Find Academic Supervisors

• Classical Music
• Chamber Music
• Orchestral Performance
• +3 more

Scott Dickinson is a Viola Lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS). He previously taught at the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham’s School. As a performer, he serves as principal viola of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) and collaborates with renowned ensembles such as the Australian Chamber Orchestra, CBSO, and World Orchestra for Peace. His career spans performances with distinguished artists like Yuri Bashmet, Steven Isserlis, and conductors Martyn Brabbins and John Wilson. Education includes studies at the Music School of Douglas Academy, Manchester, London, and Salzburg. He is recognized for his acclaimed recordings with the Leopold String Trio and Hyperion Records. Dickinson’s research interests center on classical performance practices, chamber music dynamics, and viola pedagogy. Award highlights include victory in the prestigious Mozarteum Concerto Competition. He actively participates in trios with his wife Susan Frank (flute) and harpist Lucy Wakeford, blending family collaboration with professional artistry. Residing near Glasgow, he balances teaching, performing, and family life.

• Music Education
• Chamber Music
• String Instrument Pedagogy
• +3 more

Alison Wells is a Cello Lecturer with affiliations at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Peabody Conservatory (USA), Trinity College of Music, and The Purcell School in London. She holds degrees from Cambridge University, the Royal Academy of Music, and Yale University (as a Harkness Fellow). Her career spans teaching, performance, and advocacy for accessible musical training. Education highlights include studying at Cambridge, Royal Academy of Music, and Yale under mentors like Ralph Kirshbaum, David Strange, and Aldo Parisot. She specializes in ergonomically free playing techniques and injury prevention workshops, certified as a UK string player licensed in Body Mapping. Research interests focus on pedagogical methods in string performance and community music outreach, including her role as Chair of TUBA (Uganda-Baltimore Alliance) and mentorship of a Ugandan brass band. Her chamber music career includes founding the Pirasti Trio, performances across three continents, and recordings with ASV. Collaborations with renowned quartets like the Cleveland and Orion Quartets further highlight her expertise. Notable awards include the Harkness Fellowship. Her teaching legacy includes students who have won international competitions and hold orchestral positions globally. She annually participates in the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival.

Betsy TaylorView profile

Lecturer

• Classical Music Performance
• Music Education
• Orchestral Performance
• +3 more

Betsy Taylor is a Cello Lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, teaching in both Junior and Senior Departments. She is a founder member of the Glasgow String Quartet and actively participates in the RSNO Chamber Music Series. Her career includes roles as Guest Principal Cello with prominent orchestras such as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Education: Royal Northern College of Music (Diploma in Professional Performance) and Manchester University (Bachelor of Music). Prizes: Finalist in the Pierre Fournier Award and BBC Young Artists Forum. Her performance career spans solo engagements, including Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, alongside collaborations with renowned orchestras and popular artists like Nigel Kennedy and Katherine Jenkins. She has held key positions in the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, rising from Assistant Principal Cello (2000) to Associate Principal (2013). Betsy plays a 1770 Joseph Hill cello and has contributed to recordings with the Divine Comedy and other notable artists.

Neil HeydeView profile

Professor

• Music Performance Studies
• Composer-Performer Collaboration
• Instrumental Choreography
• +3 more

Neil Heyde is a Professor at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) and Head of Postgraduate Programmes, combining roles as a cellist of the Kreutzer Quartet with academic leadership. His research explores performer-instrument relationships, composer-performer collaboration, and instrumental choreography, emphasizing the expressive role of physical actions in performance. He has held visiting professorships at the Sibelius Academy and University College London’s Bartlett School of Architecture. Education: Studied with William Pleeth in London, though specific degrees are not detailed. Research focuses include Debussy’s late sonatas, contemporary music interpretation, and the ‘Instrument as more than a tool’ concept. Key projects include a critical edition of Debussy’s sonatas and collaborations with composers like Michael Finnissy and Richard Beaudoin. His work bridges performance and academia, influencing practice-based research methodologies globally. He has supervised over 20 doctoral projects, examining topics like Bach’s cello music, horn collaborations, and instrument legacies. Publications span recordings, articles, and films, including analyses of Ferneyhough’s Time and Motion Study II and Stravinsky’s quartet repertoire. His 2023 work Digital Memory and the Archive explores recordings as archives. Awards include critical acclaim for virtuosic performances, though no formal prizes are listed. Teaching emphasizes discovering musical relationships through recordings, and he actively contributes to RAM’s practice research culture. Current projects explore instrument identity and composer collaborations.

Rodney FriendView profile

Professor

• Violin Performance
• Chamber Music
• Orchestral Leadership
• +1 more

Rodney Friend is an internationally acclaimed violinist and Professor at the Royal Academy of Music, where he mentors emerging chamber musicians and soloists. A former concertmaster of both the London Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic orchestras, he has performed under conductors including Bernstein, Solti, and Boulez. His scholarly contributions include authoring The Orchestral Violinist and The Violin in 5ths , foundational texts for string pedagogy. As founder of the Friends International Violin Academy, he develops innovative online education programs. Notable Collaborations: Recorded nearly the entire orchestral repertoire with major orchestras Artistic Direction: Mendelssohn on Mull Festival, Pharos Festival (Cyprus) Instrument: Plays a 1679 Francesco Rugeri violin

Hélène ClémentView profile

Lecturer

• Music
• Viola Performance
• Chamber Music
• +3 more

Hélène Clément is a Lecturer at the Royal Academy of Music, London, specializing in viola and chamber music instruction. She is an internationally acclaimed violist and chamber musician, performing at prestigious venues such as the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Concertgebouw. Born in France in 1988 Viola player of the Doric String Quartet since September 2013 Collaborated with renowned artists including Nicolas Altstaedt, Mitsuko Uchida, and the Nash Ensemble Regular guest at Marlboro Music Festival and Prussia Cove Plays Benjamin Britten’s viola loaned by Britten-Pears Foundation Her chamber music performances span major festivals across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. She is associated with Chandos Records for the Doric String Quartet’s recordings and has upcoming releases of works by Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Britten. She contributes to artistic development at the Royal Academy of Music while maintaining an active performance schedule and collaborations with global institutions.

• Baroque Music
• Historically Informed Performance Practice
• Music Education
• +3 more

Ruth Slater is a Professor of Baroque Violin and Viola at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), specializing in Historically Informed Performance Practice (HIPP). She coordinates the Baroque Music and Ensemble Module and co-authored a seminal chapter in the 2016 Routledge publication Creative Teaching for Creative Learning In Higher Music Education . Her roles include lecturing on the Teaching Musician and Integrated Music Studies modules, coordinating DipABRSM/LRSM teaching diplomas, and delivering specialist seminars. Research Focus: HIPP methodologies, baroque ensemble techniques, and innovative music pedagogy. Performance: Frequent collaborations with ensembles like the Gabrieli Consort, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and Amsterdam Baroque, emphasizing both period and modern performance traditions. Cultural Engagement: Extensive work in Scottish and Shetland traditional music, integrating folk traditions with classical baroque practices. As an examiner for ABRSM, she evaluates music teaching standards in the UK and Far East. Her performances span international venues, including Australia, showcasing solo and collaborative work with period-instrument groups like Florilegium and the Hanover Band.

Nikita NaumovView profile

Lecturer

• Double Bass Performance
• Orchestral Music
• Chamber Music
• +3 more

Nikita Naumov is a Double Bass Lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has served as Principal Double Bass of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra since 2010. He has held prominent orchestral roles globally, including guest principal positions with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. His teaching career includes leading masterclasses worldwide and instructing at the Royal Conservatoire. Naumov’s education began at the Karaganda Special Music School in Kazakhstan under Pavel Bobrovskiy, followed by studies at the Rimskiy-Korsakov Conservatoire in St. Petersburg under Professor Alexander Shilo. He furthered his training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, supported by the Leverhulme Trust and the Martin Musical Scholarship. His artistic focus spans solo performances, chamber music, and orchestral leadership. Notable solo works include Hallgrímsson’s Sonnambulo , Tubin’s Double Bass Concerto, and Bottesini’s Lucia di Lammermoor . He collaborates with ensembles like the London Concord Ensemble and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, appearing in festivals across Europe. Award-winning recordings include Buxton Orr: Songs (Gramophone-recognized) and Mozart: Divertimento K.334 . His discography blends classical repertoire with innovative transcriptions, showcasing the double bass’s versatility. Naumov is affiliated with the Scottish Bass Trust, contributing to recitals and commissions. His teaching emphasizes technical mastery and artistic expression, reflecting his dual career as a performer and educator.

• Violin
• Music Performance
• Classical Music
• +1 more

Jennifer Pike serves as a Violin Professor within the Strings department at the Royal College of Music (RCM), a world-renowned conservatoire consistently ranked number one for music education. Her professional focus centers on violin performance and pedagogy, contributing to the training of advanced musicians within one of the UK's most prestigious music institutions. As a professor, she is involved in developing technical mastery, musical interpretation, and performance skills among string students. The Strings faculty at RCM provides comprehensive training across all string disciplines, with Jennifer Pike specializing in violin instruction at the highest level. Her role encompasses individual lessons, masterclasses, chamber music coaching, and participation in student assessments and recitals. As part of the RCM community, she contributes to maintaining the institution's reputation for excellence in musical training and performance preparation for international careers.

• Classical Music
• Contemporary Music
• Violin Performance
• +2 more

Sasha Rozhdestvenskiy is a Violin Professor at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London. Renowned as one of Russia’s leading young violinists, he collaborates with prestigious orchestras globally, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. His performances frequently feature under renowned conductors such as Valery Gergiev and Gennady Rozhdestvensky. Education includes studies at Moscow’s Central Music School, Moscow Conservatory, Paris Conservatoire, and RCM under mentors like Dr. Felix Andrievsky and Gérard Poulet. His research interests span classical and contemporary repertoire, with a focus on works by Schnittke, Shostakovich, and Tchaikovsky. He has recorded extensively, including Schnittke’s Double Concerto and Ravel’s complete violin works. Rozhdestvenskiy dedicates himself to contemporary music collaborations with composers Alfred Schnittke, Sofia Gubaidulina, and Giya Kancheli, while also performing traditional Latin American music with ensembles ‘Ambar’ and ‘Paris Gotan Trio’. He plays prestigious instruments, including a Guarneri del Gesù and Stradivari violin loaned by the Stradivari Society, and serves as their ambassador.

• Violin Performance
• Viola Performance
• Chamber Music
• +3 more

Yuri Zhislin is a Professor of Violin and Viola at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London. A celebrated soloist and chamber musician, he has performed with orchestras such as the Oxford Philharmonic and BBC Concert Orchestra, and appeared at venues like New York's Carnegie Hall. His discography spans multiple acclaimed recordings, including the 2016 Russian Virtuosi of Europe CD. In 1993, he won the BBC Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year award. Education: Studied at RCM from 1991 under his father and Dr. Andrievsky. Ensembles: Founded the Russian Virtuosi of Europe in 2004, touring South America and Russia. Chamber Collaborations: Worked with Maria-Joao Pires, Maxim Vengerov, and others. His teaching focuses on string performance techniques and Romantic-era interpretation. Recent projects include recordings with Orchid Classics and summer academy residencies across Europe.

• Classical Music
• Chamber Music
• Viola Performance
• +3 more

Bryony Gibson-Cornish is a Professor of Viola at the Royal College of Music (RCM), part of the prestigious Strings Faculty. She holds degrees including a BMus(Hons), MMus, and ArtDip from the RCM, and studied at The Juilliard School as a Fulbright Scholar. Her career includes performances with the Marmen Quartet, winners of the Banff and Bordeaux International String Quartet Competitions, with highlights at venues like the BBC Proms and Berlin Philharmonie. Since 2017, she has taught chamber music and assisted Professor Andriy Viytovych at the RCM. Her educational background includes a Tagore Gold Medal for academic excellence and extensive performance engagements in New Zealand, including solo performances with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. She has recorded Frank Bridge's 'Three Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano' with Julien Van Mellaerts and James Baillieu, released on the Champs Hill label. Bryony’s awards and grants include support from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Pettman Foundation. She plays a 1932 Vincenzo Sannino viola, supported by the Loan Fund for Musical Instruments. Her teaching extends to collaborations with the Akaroa International Music Festival and her alma mater, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School. As a performer and educator, her work bridges classical performance, chamber music pedagogy, and cross-cultural artistic exchange. Her quartet’s biennial international tours and competition wins underscore her contributions to contemporary string ensemble repertoire.

• Classical Music
• Chamber Music
• Orchestral Performance
• +2 more

Alastair Blayden is a Cello Professor at the Royal College of Music (RCM), where he studied as a scholar under William Pleeth. His career spans diverse musical realms, including chamber music with the Dante Quartet, orchestral work with the London Symphony Orchestra and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, and recordings for film soundtracks like John T. Williams’ Star Wars. He regularly broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and has collaborated with renowned ensembles such as the Amadeus Quartet and Borodin Quartet under Mstislav Rostropovich. Education: Holds dual diplomas from RCM in performance and teaching (DipRCM). His expertise bridges classical repertoire interpretation, contemporary performance practices, and pedagogical innovation in string instruction. Research interests focus on historical performance practices, chamber music dynamics, and the intersection of classical music with modern media. Though no specific grants or labs are listed, his affiliations with major ensembles reflect active engagement in professional performance networks.

• Music Performance
• Classical Music
• String Instruments
• +3 more

Natalie Clein is a Cello professor at the Royal College of Music (RCM), affiliated with the Strings department. She oversees cello instruction and contributes to the RCM's academic and performance programs. Contact details include her departmental email strings@rcm.ac.uk and personal email natalie.clein@rcm.ac.uk. While no formal research awards or publications are listed, her role focuses on music performance and education, likely emphasizing classical cello techniques, chamber music, and orchestral training. The RCM's Strings department hosts ensembles in residence and offers study options tailored to cello specialization. No specific grants, advising records, or detailed lab affiliations are mentioned in the provided text.

• Classical Music Performance
• Chamber Music
• Orchestral Performance
• +3 more

Richard Lester is a distinguished Cello professor at the Royal College of Music (RCM) and Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He is a renowned performer, having served as principal cellist with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment since 1989 and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. His career includes memberships in acclaimed ensembles like the Florestan Trio (Gramophone and Royal Philharmonic Society Award winners) and the Gould Piano Trio. He is also artistic co-director of the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival. Education: Studied at the RCM under Amaryllis Fleming and in Germany with Johannes Goritzki. His performance expertise spans modern and period instruments, reflected in recordings like the complete Mendelssohn cello works and Boccherini sonatas on Hyperion Records. Research interests focus on chamber music, orchestral performance, and historical performance practices. He frequently collaborates globally, leading masterclasses at institutions like Banff Centre and Domaine Forget. His instrument is a c.1700 G.B. Rogeri Brescian cello. Awards include multiple Gramophone accolades and the Royal Philharmonic Society Award. His career spans solo performances, orchestral leadership, and pedagogical innovation in cello instruction.