Visiting Music Teachers

Pete RichardsonCello and Electric Guitar
Peter Richardson is an established Cellist, Electric Guitarist, Conductor, Educator, and Performer. He has devoted over 25 years to educating young musicians at the Royal Grammar School.

Throughout his three decades of teaching, his students have achieved a 100% pass rate in ABRSM and Rock School examinations, with several earning Diplomas before leaving school.

He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama under teachers  Alexander Baillie and Mira Chahin. It was during this time that he developed a deep love for music theory and composition.

Renowned for his dynamic leadership and positive approach to music education, Peter has directed youth ensembles, orchestras, and school programs for more than 30 years, earning a reputation for both excellence and creativity.

He also teaches at The Glasshouse, where he plays a central role in the In Harmony project (featured in the BBC documentary The Geordie Symphony School). Each week, he conducts six ensembles, often performing side by side with the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

As conductor of SPYE for over two decades, Peter has nurtured a thriving community of young musicians aged 9–18, offering them opportunities to perform to a high standard—many of whom have gone on to become professional musicians.

He has collaborated with acclaimed artists such as Field Music, China Drum, and Bernard Butler, while continuing to perform actively in theatres and concert venues. His passion for bridging classical and contemporary music has led to many memorable performances, including the Unplugged Series at the Royal Grammar School.

Mr John J Ferguson LTCL, FISM Classical Guitar 
Over a teaching career of 44 years John has taught Classical Guitar at all of the independent schools in Newcastle. He joined the VMT team at RGS in the Autumn of 1991 and has taught from Beginners to Diploma. He has also had success with Guitar Ensembles in both Junior and Senior School where he has enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm of pupils playing with their peers.

In previous years John has given recitals at Newcastle Cathedral and in fundraising events for several local charities. He also had a regular Christmas Concert where his pupils played to raise money for charity. He was a member of the Newcastle Guitar Society and frequently played at meetings. In recent years he has turned his hand to writing.  

Mr Dov Goldberg Gmus (RNCM), PPRNCM, MAClarinet, saxophone, oboe and bassoon
 Dov Goldberg’s musical education began at his local middle school where he benefitted from free instrumental lessons. He progressed to the Purcell School of Music with aid from the then government’s Specialist Music Scholarship scheme and the a Performing Rights bursary. Instrumental lessons were gained at the Royal Academy of Music junior department where he won the under 16 wind prize.

Dov went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music where he won the Candlin prize for orchestral playing and graduated with GmusRNCM degree and PPRNCM diploma. He has an MA (dist.) in history with the Open University. In addition to playing with many of the country’s orchestras and ensembles including as a member of RNS, he has taught at Chethams’ School of Music, Sedbergh School, Leeds Girls High and Leeds University.

He currently teaches at Newcastle and Durham universities and Sage Gateshead. As clarinettist with Psappha, Dov has toured extensively and given masterclasses in Venezuela, Adelaide, Hong Kong and closer to home.

Work with young composers has culminated in many new works which may be found on YouTube, Spotify and Vimeo. Current research focuses on the folk clarinet music of the Balkans and Caucus regions.

Dov offers lessons on clarinet, saxophone and oboe and grade 5 theory at RGS focusing on a classical grounding with jazz where appropriate. Balkan folk as requested! 

Mr Stephen Wall Drum Kit
As a drum teacher Steve has 25 years experience both teaching in local education authority schools and private schools. He also teaches on a private basis out of his teaching facility at his home in North Tyneside. He mostly teaches the Trinity College London drum kit syllabus for those who wish to take formal examinations.

To date he has taken countless students through grades one to eight and on to diploma level with great success. He also supplement s the examination syllabus with lots of technical study material to help improve all round ability on the instrument and provides support at home through access to his website which houses lots of instructional and demonstration video material along with supporting worksheets and audio files.

As a player Steve has 40 years professional playing experience to date (and hopefully many more to come!) This has found him travelling country and worldwide, working in Theatre Shows, Cruise Ships, Radio, TV, Big Bands, Small Band Jazz outfits, Brass Bands, Cabaret Clubs, etc in a wide variety of playing situations covering most styles & genres. 

Mrs Sarah Davie MMUS (Perf), BA, CPGSFlute
Sarah graduated from the RSAMD (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) in 1997, having been awarded the Olive Young Memorial Award. After graduating she embarked on a successful freelance career, playing Flute and piccolo with the orchestra’s of Opera North, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Opera, The Halle, Welsh National Opera and Northern Ballet. 

Sarah’s playing career took her all over the world, working with conductors and composers such as Paul Daniel, Walter Weller, Carlo Rizzi, Alexander Lazarev, Sir Mark Elder,Neeme Jarvi, Marin Alsop, Elmer Bernstein and Jerry Goldsmith. 

Sarah has also been part of Opera North’s education team and the BBC Radio 3 ‘s Musicians on call scheme. 

Sarah has taught at RGS and NPS since 2003 having taught at The Sage Gateshead, Newcastle University and been a tutor for Young Sinfonia Orchestra. She thoroughly enjoys inspiring the young flautists at RGS and being part of their journey from year 3 through to year 13! 

Mr Tim Burke BA (Oxon.), PGDip (GSMD), ARCO Organ
 Tim Burke is an organist, conductor, composer and arranger based in Newcastle upon Tyne. He was Organ Scholar at Exeter College Oxford, graduating with First Class Honours in Music.

He trained as an opera repetiteur at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the National Opera Studio and as a conductor and repetiteur on the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, before spending four years as Chorus Master at Opera North.

Tim has conducted for Royal Opera House, Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, Opera North and English Touring Opera. He is the Director of the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia, winning a 2021 RPS Award for lockdown digital project The World How Wide. He is also the Choir Director at St Gabriel’s Heaton, and the Music Director of groundbreaking opera company Tête à Tête. 

Annie Ball DIPABRSM, BMUS, MMUS Piano
Annie is an award winning concert pianist with a teaching career spanning over two decades (one-to-one, classroom, group teaching (awarded Outstanding by Ofsted in 2005), choir leading and orchestral conducting).

She received scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate study and enjoys CPD by attending piano teaching and playing courses, membership of the Curious Piano Teachers and the Piano UK network, which delivers workshops, reviews new publications, teaching methods and exam board changes and provides fantastic lesson resources.

Annie is director of Wylam Winter Tales, Semibreve CIC and is part of the critically acclaimed ‘Howay the Lasses” uncovering hidden stories of North East Women and setting them to original song.

A recipient of the Arts Council “Develop Your Creative Practice” award in 2021 and she is also proud to have performed centre field at St James’ Park. Annie was headhunted to teach piano at NHSG and the Sage’s Centre for Advanced Training and is a sought after accompanist.

Her teaching encourages thoughtful, well rounded and curious musicians using Inquiry-Based learning to inspire a lifelong love of learning and playing piano. Many of her pupils carry on to study music at University.

Annie teaches all the major exam boards, helping her pupils gain excellent results, including ABRSM, MTB, Trinity College London, ABRSM Jazz and Rockschool Awards and is passionate about tailoring syllabi to pupils’ interests. When Annie is not teaching or playing music she can be found walking Monty, her labradoodle, or playing board games with her children.

Mrs Fiona Gould BA PGCE ARSM DipABRSM LTCLPiano

Fiona gained a degree in Chinese from Durham University and a PGCE from the University of Sunderland. She began her career as a primary school teacher, where she was responsible for delivering the music curriculum.

During a career break to focus on raising her children Fiona worked for Piccolo, leading live music sessions for early years and toddler groups—an experience that was musically enriching and deeply rewarding.

During her teaching career, Fiona began to give private piano lessons which grew into both her passion and her primary professional focus. Her teaching philosophy is holistic and student-centred, aimed at nurturing confident, well-rounded musicians by fostering both technical proficiency and psychological resilience.

She specialises in managing performance anxiety and equipping her students with lifelong tools for resilience and self-belief. Under her guidance, students have achieved success in regional and national finals in EPTA piano competitions held in Birmingham, Manchester, and London.

Fiona readily adapts her teaching approach to suit each individual pupil; whether the goals derive from examinations, performances or competitions, she encourages pupils to explore a wide range of piano repertoire. 

As EPTA regional organiser, Fiona is committed to continual professional development. With distinctions in the ARSM and LTCL performance diplomas, she is currently pursuing the FTCL diploma in piano performance. She has attained the DipABRSM in piano teaching and is also a highly regarded accompanist.

Fiona believes that music education should be joyful, motivating, and empowering. She fosters a learning environment that inspires sustained engagement and a lifelong passion for music.

Nicholas Nowicki MMus RNCM, BA York (Hons)Piano
Nicholas enjoys a successful career as a pianist, conductor and teacher. A graduate of University of York where he won the concerto prize and the highest final recital mark in the University’s history, he received the Charles Heywood Scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he obtained a Masters with distinction in Performance and was awarded the Clifton Helliwell Memorial Prize.

Nicholas is in demand as soloist and accompanist and has performed in many prestigious venues across Britain, accompanying Bryn Terfel amongst others, and has performed live on BBC Radio 3 and recorded on the Chandos label. Teaching and education is central to his career; currently, he teaches at RGS Newcastle (since 2008) and at the Centre for Advance Training at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, as well as having a large private teaching practice.

He aims to engender a love of music in all his students. Recent students have gone to conservatoires, Cambridge University and received music scholarships and exhibitions at Magdalen College and Eton. He is an accompanist for both Newcastle and Durham Universities. He is a tutor in postgraduate piano studies at Newcastle University.

As a conductor, he is Musical Director of Tees Valley Youth Orchestra, the region’s only full-size youth orchestra and has led them to the National Finals of Music for Youth at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on 5 occasions, as well as extraordinary performances at Carnegie Hall, New York in 2019 and Royal Albert Hall in 2021. He is also a musical director of Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted them at the International Festival of Animation.

He mentors young musicians taking their first steps in the musical world through the Accompany programme. 

Andrew Soulsby B/Mus(Hons), DipABRSM, PGCE1685 Piano & Harpsichord Tuition 
Andrew is a music graduate of the University of Huddersfield, a pupil of Sophie Yates, John Bryan and David Murray, now working as a freelance musician with over 25 years experience as a harpsichordist, pianist, conductor and singer. For the past six years he has been working largely as a teacher, harpsichordist and Musical Director in musical theatre.

Andrew began as accompanist to Northern Opera in 1998 and has gone on to work for all of the region’s top theatre companies. Andrew recently worked as MD for the Tyne Theatre Christmas panto 'Beauty & the Beast' (Enchanted Entertainment) and on the North East tour of 'Twist & Shout' (CS Productions) and the national premier of 'Baby Love' (Baby Love Productions).

Much in demand as a harpsichordist, Andrew has worked with performers including Pavlo Beznosiuk, Rachel Stroud and The London Camerata. He is also a keen recitalist, and can often be heard in performances across the North East, most notably giving a lockdown recital for the National Trust at Seaton Delaval Hall in 2021 which reached an audience of over 4000. Andrew is a firm believer in furthering his own education and he continues to study harpsichord with Sophie Yates and recently began learning the baroque lute with Martin Eastwell.

Andrew is a passionate educator and teaches students from his own studio, 1685 Piano & Harpsichord Tuition, in Whitley Bay and in September 2023 takes up a new post as a visiting tutor in harpsichord at the University of Newcastle. At RGS, Andrew welcomes applications from students in year 7 and above. 

Mr Mark Edwards MMus, PGDip (RNCM) 
Timpani and Orchestral Percussion
 Originally from Scotland, Mark trained as a percussionist in Edinburgh and Newcastle. His work as a conductor and percussionist takes him across the country and further afield to work with orchestras, choirs and Indian Street Bands. After starting musical life on the recorder and violin, he quickly switched to percussion after a concert playing the triangle. 

Mark is currently undertaking further study with Clark Rundell and Mark Heron at the Royal Northern College of Music which includes being the Assistant Conductor for projects with BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Psappha ensemble. Earlier this year he founded the Northern Percussion Ensemble who perform concerts, recitals and workshops across the region. 
 
Mark is currently Director of Music for Voices of Hope (winners of the BBC Choir of the Year Competition), New Tyneside Orchestra, Hexham Orpheus Choir, City of Leeds Youth Orchestra and is a lecturer in conducting at Newcastle University. 

Mr Dave Hignett BA(Hons) LGSM, PGCE
Trumpet, Cornet, French Horn, Tenor Horn, Trombone, Euphonium (Baritone) and Tuba 

Dave Hignett started his musical career playing Cornet at Ellesmere Port Grammar School and for Chester Brass Band. After graduating with a Music Degree and Guildhall teachers diploma from Colchester Institute Dave performed on Cruise Ships with Royal Caribbean cruise line for 3 years. 

After meeting his wife Barbara, a professional singer, they worked in Cabaret venues for 3 years in the Canary Islands, Dave playing Piano and Trumpet/ Flugel finally settling in the North east to work for Northumberland Music Service in 1990. 

Music Education is a driving force in Dave’s career, and as Head of Brass, and Orchestras coordinator for Northumberland Music service, he has been a major developer of Brass and Jazz Pedagogy. This led to him being asked in 2001 to form and direct the Sage Gateshead’s regional Big Band, Jambone; whose inaugural performance was in 2002 for Her Majesty the Queen at the Jubilee Gala concert at the City Hall After 22 years with Northumberland County Music Service.

Dave is now a freelance conductor, performer and teacher at The Royal Grammar School and Hexham Middle School and Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham.

Dave has also has conducted the Prudhoe Community Wind band for 25 years and the Tyne Valley Big Band for the last 12 years. His notable performances on trumpet have been with Sting and in the house band for the “Sunday for Sammy” Concerts in 2016, 2018 and 2020 at the City Hall and Arena and recently in 2023 as an guest trumpeter with Sam Fender on June 9th and 10th at St James’ Park and the 25th and 26th August headlining the Reading/Leeds festivals.

Mrs Julia Jasinski Hon ARAM, LTCL performer and teacherViolin and Viola
Julia Jasinski is a well-established violinist, conductor and teacher, with a wealth of experience in musical education. With the ability to inspire, challenge, and progress her students, Julia takes a strong interest in understanding and valuing each individual student’s needs. 

After achieving her musical degree, Julia enjoyed a varied and versatile career within classical music, and has regularly performed and taught at world renowned musical institutions. With over thirty years’ of experience, Julia thoroughly enjoys teaching, and has dedicated her career to teaching students - with many of her students being awarded musical scholarships and attending specialist music schools.

Julia was a member of staff for twenty-three years at the Junior and Primary school at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Julia has regularly taught group chamber music classes, and was the conductor of the orchestra for many years awarding her the Honorary Academy of Music London Award for her commitment and dedication to teaching. 

Julia has been teaching in the North East of England for the past twenty years and has an outstanding reputation as a violin teacher, including being the leader of the strings department at the world-renowned Sage Gateshead in Newcastle. Julia has been teaching at RGS for 16 years and looks forward to gaining new students.

Michael Walton – Violin and Viol

Mrs Gail Davies-Fidler BA(Hons), PGDipVoice
Gail Davies-Fidler studied Music at Nottingham University, where she was an active member of all ensembles as a singer, viola player and flautist. During her time in Nottingham she was also a choral scholar at St Barnabas Cathedral, under the direction of Mr Neil Page.

Since graduating, Gail has worked at The Sage Gateshead (now Glasshouse ICM), and for Sing Up, the National Singing Programme, before moving back to the Midlands to run a small singing venue called The VoiceBox. Since returning to the North East in 2014, Gail has taught in numerous schools across Newcastle and Gateshead, alongside a busy diary of solo and choral singing.

As a founder member of Voices of Hope, she won Choir of the Year in 2016, being crowned the best amateur choir in the country. She has also performed across the world with various choirs, most notably as part of Hong Kong Cultural Festival with the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia. As a soloist, Gail has performed with many choral societies and choirs throughout the region and further afield, and was the first full time female Lay Clerk at Newcastle Cathedral.

Gail is experienced at teaching numerous vocal styles, including classical and musical theatre, across a full range of ages, and enjoys the variety that this brings to each day.

Lydia Roy BMus (Hons)Voice
Lydia gained a First Class Degree in Music at Newcastle University where she performed regularly as an Early Music soloist, in numerous choirs, jazz and funk bands. In 2010-11 she studied Opera at the Conservatorio di Arrigo Boito in Parma, Italy, where she worked with Massimo Guidetti and grew to love both the language and country as well as the art form.

After graduating Lydia became one of the founding members of the North East’s leading chamber choir Voices of Hope and entered into a career of teaching all ages, conducting, performing, working as a session artist and in small ensembles including The Shoeshop Quartet. Through church involvement she also joined with the charity Junction 42 in HMP Northumberland as a music teacher and choir leader with both prisoners and staff to help improve mental health and well-being.

Lydia has extensive experience of successfully preparing students for exams and diplomas in Classical singing, Pop Vocals and Musical Theatre, and is passionate about encouraging young people on their musical journeys. Outside of work she loves to spend time with her three (very vocal) young girls!