Flavio Albino Rodrigues

Piano, Guitar and Clubs Teacher

Flávio Albino Rodrigues began his music studies at the age of 9 at the Dr. José de Azeredo Perdigão Conservatory of Music in Viseu. From the age of 5, he accompanied his parents playing traditional Portuguese music, allowing him to travel the world and perform for distinguished figures, such as Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and two Presidents of the Portuguese Republic on various occasions.

At 17, he moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music under Professor Owen Murray, where he completed both his Bachelor's, Master's and Advanced Diploma degrees, having been awarded a DipRAM for exceptional performance. During his years in London, he developed an extensive background in pedagogy, working with over 500 students, leading workshops and masterclasses at various schools in England, at the Viseu Conservatory of Music in Portugal, and at the North Jiading Accordion School in Shanghai, China. Since 2023, he has been a teacher at RAM’s Junior Academy and in 2025 also joined Havering Music School, Langley Hall Music Academy and Pelican Music.

Flávio has worked with composer Dr. Professor Timothy Bowers and premiered his piece “Lift Off!”, as well as Howard Skempton’s “Unbroken”, contributing to the ongoing development of contemporary music.  Other collaborations with composers and premieres include Ng Yu Hng’s accordion Sonata “Is Anyone Out There…”,  Owen Ho’s “Shoreless Shores” for accordion and chamber orchestra, Bernardo Simões Opera “A Gathering” and Pablo Martinez’s Opera “What Now, Mané?”.

His stage experience includes performances at King’s Place, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Lincoln Cathedral, and collaborations with the Manson Ensemble, London Concertante, Southbank Sinfonia, Berkeley Ensemble, Opera North, Royal Academy Opera, and Glyndebourne Opera House.

In 2025 Flavio launched his first solo Album and is currently working on a second one with cello, after winning the Craxton Memorial Award in 2025.

Catherine Reid

Harp and Piano Teacher

Harpist Catherine Reid made her solo recital debut in 2022 as a Peggy and Yale Gordon Trust featured concert artist in Baltimore, Maryland. She received a Bachelor of Music with high distinction and performer’s certificate from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she studied with Kathleen Bride.

Catherine is also an accomplished pianist, taking lessons from 2006 until 2020, and completed Trinity College London music theory exams grades 2-8. Catherine currently studies harp with Daphne Boden at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London, pursuing a Master of Music in Performance degree, and is an RCM Scholar.

Catherine was selected for the English National Opera’s 2023-24 Evolve scheme, and has extensive experience performing chamber repertoire as well as orchestral works and opera. Her recent performances include Odyssey Festival Orchestra’s “No One Understood” featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 at Cadogan Hall, and RCM Opera’s Triple Bill featuring Britten’s Les Illuminations, Weill’s Marie Galante, and Ravel’s L’heure Espagnole. She is looking forward to performing with Odyssey Festival Orchestra again in January 2025 for their “A Hopeless Case” concert featuring works by Mussorgsky and continuing to participate in events at RCM.

Lawrence Solon

Piano Teacher

Lawrence has been tutoring the piano one-to-one for 15 years in the Hammersmith & Chiswick areas, and is known for his energy, enthusiasm, and lively approach to teaching. As well as working with students individually, Lawrence has also worked as a SEN music teacher at Westminster Kingsway College helping students with a range of mild to severe learning difficulties.

Lawrence picked up the piano when he was 11 and continued to teach himself until he was 18, when he started having professional guidance. Since then, he has been fortunate enough to study under several excellent piano teachers and has received a distinction in ARSM Piano Performance. He has also obtained DipABRSM in Music Teaching. The experience of learning with and without help contributes greatly to his understanding of the struggles and pitfalls of developing piano skills without proper direction.

Alongside his piano studies, Lawrence enjoys composition and music production. He believes these are an important and fulfilling way to learn and understand music theory, aural capabilities, and overall musical appreciation. He is always happy to incorporate composition into the technical studies of any of his students who are interested in creating their own music.

In his free time, Lawrence enjoys playing and rehearsing in a trio with two soprano singers. When time allows, he also creates piano tutorial videos for his YouTube channel. These are designed to support his day-to-day tuition, each one focusing on a specific issue.

Alex Max

Violin Teacher and Orchestra Leader

Coming from a musical family, Alex started learning violin at the age of 6. He studied with Judith Bourne, who played with the English Chamber Orchestra, and Rosemary Nalden, who played for the London Mozart Players and went on to form Buskaid.

He was a musical scholar at Westminster School and has performed in many of London's prestigious venues as well as at the Alderburgh Festival. Alex went on to study Fine Art at Central St Martin's, whilst continuing his violin studies and performing as a DJ for many years.

Alex has been teaching violin for 15 years and has worked with Pelican Music from the outset, both as teacher and orchestral lead, as well as coaching many ensembles. Although teaching takes up the majority of his time, he continues to perform both as violinist and DJ.