Rita Moutinho

Cello Teacher

Cellist Rita Moutinho, born in Porto, Portugal, began her musical studies at the age of ten at a local music academy. In 2015, she continued her education at ARTAVE - Escola Profissional Artística do Vale do Ave, under the tutelage of Pétia Samardjieva. This institution provided her with a professional-level certification, focusing on all areas of musicianship.

After completing her professional course in 2018, Rita was awarded a private scholarship to attend the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, studying with Stefan Popov. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree with merit in 2021. Continuing her education, Rita enrolled at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels to pursue her master’s degree in the class of Jeroen Reuling while still based in London.

Rita's studies took her to various countries, allowing her to perform and record in prestigious venues in Porto, Lisbon, London, Brussels, and Amsterdam. She has participated in masterclasses with esteemed mentors such as Stéphanie Huang, Paulo Gaio Lima, Jaroslav Mikus, Filipe Quaresma, Maria Macedo, among others, and has received guidance from distinguished artists like Denis Severin, Erkki Lahesmaa, and Ophélie Gaillard.

As a member of several orchestras, including the Conservamus Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra APROARTE, Orquestra JOF, and Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, Rita has worked with renowned conductors such as Glass Marcano, José Eduardo Gomes, David Bruchez, Peter Askim, Rafa Agulló Albors, Maxime Tortelier, Jessica Cottis, Carlos Garcés Fuentelsaz, and James Blair.

In chamber music, Rita has collaborated in various formations, including string quartet and piano trio, under the guidance of performers such as Krzysztof Smietana, Oscar Perks (Dante Quartet), Andrew Watkinson, Ralph de Souza (Endellion Quartet), Jacqueline Ross, Roberto González-Monjas, Ursula Smith, Tim Lowe, Richard Lester, Oliver Heath (Heath Quartet), Thomas Dieltjens, Eric Robberecht, and Evan Rothstein.

Additionally, Rita has developed a passion for teaching, gaining experience and interest in educating students of all ages and backgrounds, primarily through private lessons.

Toby Young

Trumpet and Piano Teacher

Toby Young is a trumpeter, pianist, composer and improviser who performs across the UK and internationally. Toby is a versatile musician, a keen improviser, lead, session and orchestral trumpeter, Toby is often writing and arranging for many of his own projects. Originating from Leeds, Toby is based in London and is in his final year at Trinity Laban where he studies jazz alongside working as a professional musician. Toby can be seen performing in London and on the West End as well as across the UK and internationally. He has recorded and performed with the likes of Hans Koller, Michael Formanek, Byron Wallen, Steve Williamson, NYJO, The Syd Lawrence Big Band, London Intercollegiate Jazz Orchestra and the Cameron Scott Big Band. Toby also runs his own jazz quintet which have played gigs throughout the country. He is heavily inspired by the playing of CliOord Brown, Freddie Hubbard and Tom Harrell and has been lucky enough to have been mentored by Steve Fishwick, Byron Wallen and Hans Koller over the last four years.

Laila Arafah

Piano Teacher

Laila is a London based composer and pianist studying at the Royal Academy of Music on a Scholarship. She began playing the piano at the age of seven, followed by composition at Junior Trinity, where she was awarded the Junior Trinity Composition Prize twice, then joined the Purcell School for Young Musicians under the Music and Dance Scheme, where she was awarded the Tim Stevenson Award for Outstanding Composition, and attended Aldeburgh Young Musicians under the Leverhulme trust.

Laila enjoys performing, having received a Mark Evison Foundation Award for organising and performing in outdoor concerts for care homes during the Covid pandemic. She has performed as part of ensembles at South Bank Centre, St Albans Cathedral, the North London Festival, and Snape Maltings Britten Studio, and is currently on the London Symphony Orchestra Panufnik Scheme.

As a composer, she has written for ensembles including The London Sinfonietta, London Mozart Players, Roadrunner Trio, Carducci Quartet, CoMA Orchestra, Purcell Symphony Orchestra, Aldeburgh Festival Podcast, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, ACA Orchestra.

With patience and encouragement, Laila’s aim is to create a positive, supportive learning environment where students can progress at their own pace and cultivate a lifelong passion for playing the piano.

Matthew Nunn

Guitar Teacher

Matt is an experienced musician with a wide range of musical knowledge and professional experience. Having started out on the acoustic guitar and transitioned to the electric guitar in college, he frequently performs and teaches on both instruments. He studied music at Goldsmiths, University of London and is currently working full-time as a musician and music teacher.

He has taught students of all ages for 4 years, including introducing the instrument to many absolute beginners, along with a roster of adult learners. A core element of his lessons has always been a methodical approach, unique to the music that is enjoyable for the student, resulting in ability to play and understand the music.

Matt has performed across the globe in several different acts as a guitarist and continues to write and arrange pop and jazz commercially. Composition, which he studied extensively, is something which he encourages in students, along with introducing new music and styles.

Aisha Goodman

Violin and Viola Teacher

Aisha Goodman is currently studying a Master of Performance degree at the Royal College of Music, London as an awarded ‘RCM Scholar’, under tutelage of Nathan Braude. Aisha was also awarded as a Tait Memorial Fund Scholar in 2023. She recently completed her Bachelor of Music Performance Honours degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with Roger Benedict. She is a scholarship recipient of the Greenberg-Gurney-Jensen Fund from The University of Sydney. Aisha was selected to be part of the BBC Symphony Orchestral Scheme and has performed multiple concert programs with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra as part of their Young Mentorship Program. She has held positions as principal violist with various Sydney Conservatorium of Music ensembles, The Sydney Youth Orchestra and has been involved in various Australian Youth Orchestra programs and Ensemble Apex. Through her orchestral programs, she has been given opportunities to perform and undertake workshops on overseas music tours across Europe, the UK and Asia. Aisha has also participated in masterclasses with Shunske Sato, Wilifred Strehle, Joachim Greiner, Sheila Browne, Wayne Foster-Smith, the Brodsky Quartet and the Calder Quartet. Alongside her classical experience, she has performed with artists such as Michael Buble, Delta Goodrem, Guy Sebastian, Gang of Youths and Jessica Mauboy.

Matilde Freiria

Guitar and Piano Teacher

Matilde Freiria began her guitar studies at age six at Conservatório de Música S.José da Guarda under the orientation of Hugo Simões and Egar Petejo. Matilde began learning piano as a secondary instrument, which soon became a key aspect of her musical development. Over time, her passion for the piano grew, not only as a tool for personal expression but also as something she enjoys sharing with others.

In 2017, she began her Bachelor degree at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, in London, where she is currently doing a Masters degree with Robert Brightmore.

Over the years she has taken part in a vast number of masterclasses with renowned guitarists like Margarita Escarpa, Dejan Ivanovic Costas Kotsiolis, Carlo Marchione, among others. Furthermore, she has received many prizes in international competitions.

Matilde is regularly invited to play solo or as part of an ensemble. She has participated in many music festivals where she had the opportunity to premiere commissioned pieces.

She is currently a member of the Miragaia-Freiria duo and a co-founder of OpusPausa.

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.

Jakub Miazga

Drumkit TEACHER

Jakub Miazga was born in Bialystok, Poland, where he studied classical percussion until he moved to UK in 2005. He undertook his higher education at the prestigious Leeds College of Music, where he had a chance to study and work with UK’s finest musicians including Dave Walsh, Omar Puente, Jim Corry and many more.

After graduating in 2011, he took a full time position as a showband drummer and a musical director on board 5-star cruise line, where he got a chance to travel around the world and perform with some of the best acts on high seas.

He is now settled down in London and he is quickly becoming an in demand jazz/session drummer on the UK scene.

Matthew Duncan

Piano and singing teacher

Matthew trained at the Royal Northern College of Music and at Associated Studios, London. Recent roles include Bourgeois (Fortunio) with Grange Park Opera and Buxton Opera Festival, Schaunard (La Boheme) with Opera Up Close, Hobson (Peter Grimes) with the Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra, Gerald (La belle de la Bete) at Tete a Tete Opera Festival, Baron (La Traviata) with Opera UK and Petaling Jaya Arts Theatre in Kuala Lumpur, Gugliemo (Cosi fan Tutte) with European Chamber Opera and Jackdaws Opera.

He recently performed in Iris, La Boheme and The Queen of Spades with Opera Holland Park and also sang in Northern Ireland Opera’s critically acclaimed production of Turandot. Other credits have included Peter Grimes, Queen of Spades, Fortunio, Madama Butterfly, Idomeneo, Tosca, Love for Three Oranges and Tristan und Isolde at Grange Park Opera.

On the solo concert platform he has sung at numerous venues across the UK, performing recently at the London Handel Festival with the Amade Players and also in the title role in Elijah at the Cadogan Hall with the LGMC.

Matthew also sings with the Blossom Street Singers and the J-Tones Quartet who perform regularly across the UK. He is also a member of Eschoir who recently performed for the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.

In addition to performing Matthew enjoys a busy schedule of private piano and singing teaching. He co-conducts the St. Giles Choir in Camberwell (South London) and also the Camberwell Community Choir in London which enjoys regular performances across London including recent performances at Young-Vic Theatre and the Royal Festival Hall.

Lisa Sumner

Cello and Piano teacher

Lisa grew up in a musical family. Her mother was a piano teacher and she and her siblings all learnt instruments. She started the piano when she was 6 and cello when she was 10. Playing music together helped to foster a real love of chamber music. During these early years she discovered how much fun it can be to play music with family, friends and other musicians.

She joined the Merseyside Youth Orchestra at 15. After leaving school she went to the Royal Academy of Music in London to study cello with Derek Simpson and piano with Graeme Humphrey. As a student she took part in masterclasses with the renowned cellist Lynn Harrell - both as a cellist and also as an accompanist. She was awarded LRAM teaching Diplomas on both instruments, an Honours Degree and a Certificate of Advanced Studies for a 4th year on the cello. She was also awarded the John Booth Prize.

After leaving the RAM Lisa embarked on an extensive teaching career, initially in West London. She coached chamber groups and orchestras and taught in various schools -  Bute House Preparatory School, St Paul’s Girls’ School, Putney High and Lady Eleanor Holles in Hampton.

It was always her passion to get children to play music together from an early age. She directed her own Orchestral Courses primarily for juniors. She formed a Saturday Music School and these both became very popular.  During this period she was also asked to coach on the Oxford Cello School and in time became Junior Course Director from 1997 - 2002.

Her first son was born in London in 2003.  Two years later she relocated with her family to the North West and her second son was born soon after. In 2009 she was employed by St Mary’s College, Crosby to teach cello and piano and she combined this with a private teaching practice at home.

Lisa and her family moved back to London in April 2017 and began working for Pelican in September 2017.

James Bester

Piano Teacher

James Bester received his Masters Degree in Music from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied under Carole Presland. He also studied there as an undergraduate, obtaining his Bachelors Degree under the acclaimed French pedagogue Pascal Nemirovski.

He started his training in South Africa, and has since his teen years been involved in performances and competitions both nationally and on international stage. Memorable concerts include a solo recital at St. Martin in the Fields in 2011, and collaborations and performances with young composers in New York. Working hard towards his goals as a young pianist, he set out to inspire the same feelings in his pupils, whom he has been teaching since 2006 in and around London.

As an enthusiastic teacher, James has worked with learners ranging from beginners (both children and adults), in preparing them for their music exams, be it at school or as part of the ABRSM examination system.

Having studied at such a highly acclaimed school such as the Royal Academy of Music, James sets out in teaching his pupils that music is a language, and an extraordinary means of communication, whether in an exam or a performance environment. He aims to teach his learners to be forward thinking musicians who are able to communicate their performances through thoughtful expression and sound technical training.

James is also an active performer, with recent concerts given at Burgh House, St. Martin-in-the Fields, and a contemporary music performance in Brooklyn (Galapagos Art Space), and Manhattan (The Cell), New Yorkas part of the DETOUR New Music Ensemble, premiering both ensemble as well as solo works by upcoming American Composers based in New York (Juilliard), and Los Angeles (University of Southern California), as well as recent recitals in Boston and Cape Cod, Massachusetts with American cellist Diana Golden. 

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.