Supportive Studies Faculty
Music Business & Law
Aaron Casserly Stewart
Music Business, Historical & Social Context Professor
Aaron is a jazz vocalist and former singer with the three time Grammy Award winning group the Sounds of Blackness. He is the former personal assistant to Morris Hayes (Prince’s keyboardist & band leader of the New Power Generation). Winner of a 2012 NAACP Image Award, Aaron is on the Board Of Directors at Leeds Conservatoire; Executive Producer at Supa Qween Records; Chair of Black Lives Matter Leeds and Guest Lecturer at the University of Bolton. He is also a PRS Foundation Advisor; Music: Leeds Advisor; Founder/Lead of Paradise Hill Productions and former City Commissioner/Mayor of Parsons, Kansas.
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Ambra Sorrentino
Opera Management Professor
Ambra is an International Opera Manager, founder and owner of Opera Co-Pro Ltd., the first global opera production marketplace.
She is a specialist in International relationships and Marketing.
She has been a guest lecturer in Opera Management at La Sorbonne University Paris, the University of Salerno and the Catholic University of Milan.
She has a Master Degree in Economics and Management of Cultural Heritage and Performing Arts at Catholic University in Milan, Bachelor in Theatre Studies at Salerno University and BMus in Harp at Salerno Conservatoire.
Ricky Kej
Music Activism Professor
Grammy Award Winner & US Billboard no.1 artist, Ricky is an internationally renowned Indian Music Composer and Environmentalist. He has performed at prestigious venues in over 30 countries, including the UN Headquarters in New York and Geneva. Ricky serves as the UNESCO MGIEP “Global Ambassador for Kindness”, UNCCD “Land Ambassador”, UNICEF “Celebrity Supporter” & Ambassador for “Earth Day Network”.
Ricky’s awards include the United Nations “Global Humanitarian Artist” award and is conferred with the title “Youth Icon of India”. ‘Real Leaders’, a Signatory to the United Nations named Ricky Kej as one of the 100 Real Leaders who ‘Inspire the Future’. The House of Commons, Parliament of Canada awarded Ricky for his “Outstanding Musical and Humanitarian Achievement”. Ricky is professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies and was named as a GQ Hero 2020 by GQ Magazine.
Isabel Dobarro
Music Diplomacy & Equality Visiting Professor
Isabel is a Spanish concert pianist committed to the music of female composers, the dissemination of Spanish repertoire, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through the arts. Lectures and speeches given at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, United Nations General Assembly Hall, Harvard University, Women Now Conference, European Parliament and the Vatican, with research articles published by IIASA in Vienna, Harvard University-Instituto Cervantes, Global Square and Platea Magazines among others. In addition to he concert career, Isabel holds a Graduate Certificate in International Relations from Harvard University, a J.D. in Law from UNED, and specialisations in Law and Music from the IMB Music Business School, Leadership from Cambridge University, and Business from HarvardxBusiness School.
Nani Noam Vazana
DIY Career & Self-Promotion Professor
Nani is the world’s first original Ladino singer-songwriter.
Classically trained, Nani composed music for BBC4 and NPO documentaries, she chairs of the Amsterdam Artist Collective and founded Why DIY Music and Nova Productions.
Nani has performed on major stages worldwide, including Richmond Folk Festival USA, Montana Folk Festival USA, HUE Festival Vietnam, Manchester Jazz Festival UK, the Kennedy Center USA, Jodhpur RIFF festival IN, Jazzahead DE, North Sea Jazz NL, Roccella Jazz IT among others. The Dutch NPO network released a documentary about her musical work in 2018.
Federico Bolza
Music Business [Strategy & Marketing] Professor
Federico is a board member of the Ivor Novello Academy.
He is past Vice President strategist at Sony Music, Director of strategy at PRS For Music and ISPs
He is a management consultant across media, telco and digital.
He has been a Jazz DJ, music critic and past member of the Canadian punk group “The Cryptics”
He studied at Concordia University, EPFL and McGill University.
Sarah Bruce
Classical Artist Management Professor
Sarah is founder and Director of Lomonaco Artists.
She is past Artist Manager at HarrisonParrott.
She has been working with artists such as Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Vladimir Ashkenazy, Bamberger Symphoniker, BBC Philharmonic and Budapest Festival Orchestra in territories ranging from Europe to Asia and South America.
She has a BMus in Oboe at University of Edinburgh.
Kevin Le Gendre
Journalism, History, Culture, Politics Professor
Kevin is a journalist, broadcaster and writer with a special interest in black music.
He is deputy editor of Echoes, he contributes to a wide range of publications that include Jazzwise, MusicWeek, Vibrations and The Independent On Sunday.
He is a commentator and critic on radio programmes such as BBC Radio 3’s Jazz Line-Up and BBC Radio 4’s Front Row.
Erik “Blu2th” Griggs
Music Business, Historical & Social Context Professor
Multi-Platinum music producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. Writer and co-producer with Dr. Dre, Beyoncé, Mike Phillips, The Underdogs, Tim & Bob, Boyz II Men, Babyface, El DeBarge. Recording for Dreamgirls soundtrack to Omarion, Tyrese to K-Ci, Charlie Wilson to Jordin Sparks. Erik is co-producer/writer of the Boyz II Men single, “One Up for Love” and “No Air”, with Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown. He won People’s Choice award, BMI Song of the Year award and Grammy nomination.
Giusy Caruso
Music Performance Analysis & Technology Visiting Professor
Giusy Caruso is an artist researcher, musicologist and professional concert pianist, oriented to a futuristic approach to music performance that connects art and science.
Post-doc researcher affiliated to the Institute of Psychoacoustic and Electronic Music-Ghent University and to the Laboratoire de Musicologie-University of Brussels, Dr. Caruso is regularly invited to give seminars and lectures on artistic research, and piano masterclass. Renowned interpreter of contemporary music repertoire and exceptional performances, she is pursuing her concert activity throughout Europe, Asia, Russia and America taking part in Radio and TV shows.
Gary Dennis Hines
Music Business, Historical & Social Context – Visiting Professor
Founder, Music Director and Producer of the 3-times Grammy Award-Winning group Sounds of Blackness.
Recordings, concerts, tours, wrote for and appeared with Quincy Jones, Jimmy “Jam” Harris & Terry Lewis, Prince, Usher, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Johnny Gill, Patti LaBelle, Sting, Dolly Parton, Danny Glover and Jordin Sparks.
Gary has also conducted University Lectures and Master Classes about the history, impact and evolution of African-American music and culture.
He is recipient of Grammy Awards, International Time For Peace Award, Golden Scroll For The Promise of Greatness Award and, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Macalester College, St. Paul.
Helienne Lindvall
Music Business Professor
Helienne is Chair of the Songwriter Committee & Board Director of the Ivor Novello Academy.
She is an award-winning professional songwriter, musician and music and media writer for publications including the Guardian.
She was past Head of Business & Songwriter relations for the song data management platform Auddly, Digital Music News, The Musician, The Australian and STIM-Magasinet, and regularly appears on Sky News, the BBC and Swedish National Radio.
Gabi Huckins
Artist Management and Development Professor
Gabi is a Synch Licensing and Music Supervisor at a major record label.
With a first class honours degree in Commercial Music BA from the University of Westminster, Gabi has gained experience across the music industry. She has a strong and varied background in multiple areas of music including A&R, production, royalties, artist management, live promotion, radio and music supervision and clearance.
She also works as a guest lecturer, having taught and written for several institutions including the University of Westminster and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Eric Bonnett
Google Marketing Tools Professor
Eric has a BSc and MM in Music Education. During his career, he has worked in Kuwait developing the music programme for a new international school, and in Beirut, Lebanon, he breathed new life into the neglected programme of another international school.
Currently Eric teaches band at Milford High School in New Hampshire, USA. He plays tuba in the Nevers’ Band, one of the oldest bands in the USA.
Eric is an avid proponent of the use of technology in the music classroom. He is a certified Google for Education trainer and has presented on this several times at conferences organised by the AMIS International Music Education Group.
Music Production
Francis Gorini
Sound Engineering Professor
Francis is a Sound Engineer, Composer & Producer and owner of musicXart studio in London
He is a live recording engineer at numerous venues including London’s Steinway Hall, mixed and mastered worldwide distributed CDs for jazz and classical labels.
He is co-owner of Arysound Ltd where he produces music for television advertising. Productions include works for Gucci, Disney and Electronic Arts.
Tom Parker
Sound Engineering / Production / Midi Professor
Tom is founder of Tom Parker Sound; past Audio Post-Production engineer at the award winning SNK Studios.
He has a BMus (Hons) Classical Electronic Music from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
He has been professor of Composition & Music Production, Sound Design, Immersive/3D Audio Mixing, Audio & Music Editing and Mixing; past Head of SAE college – Liverpool.
Stage Technique
Filomena Campus
Voice & Theatre Professor
Filomena is a jazz vocalist, Theatre Director and Academic.
She has collaborated with top jazz artists, including Orphy Robinson, Rowland Sutherland, Cleveland Watkiss, Huw Warren, Byron Wallen, Jean Toussaint, Kenny Wheeler, Evan Parker, Guy Barker, and the London Improvisers Orchestra,
She has a MA in Theatre Directing. She has been a visiting lecturer at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, East15 Acting School, University of Essex, Kingston University, Bucks New University, and UCL.
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Elizabeth Sillo
Kodaly Technique and Performance Relaxation Techniques
Elizabeth is a classical singer, music pedagogue, a member of the BBC National Chorus of Wales and a former concert soloist of the City of Manchester Opera.
She has a Kodaly Music Pedagogue Degree from University of Szeged, Opera Degree at Franz Liszt Conservatoire (Hungary) and MMus at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; Degree in Mathematics and Economics.
She has held performances at the Szeged National Opera, Budapest Opera House, Welsh National Opera,BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC tour in Brittany and the BBC PROMS in the Royal Albert Hall London.
Elena Mazzon
Speech & Theatre Professor
Elena is a writer, performer and producer.
Elena trained as an actress in Italy. Since moving to London, she has appeared in several stage productions, including Circular (Edinburgh Fringe), The Tempest (Steiner Theatre), Neither here nor there (Soho Theatre Studio), Clepsydra (Athens Festival) and film productions, Empathy (short film), Anna and modern-day Slavery (feature), Scrubbers (short).
Her first play, Clara, about the life of Clara Schumann was sponsored by the Arts Council of England and toured the production in Los Angeles, Australia, Iceland, Italy, Germany and the UK.
Diana Torti
Performer’s Psychology Professor
Diana is a jazz singer, improviser, singing teacher and psychologist. BMus in Jazz, Ancient Music and Belcanto, and Master Degrees in Jazz Performance and in Psychology.
Diana performed in festivals and concerts throughout Europe, with her recordings featured on several international radios. She collaborated with composers such as Ennio Morricone and Luca Francesconi.
Her last album “On A Cloud” was nominated Best Jazz Vocal Releases 2019 by The New York City Jazz Record and JazzViewsand it is part of her Psychology research on vocal identity “The expressive urgency of the first sound”. Articles about voice and psychology have been recently published in specialised magazines.