello! I’m Amy, I teach voice and piano. I completed my music degree at the University of Surrey, where I was awarded the Robert Naylor Memorial Prize for receiving the highest mark in my final performance recital. As part of my degree, I completed a placement year with the English National Opera, working at the London Coliseum and delivering large-scale outreach projects.
Before my degree I was a keen choral singer, I was part of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and the Halle Youth Choir in Manchester. I was able to perform in some really amazing venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Abbey Road Studios.
I went on tour to China, France and Switzerland. I also trained as a dancer for 12 years, which was the beginning of my passion for performing!
I’m currently working towards my masters in vocal studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. As much as I love all things opera, I also love singing and playing different styles of music – especially musical theatre and jazz.
I have always loved performing on stage and being able to play a variety of characters. I think the most important thing when performing is knowing who you are
and what you want to tell your audience and I focus on this at the heart of my teaching.
When I’m not singing, I love watching movies with my friends, swimming or salsa dancing. I love chocolate cake and anything with raspberry or fruity flavours in it!
TIM QUICKE
BMus (Hons) - Brass & Piano
Hi, I’m Tim, and I teach brass and piano!
I have an Undergraduate degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, in Jazz Trumpet Performance. Throughout my time studying in Scotland I had the opportunity to play gigs and participate in masterclasses with some amazing world class jazz musicians such as Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine and Tommy Smith.
After graduating, I spent some time living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where I taught brass at the British International School of Kuala Lumpur. I also had the opportunity to play lots of gigs and music festivals with incredible local musicians throughout my time living there (I also ate LOTS of tasty food!).
I now play a wide range of musical genres - all sorts of jazz, Ska and Reggae, Brass Band music of all shapes and sizes, pop music in its various forms - at clubs, events and festivals across the UK. I bring my love of all genres into my lessons and I take pride in making my students really well rounded passionate musicians!
There is no question, in regards to cake, coffee and walnut is my favourite!
ADAM WOODCOCK - Drums and piano
BMus (Hons) - Jazz Percussion
Hey, I’m Adam and I teach Drums and Piano for the Becky Dell Music Academy! I’ve recently completed my undergraduate degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance where I graduated with first-class honours and am now making my living as a freelance musician here in London.
As a performer, I’ve been lucky enough to play all over the UK (and further afield), playing all different styles of music from jazz, classical, rock, funk, soul and anything in between. Some recently performance highlights include playing at Ronnie Scotts, Royal Festival Hall, Houses of Commons, and the London Jazz Festival.
I’ve been teaching for 7 years now and really enjoy catering the lessons to the students wants and needs. So whether you want to get to the next grade, you’re preparing for a school concert, or you just want to learn your new favourite song, I’m always happy to help!
Outside of music, I really enjoy spending time outdoors, be it rock climbing, hiking or just a nice walk in the park, and am currently attempting to learn French (emphasis on attempting). If I had to pick a favourite cake, it’d have to be a lemon drizzle cake. Having said that, if someone's offering me a slice of another type of cake I’m not going to turn it down!
Ffion Baggridge
BA Hons - Piano and Singing
Hi, I'm Ffion and I teach Piano and Singing at the Becky Dell Music Academy. I'm from a small town in South Wales where I learned and studied through the medium of Welsh.
I studied Musical Theatre in Cardiff and gained my BA Hons. I first started playing piano when I was around 5 and feel like I've sung forever!
I've been very fortunate to perform with performers such as the Black Eyed Peas at the UEFA Champions League final, Collabro and Kerry Ellis at the National Eisteddfod Ceremony, to name a few...
In my spare time, I enjoy Irish dancing and have been lucky enough to compete and win CRN Champion in 2015!
I'm also a 1st Dan Black Belt and have competed in many European and UK based competitions.
I love nothing more than a good Scone, but the question is "What goes first? Jam or cream"
(definitely cream!!)
Ben Leigh Grossart
BMus Hons - Singing, Bass, Guitar & Music Theory
Hi! I'm Ben, I teach voice, bass, guitar, and music theory.
I studied composition at Trinity Laban, which was a very formal setup for me. I grew up playing and singing very instinctually through improvisation and playing by ear. I think aural skills are an incredibly valuable aspect of becoming a musician and I base my teaching around aural work, as I feel it can often be neglected in music education.
Musically, I'm rooted in jazz and groove-based music, but as I've grown up, I've spent time investigating classical, contemporary, popular styles, and musical theatre. I have an ever-evolving relationship with all of these genres and love to sink my teeth into new sounds wherever i can find them!
My goals are to stay as varied as possible in what I do. The perfect week for me contains aspects of teaching, composing, arranging, producing, and performing.
My favourite cake has to be banana bread. Bananas, wholewheat flour, oil, coconut sugar, and lots of walnuts. It's all you need for an amazing cake.
Lois Nicoll
BMus (Hons) – Flute, Recorder, Clarinet, Saxophone, Music Theory, Piano
Hey! I’m Lois. I’m primarily a flute player but also teach the recorder, clarinet, saxophone and piano. I
graduated a few years ago from Trinity Laban Conservatoire with a BMus Hons degree. I love to
venture outside of the classical box – I perform contemporary, sometimes cross-over jazz repertoire
with piano, Latin-American music with guitar and am the flautist in the band ‘The Reel Folks’.
Other recent highlights of mine have been recording library music for film and TV for Vivum Music Ltd and being a soloist for the YouTube Festival ‘Summer in the City’.
A successful instrumental lesson of mine includes animated discussions, high levels of engagement and an evident display of pupil(s) showing progress. I’ve got experience with SEND children too.
Favourite cake? Hmm, more of a brownie-monster I’d say…chocolate fudge brownie with a gooey centre is my weakness!
Emily Jennings
BMus Hons, MMus Hons - Voice, Piano.
Hello! My name is Emily and I’m a singer and pianist. I trained as a singer at the Royal College of Music where I obtained both my undergraduate and masters degrees. I have loved making music for as long as I can remember and I was first drawn to the world of song after seeing my father perform in many a Gilbert and Sullivan opera. I actually had my first proper role in a production of The Sound of Music in which I played Marta and my father played Captain Von Trapp; happy memories!
I have been fortunate enough to have had a musically diverse career comprising of opera, musical theatre, jazz, contemporary and choral music performing in venues such as the Southbank Centre, Cadogan Hall, Concertgabouw and the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms. I am particularly fond of folk music; there is something so profoundly moving and timeless about this genre and I could sing it or listen to it all day long!
I have been teaching people of all ages, levels and backgrounds for over a decade now (which feels crazy!) and I absolutely love it. The joy of witnessing first-hand how music can make a positive impact on an individual’s life is truly priceless and I feel very lucky indeed to be able to call this a profession.
When I’m not music-making, you can find me dancing my socks off at a festival, (which I guess is also music related..), drinking coffee, continuously perfecting and adding to my 70s themed living room, tending to my plants, generally exploring.. and watching Gogglebox. My favourite cake would have to be coffee. Did I mention that I love coffee?
ELLA INGRAM - Piano, Voice & Bassoon
Hi! My name is Ella and I’m a pianist, singer and bassoonist, currently studying classical piano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in Greenwich.
I began classical piano age 7, but was later introduced to musical theatre pit band playing, where my love of theatre and musical direction began. I recently was Musical Director for a graduate showcase cabaret at the Albany theatre in Deptford, and was Assistant MD of ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ at Manchester Cathedral. I love the varied styles involved in musical theatre, including jazz and pop.
I love to work with and inspire the talented younger generations, as they are the future of our industry. I tailor lessons to each student, finding what inspires and drives them to pursue music, keeping this at the core of all learning.
Outside of music, I enjoy running, making the most of my Pret coffee subscription, and bingeing a good Netflix series!
Gonçalo Abrantes - voice and piano
Hi, I'm Gonçalo (you can call me Gon) and I teach piano, singing, guitar and production! Where can I start?... I have had a very eclectic journey, starting with a classical education in piano and singing at Lisbon's Conservatoire. I also did cinema studies and was the frontman of a multi-award-winning electro-rock band, which I self-produced. Simultaneously I was singing in a professional symphonic choir full-time (for 10 years) and touring Europe with the greatest names in classical music! This means I'm more than happy to help you with a Beethoven's piano sonata or a Muse song, singing Fauré or Billie Eilish, or rocking some chords on the guitar. I am also keen on helping you with your songwriting and production skills!
Some years ago I won a scholarship for a Master's degree at City University London and I was able to join my passions and study Composing for Moving Image. Since then I have been doing music for TV and independent films. I am also part of the London Contemporary Voices, where I met and performed with the most amazing artists, some of them I'm producing at the moment! I love to create classical-inspired sonic worlds for pop music, singer-songwriters and electronic musicians.
I am interested in instilling a love for music and for your specific instrument through creative visualisation processes, improvisation and games. So... let's have some fun!
Finally - I’m not very keen on cakes and currently avoiding sugar, but I can't resist a Portuguese custard tart with an espresso!
Not only do I do instrumental teaching but I can teach you recording and production - watch the video below!
JOSEPH LEIGHTON - GUITAR And ukulele
Hi there! I'm Joseph and I'm a guitarist from Ireland who moved to London to continue my jazz degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire whilst doing a host of other things on the side, including teaching! I started playing guitar at 11 years old and drums around a year before that but quickly lost most interest in drums and decided guitar was going to be my thing. I loved the sound of rock music and I loved the look of the guitars and the amps etc, I just thought it seemed like the coolest thing you could be doing (which I agree with to this day). From 11 years old until now, I've been hooked and it's taken me on quite a journey.
I spent hours in my room practicing rock/blues guitar and then by the time I got to 16, I started to get interested in jazz little by little and within a couple of years I was hooked on the sound and the rhythms of jazz, there seemed to be endless possibilities. Since then I have been fortunate to tour all over to world to countries like Jamaica, Egypt and Thailand to name but a few whilst also having lots of performance opportunities in Ireland such as writing music for festivals, teaching at jazz festivals and performing in all types of band lineups. Over the years his teachers I have had lessons from many of my guitar icons who include guitar icons Jesse van Ruller, Mike Walker and Peter Bernstein which was a great honour. I have also been fortunate to receive awards from Moving On Music, PRSF and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
I have been teaching from a young age so I have a lot of experience and it's also something that gives me great joy to do. From 6 year olds, to full classes, to 80 year olds - I get such pleasure out of teaching whoever is sitting before me, so whoever you are let’s make music together!
When I'm not making music I enjoy being a bit of a coffee snob and cafe jumping, tasting all the different blends of coffee, meeting with friends and over the past year I've really gotten into going to the gym so that's great for my mind and I think helps with my music making. Favourite cake is lemon drizzle of course!
Mariam Petrosian
MA in Music Performance, Ba(Hons), Certified BAST Vocal Instructor.
Hi! I’m Mariam and I’m a singer and a songwriter. I teach singing, piano and music theory. I have a teaching experience of 5+ years, working with both beginners, advanced and university level students. The age category I teach spans from 5 years old to 73 years old.
My fascination with singing and music in general started from a very young age when my grandmother, who’s insanely musically gifted, taught me a beautiful classical song “Vard” written by an Armenian composer Romanos Melikian in 1911. She then introduced me to Armenian folk songs and Komitas – one of the pioneers of ethnomusicology. It was very important for me, as a young Armenian kid growing up in Russia, to stay connected to my roots and learn more about my background. I am still very much involved in the community, now singing the Divine Liturgy at the Armenian Church of St. Yeghishe in London and learning more about religious chants and their origins, dating back to early Byzantine.
In my teenage years, I became very interested in contemporary popular music, as well rock and jazz! By the time I was 14 I already formed a girl band and started making my first baby steps as a songwriter. I then started my music education at a music college named after Romanos Meliqyan in Yerevan, Armenia and that’s when I decided that I wanted to pursue music as my profession.
I trained in Contemporary Music and Vocal Performance at London College of Music, UWL (MA in Music Performance) where I was granted an International Ambassador Scholarship. Before that I studied at Yerevan State Conservatory (BA Hons) and I am also a Certified BAST Vocal Instructor.
I have been performing as a soloist since the age of 17 and, throughout my music journey, I’ve been lucky enough to have worked with many great musicians (Miqayel Voskanyan, Andre Simonian from the Beautified Project), orchestras and bands (State Jazz Orchestra of Armenia, Yerevan National Radio Orchestra, MVF band), music industry professionals (Nick Egibyan, LazzaroMusic, Ian Post, Iveta Mukuchyan), and have acquired knowledge in different singing techniques and styles.
Songwriting and producing is another area of music that I’m very passionate about. I am the the co-winner of “7 Notes Music Challenge” songwriting contest, organized and co-chaired by System of a Down’s frontman Serj Tankian and a finalist of several other songwriting competitions.
As a songwriter I am currently working on my EP which is set to be released in 2023. I also write for other artists.
My methodology is simple, I cater the lessons to my students’ specific needs, incorporating all the basics that they should know about the anatomy of their instrument, breathing and support, vocal health, and of course the pure joy of singing to deliver that important message through music. My lessons are fun but also packed with all the knowledge and technical development you need for your specific goal.
When I’m not teaching, I like singing. When I’m not singing, I love reading about music, and when I’m not reading about music…I think you can guess the rest!
However, I do have a hobby – I’m an eager foodie and my favourite cake is Tres Leches!
Mini Maestros - for our little brothers and sisters...
For children ages 3-6.
Lessons aim to:
- introduce and familiarise your child with musical themes - singing, rhythms, dynamics
- build your child's confidence and communication skills through performing
- give your child an after-school activity they're not "too young" for
- encourage and inspire their creative minds
- discover the amazing world of music!
If you would like more information about how you can start Mini Maestros, get in touch today!
Greenwich, London - contact Katy: katy@
Blackheath, London - contact Meg: megella@
We work hard to make sure the Becky Dell Music Academy is a fair and inclusive employer and a safe space for our clients, and proudly reflect that in our community.
