
Joanna Forest
Classical Crossover Soprano –
Visiting Professor
Joanna is a Classical Crossover Soprano who made chart history by becoming the first independent artist to reach No.1 in the Official Classical Artists Album Chart with a debut album.
As a best selling recording artist Joanna has No.1 classical albums across The Official Chart, Amazon and iTunes. Joanna has also achieved 4 Classical No.1 Singles.
Joanna presents ‘Classical Gas with Joanna Forest’ on’ Great British Radio’ and has a monthly column for Classical Crossover Magazine.

Russell Painter
Music Theatre Professor
Russell is an English Tenor and Opera coach sitting in the Board of Directors of Equity Uk.
A Master graduate from Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Ian Kennedy, Russell’s Opera credits include Tamino (The Magic Flute), Title role in Albert Herring, Don Basillio (The Marriage of Figaro), Don Jose (Carmen), Count Almaviva (The Barber of Seville) Gaston (La Traviata) and Roman’s Isabella and the Pot of Basil at Covent Garden and Buxton.
Russell has also a large experience with the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire, with many principal roles including The Defendant, Marco, Frederic, Hilarion, Ralph, Captain Fitzbattleaxe, Richard Dauntless, Earl Tolloller, Duke, Alexis, Nanki-Poo and Box.

Beibei Wang
Percussion Professor
Beibei is an international soloist and composer for classical, contemporary, experimental, traditional, improvisation, electronic, jazz, pop.
She tours in the Edinburgh International Festival, Lucerne Festival, Bach Academy Musikfest Stuttgart, Colour Scape Music Festival.
She has collaborated with BBC Symphony Orchestra, China Philharmonic, Mahler Chamber Orchestra (Germany), Santa Cecilia Orchestra (Italy), Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
She has a MMus at Central Conservatory of Music (China) and the Royal Academy of Music (UK).

Omar Puente
Violin Professor
Omar studied classical music at the Escuela Nacional de Arte in Havana. He was former First violin of the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba.
He has toured with Buena Vista’s Ruben Gonzales, supported Tito Puente, Ibraham Ferrer and Omara Portundo.
He has collaborated with John Williams, Kirsty MacColl, Jools Holland and Eddie Palmieri, Winston Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra at the Barbican Centre, Simon Bolivar Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, Nigel Kennedy, Eddie Palmieri at Queen Elizabeth Hall, and with several members of the Buena Vista Social Club.

Kate Shortt
Cello Professor
Kate is a cellist, pianist, vocalist and workshop leader through varying genres.
She is the winner of Performer of the Year award at the London Palladium.
Artists she has worked with include Gary Kemp of Spandeau Ballet, Take That and Simon Le Bon, Jocelyn Pook, Christine Tobin, Phil Robson, Liam Noble, Roland Sutherland, Orphy Robinson and Beibei Wang.
Education work includes workshops with the London Symphony Orchestra and she performs her own show in renown cabaret venues including Edinburgh Fringe, Vortex Club, the King’s Head in Islington, Jermyn Street Theatre and the Covent Garden Festival Club.

Monique Klongtruadroke
Voice Professor
Monique is a coloratura soprano of Italian/Thai heritage. A top graduate in Opera Singing from the Venice Conservatoire in Italy, she has a singing career spanning four continents. She was invited to sing for the King of Thailand, and in several Thai Royal Command Performances. Praised by OPERA UK magazine for singing the role of Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute), leading roles in the World Premieres of the first Thai language Opera The Lunchbox (IHOS Opera) in Australia, and opera-ballet Bhuridat (Opera Siam International) in Thailand. With teaching experience at Thailand’s top universities in Voice and Italian Diction, she divides her activity between UK, Thailand and online.

Benet McLean
Violin Professor
Benet is pianist, guitarist, vocalist, violinist, writer, arranger and producer.
He studied classical violin at Royal College of Music.
He has recordings with Partikel, Laura Mvula and Mahalia, Andy Davies, Benjamin Croft, Nathan Britton.
He toured with Omar, Julian Joseph, Sir Simon Rattle, Dave O’Higgins, TY, Steve Williamson, Carleen Anderson, Jean Toussaint, Tommy Smith, Cleveland Watkiss, Yellow Station Blue, Phillip Bent, Orphy Robinson, Kevin Haynes, Roachford, Maxi Jazz and Loose Tubes.

Tania Chen
Contemporary Experimental Piano Professor
Tania is a grammy nominated sound artist, free improvisor, and interdisciplinary contemporary pianist and composer.
She has collaborated with artists including Steve Beresford, Andrew Poppy, John Tilbury, John Edwards, Mark Sanders, Rhodri Davies and film-maker Jayne Parker.
She has had concerts in the US, UK, Asia and Europe, at venues including Tate Modern, GaleGates (Brooklyn, NYC), The Hamburger Bahnhof Museum (Berlin), the Purcell Room, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
She has been broadcast on KPFA radio, Berkeley and BBC Radio 3

Rowland Sutherland
Woodwind & Flute
Rowland has an international career as a soloist, composer and arranger in jazz, classical, contemporary, pop and world.
Artists that he has collaborated with include David Murray, Henry Threadgill, Flora Purim, Carla Bley, Manu Dibango and Airto.

Kansley & Lidert
Music Theatre Performance & Production
Kurt Kansley and Oliver Lidert have worked extensively in the theatrical industry onstage as performers and behind the scenes in production and creation of new Musical Theatre. Credits: CONFESSIONS original musical (The Other Palace, 2018), HAS#ED OUT original musical (VCA Australia, 2019), HOME GROWN – A Songbook Series (Chapel Theatre Australia, 2018), THE SONGS I’LL NEVER SING (St. James Theatre, 2015), Threepenny Opera (co-directed, WAC, 2017). Kansley & Lidert’s song ‘Is That Ok’ was recorded and is sold on music streaming services, all proceeds go to TheatreMAD. Also, their song ‘More Than Words on a Page’ was selected for 10to4’s new musical RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS. Kansley & Lidert’s original musical FABLE was shortlisted for the 2021 Stiles & Drewe mentorship prize.

The Ayoub Sisters
Cello Visiting Professor
Sarah and Laura Ayoub are a multi-instrumental musical duo that arrange and perform instrumental versions of well-known pop and classical works.
Their debut album reached No.1 in the Official Classical Artist Albums Chart and were nominated for Classic Brits and Global Awards.
They have performed concerts across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia, Royal Albert Hall, London Palladium, Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Cairo Opera House and Dubai Opera.
Both have had solo performances with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and many others.

James Brandon Lewis
Saxophone Professor
James is a saxophonist, composer, recording artist and educator.
He has played with Ken Filiano, Darius Jones, and Jason Hwang, William Parker, Hamiet Bluiett , Hamid Drake , Ravi Coltrane , Jimmy Heath Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Joe Lovano Dave Douglas, Marc Ribot, Anthony Coleman among the others.
He leads numerous ensembles, Founder of Poetry Music Ensemble Heroes Are Gang Leaders.
He studied at Howard University, MFA from California Institute of the Arts.
