Cyrus Lam

Flute and Piano Teacher

Cyrus Lam, born and bred in Hong Kong, started learning the flute under the tutelage of Ms. Carmen Ma at the age of six. Having aimed at becoming a professional flute performer from an early age, Cyrus is currently studying Classical Flute Performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, under Professors Ian Clarke and Sarah Newbold. In Diocesan Boys’ School, from where he graduated in 2021, he served as the chairman of the school’s Wind Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra. Acting as principal flute, the school orchestra toured Central Europe in 2019 and performed repertoires including Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Richard Strauss’ Don Juan in Prague, Budapest and Vienna. Being part of an orchestra and a woodwind quintet in high school grants him exposure to various repertoires of different classical music eras. Cyrus was also the former flute principal of the Hong Kong Youth Orchestra, and the former flute principal of the Hong Kong Youth Philharmonia, a fully student-led orchestra based in Hong Kong. 

Apart from ensemble-playing, Cyrus also refined his techniques in solo performance by setting examinations and competitions, both local and international, as his short-term goals. He received both ATCL and LTCL diplomas in Flute Performance with distinction. Cyrus also won the First Prize in the 8th Flute Festival Singapore in 2017, the Third Prize in the Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra Young Soloist Competition in 2023, as well as the First Prize in the Young Artist Category of the British Flute Society Competitions in the same year.

Since studying in the UK, Cyrus has been actively engaging in festivals and summer courses. He has performed in masterclasses with Robert Winn, Kate Hill and Denis Bouriakov. Recently, he participated in the Venuto Opera Summer Course under a scholarship, performing operatic works by Mozart, Verdi and Mascagni in various towns in Venuto, Italy during the Arte Lirica Festival 2023.

Lara Ali

Woodwind and Clubs Teacher

Lara Aisha Ali is a freelance flautist of Nigerian-German heritage. Her musical roots are in Northampton, where she played with award-winning youth ensembles in both classical and jazz music on the flute and saxophone. She is based in London, studying classical music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and performing with Guildhall Orchestras in the Barbican Centre. Her studies at GSMD led her to being awarded the Guildhall Flute Prize 2024. She has had the opportunity to play in masterclasses held by many respected names in the flute world, such as Stephanie Winker, Joshua Batty, Michael Cox, Wissam Boustany, Robert Looman, Helen Benson and Kathleen Stevenson. Some other highlighted opportunities of Lara’s include playing alongside the Les Miserables Orchestra and playing a concert together with Bill Laurance from Snarky Puppy.

As well as investing in forming classical chamber music projects, Lara has been gigging across London playing electronic, jazz and indie music. She is developing a holistic musical identity and networking with up and coming artists. Lara’s passion for musical diversity is forming a path towards further studies in ethnomusicology, which is a topic she believes to be inherently tied to music education. She is driven by community and collaboration, which has fueled her work to inspire young musicians in schools and outreach workshops. Lara’s early experience in performing arts education was in dance teaching, encouraging children to find confidence in creativity. She applies the same creative principles to her instrumental teaching. The instruments she teaches include flute, recorder, saxophone and clarinet.

Serena Sheane

Piano and Flute Teacher

Serena received her Postgraduate Certificate in Music Education and Performance from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2023 under the tutelage of Deniz Gelenbe and Tim Palmer. She completed the ISP Advanced Programme in the same institution with Mikhail Kazakevich in 2021. Serena was also awarded a first-class honours degree from the CIT Cork School of Music (now known as Munster Technological University) in 2020 and received three “Student of the Year” awards during the course of her studies. Specialisms in these multi-faceted programmes included Classroom Pedagogy, Piano and Flute Performance, Instrumental Teaching, Conducting, Music History and Repertory Studies.

Originally from Ireland, Serena started piano and flute at the age of six and nine respectively. Watching “The Sound of Music” on VHS sparked her interest in music education and she was soon travelling up to 585 miles a week for instrumental tuition! Serena received the “Pauline Cullinane Hicks” Award for outstanding performance in the 2013 Junior Certificate Music Examinations and was awarded a scholarship/high achievement award for every grade examination she sat in both instruments with the Cork School of Music and ETB CSM. She also received top marks in her Bachelor of Music Entrance Examination in 2016. She has participated in numerous music festivals and competitions in the UK and Ireland and relishes the opportunity to perform in solo and chamber capacities. Highlights of performing career include playing with the CSM Junior Orchestra in the National Concert Hall, accompanying Cantairí Mhuscraí in Teatro don Bosco and performing in the Irish Heritage Bursary Competition in Wigmore Hall. 

Serena has developed a strong reputation for teaching motivational, productive and enjoyable music lessons in Cork and London. The ages and standard of her pupils have ranged from 3 to 67, beginner to Grade 8. Serena has taught in schools and music institutions across South East London and has coached students toward ABRSM, Trinity and RIAM (Royal Irish Academy of Music) exams. Noteworthy examples include Rathfern Primary, Bromley Conservatoire and Orpington Music Studio. She recently completed Nicola Cantan’s “Creative Kickstart for Teens” and Paul Myatt’s “Whole Body Learning” courses alongside her teaching. 

Serena is looking forward to starting her new role with Pelican Music. She is eager to give her students a well-rounded education using a distinctive blend of activities, pieces and laughter in every lesson. Serena loves playing her piano and hopes she can inspire her students to do the same!

Rowan Jones

Clarinet and Piano Teacher

Rowan Jones is an award-winning London based clarinettist and music tutor with a wealth of orchestral, contemporary and chamber music experience. Her musical education began at the Walthamstow Music Service and continued through outreach projects led by Barbican Guildhall Creative Learning. She went on to study at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she was awarded the Principal’s Prize in 2017, the Clarinet Prize in 2016 and 2017 and was a finalist in the Lutine Prize. Rowan has graduated with a Master’s of Performance from the Royal College of Music in 2023 and a Bachelor of Music with First Class from the Royal Academy of Music in 2021 as a scholarship holder. Rowan is a recipient of the RCM Musician’s Grant Fund Instrumental Award 2023, St Marylebone Educational Foundation Grant and UMUK Sound Foundation Instrumental Award 2022/23.

Rowan has enjoyed playing with the Orchestra of Opera North, English National Opera, Wild Arts’ opera run and tour of the Elixir of Love 2023 and recording with Shadwell Opera amongst others. As a founding member of Sylva Winds, Rowan has performed in recitals around London including at the Brazilian Embassy in London and in chamber music residencies with Ferrandou Musique and the Tunnell Trust. They have won numerous chamber music awards and recorded in Abbey Road Studios. Rowan’s versatile performance and instrumental skills have lead her to thrive in contemporary music settings too, having attained the 2023/24 clarinet place in the London Sinfonietta Academy and she has also recorded for Naxos. Rowan has taught clarinet, piano, saxophone and music theory lessons privately for 7+ years and is currently the Clarinet Tutor at HMDT Saturday Programme and a peripatetic teacher with WFMS and THAMES.

Tamsin Reed

Woodwind and Clubs TEACHER

Tamsin Reed began her musical journey playing the recorder aged 7, and quickly took up the flute thereafter. She immediately found her love for music, and competed for many years in the Wansbeck Music Festival where she achieved much success, where she was awarded a scholarship to the European Youth Summer Music school 2 years in a row. She was also a member of the National Children’s Orchestra in 2015.

Tamsin studied for 3 years at the Sage Gateshead Young Musicians Programme, achieving a distinction in her ARSM Diploma aged 15. Shortly after this she was awarded a place to study at Chetham’s School of Music for sixth form, taught by Fiona Fulton. During her time at Chetham’s she also worked with many world-renowned flautists in masterclasses, including Adam Walker and Andrea Olivia. 

Tamsin is currently studying towards her masters degree in Classical Flute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, under the tutelage of Sarah Newbold, and is excited to pass on her passion for music to her students, as a teacher for Pelican Music.