Instrumental and Vocal Staff

Below is a list of current Instrumental and Vocal Staff in the Department of Music.

Instrumental and Vocal Staff Liaison
NameInstrument
Houghton, Anthonyclarinet, saxophone

Instrumental and Vocal Staff
NameInstrumentBrief Summary
Batchelar, PeterguitarTrained at RNCM; member of the Aguado Duo for many years. Peter has worked with Opera North, Manchester Camerata, Liverpool Philharmonic etc.
He has a leading role in developing new ideas in guitar educational music, particularly in connection with the new AB syllabus. He currently has duos with soprano and flute.
Specialities: Vocal accompanist, lute player.
Bitloch, MarieCelloFrench cellist Marie studied with Michel Lefort at the Perpignan Conservatoire, Philippe Muller at the Paris Conservatoire and Ralph Kirshbaum at the Royal Northern College of Music. She has performed recitals throughout France, Spain and England and has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the Goncal Comellas Orchestra, the Orchestra de Cambra d´Andorra, the Orchestre Languedoc-Roussillon, the RNCM Symphony Orchestra and the Chester Symphony Orchestra. Marie has also taken part in music festivals across Europe, America and the UK.
In 1997 Marie was joint second at the Adam Competition in New Zealand and a year later she won the Jury's prize at the Bach Competition in Leipzig. She won the Muriel Taylor Scholarship and the Sema Group Concert Award, both in 1999, and in 2001 was awarded an Incentive Grand at the Pierre Fournier award subsequently appearing at the Manchester Cello Festival.
Marie is a laureate of the Natexis Foundation, Banque Populaire who are supporting her with her musical projects. She is also a founder member of the Elias Quartet (formerly Johnston Quartet) and of Music in the Round's Ensemble 360.

Bradley, Chrispercussion
Brown, KentrumpetPrincipal Cornet - Ever Ready Brass Band:
BA (hons) Lancaster University:
GDOS Diploma in Orchestral Studies from Goldsmith's College, London:
London Freelance incuding West End and National Theatre:
Now Sub-Principal Trumpet Hallé Orchestra - appointed 1988.
Burley, JoannabassoonTrained at RAM - bassoon and piano joint 1st studies.
Formative influences - the late Charles Cracknell - HallÈ principal bassoonist, and Danielle Salomon - pianist in residence Sheffield University (1976).
I have been appointed by Sheffield LEA to develop bassoon playing across the city - aim to encourage players young and old!
Member of Hallam Sinfonia and contra-bassoon enthusiast.
Cropper, Martinviolin
Davies, Iantrombone and lower brassFrom 1972 - 1992 Ian was Principal Bass Trombone with the English Northern Philharmonia (orchestra of Opera North). Now freelancing and recording with most of the symphony, opera and session orchestras in the country. He coaches and teaches at RNCM, Birmingham Conservatoire, National Children's Orchestra, National Youth Wind Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra of Malta.
Special interests in Early music - plays F Bass Sackbut also Big Band performance.
Dixon, JoanrecorderAfter graduating with first class honours at the University of York Joan Dixon won a Dutch Government scholarship for post-graduate study in performance at the Hague. She has performed widely on both instruments in concertos, solo recitals and chamber music and is in great demand as a teacher. She is an examiner for the Associated Board and is a mentor on their Professional Development Course.
Specialities: Early music.
Evans, Cathyviolin1979-1982 BMus Hons Sheffield University. Final year recital prize.

1982-1983 Diploma in Orchestral Studies Goldsmiths College London.

1983-1990 Member of 1st Violin section in CBSO under Simon Rattle.
1987 Promoted to sub-principal position.

1990-2000 Extensive freelancing with Halle, CBSO, Opera North, Viva, RPO.

Since 2001 Cathy has been an associate member of the CBSO.

Frith, BenjaminpianoStudied with Fanny Waterman.
Winner - Dudley National Concerto Competition ('72), Mozart Memorial Prize ('78), NFMS Award for Young Concert Artists ('83)
1986 - Top prize(2nd) Busoni International Piano Competition
1989 - 1st prize Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition
Concerts in America, Far & Middle East and Europe
Recording artist for Naxos, ASV, Unicorn, Serendipity...
Concertos with IPO, CBSO, BBC Philharmonic, Scottish O, Royal Philharmonic, London Mozart Players, Hallé, Bournmouth S O, Polish National Radio, Warsaw Philharmonic, Israel Chamber Orch. and Singapore S O. Appeared at the Kulme, Kfar Blum, Savannah & Sheffield Festivals.
Specialities: Late Classical, Early Romantic
Gooing, JonathanpianoJonathan Gooing graduated from the University of Sheffield in 1996, where he studied piano with Yolande Wrigley. While an undergraduate, he won many prizes, including the Sir Thomas Beecham Music Scholarship, the final year recital prize and the piano accompaniment award. In 2007 he gained a MMus degree researching and performing Schubert’s song-cycle Winterreise.
He has accompanied many leading musicians, including Jean Rigby, Roderick Williams and Claire Rutter. In addition to working at the RNCM, he teaches piano, is accompanist at the University of Sheffield and is senior lecturer in music at Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln.
As an organist, Jonathan has performed in the Cathedrals of Lincoln, Sheffield, Ripon and York, as well as Symphony Hall, Birmingham and with the Halle at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. In 1999 he won the Yamaha 'Birmingham Accompanist of the Year' Award.

Hindmarsh, Martinvoice
Ireland, Robinviolin and viola
Jones, Eira LynnharpGraduate of the RNCM and Manhattan School of Music, New York.
Head of Harp Department at RNCM and Chethams Shool of Music.
Masterclasses in USA, Greece and China.
Performs with Halle, RLPO & BBC P O.
Broadcasts on TV, Radio + CD Recordings
Kalashnik, ValentinapianoValentina was born in the Ukraine. She studied at Kiev State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire with Professor Igor Ryabov and honoured artist of the Ukraine, head of the jury of the Gorowitz Debut Piano Competition, Professor Valery Kozlov.
After finishing at the Conservatoire Valentina worked at the Kiev Gliere Music College where she was a piano tutor, also a lecturer in the history of piano music and performing styles and head of tuition practice of the Piano Department. In 1996 she was invited and worked as a visiting tutor at the Music Institute of Kwanqu (S. Korea).
During her career Valentina gave recitals in Russia, Ukraine, S. Korea, Italy and here in Sheffield.
Her students have taken part in a number of piano competitions, in Greece, Czech Republic and the Ukraine.

Specialities: Ukrainian and Russian Contemporary Music.
Lauder, Katrinafrench hornKatrina graduated at the Royal Northern College of Music in 1998, since then she has been freelancing across the UK.
Orchestras include LPO, Hallé, BBC Phil. and CBSO amongst others. She has also been on trial with the LPO (Third Hn) and CBSO (Principal Hn).
She is Principal Horn of the National Festival Orchestra. Katrina has a special interest in Wind Chamber Music.
Markham, SarahsaxophoneSarah has enjoyed competition success with the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition and the Park Lane Group. She has performed all over Britain, including the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and in Germany, Belgium, Spain, America and Canada. She has also broadcast live on Radio 3 and Classic FM radio. Sarah plays soprano saxophone in the Adelphi Saxophone Quartet, whose CD "Simply Four Saxophones" was released in 1998 by EMI. Sarah also plays baritone saxophone in the Northern Saxophone Quartet, and is a member of the Tribune Saxophone Octet.
Marshall, Conradflute
Mellor, JudithfluteWorks as a freelance Orchestral and Chamber Music player and teacher throughout the North of England.
Flute students of all ages are prepared for grade and Diploma examinations and competitions as required.
Peters, Frankelectric guitar
Smith, CarolvoiceStudied Guildhall School of Music and Drama and National Opera Studio.
Made Debut Recital in Carnegie Recital Hall, New York. Other recitals with Geoffrey Parsons and Graham Johnson/Songmakers' Almanac.
Glyndebourne Festival Opera sang Miss Wordsworth in Sir Peter Hall/Haitink production of Albert Herring.
Concert appearances with Philharmonia, London Mozart Players, Hallé, Gabrieli Consort, Academy of Ancient Music.
Swain, Christineoboe
Taylor, Neilorgan
Webster, GemmapianoStudied at the Purcell School, RCM, RNCM. Recitals at St. Martin-in-the-Field's, Buckingham Palace, Fairfield Hall, Cambridge University, Bath Festival, Bremen Hochschule.
Collaborations with Daniel Bates (Gold Medal, ROSL) and Marie Macleod (Strigs winner, BBC Young Musicians).
1st Prizes: Derby Piano Concerto Competition, National Toshiba Piano Award, RNCM Concerto Competition, 4th Utrecht International Piano Competition.
Participated at International Musicians Seminar, Prussia Cove, performed under Martyn Brabbins, Resident-Artist at Banff Centre.
Westwood, JenniferVoice



Instrumental and Vocal Staff

See also