Devon Music Education Hub Networking Events

Join us this Autumn for a series of inspiring and informative music networking events!

Devon Music Education Hub invites you to connect, collaborate, and create at our upcoming Hub Networking Events, designed especially for schools, Visiting Music Teachers, Hub-supported partners and anyone interested in finding out more about music education.

 

What to expect:

  • Warm welcome: Enjoy tea, coffee and cake whilst listening to musical performances from talented young people from the local area.
  • Meet your Local Music Development Lead: A chance to meet/consult with the Hub’s Music Development Lead for your geographical area. Discover how they can support your music work.
  • Strategic Direction: As we launch our exciting plans for 2024/25, learn about the Hub’s strategic direction and how it aligns with national aspirations. Have your say on how should develop our Local Plan for Music Education.
  • Programme of events and training for the year: Get an overview of forthcoming events, workshops and professional development opportunities over the year ahead.
  • Develop new partnerships: Explore opportunities for collaborative working and build new partnerships that will enrich the musical experiences of the young people you work with.

Whether you’re looking to network with fellow educators, gain insight into the future of music education, or simply enjoy some great performances, these events are not to be missed.

  • 4-6pm Wednesday 25 September 2024 | The Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington
  • 4-6pm Monday 30 September 2024 | Stage Left, Paignton
  • 4-6pm Tuesday 1 October 2024 | Exeter Phoenix, Exeter

We look forward to seeing you there!

Emelia McNeill

Dedicated Music Educator with 20 years of classroom teaching experience. Experienced in planning and delivering creative curriculum content and leading music initiatives across educational settings. Passionate about vocal development, and performance, with a strong commitment to holistic teaching methods that build confidence and help students achieve their full potential. Proficient at fostering confidence and musical talent in children from early years through to 16 years, using a creative and nurturing approach that meets individual needs.

Professional Experience:

Music Educator & Department Lead – Various Educational Settings | 2004 – Present

• Curriculum Development & Delivery: Designed and implemented comprehensive music curricula tailored to students from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to 16 years old, ensuring content is engaging and appropriate for diverse abilities.

• Leadership & Management: Successfully led music departments, managed peripatetic timetables, and facilitated collaborations between staff, parents, and external professional bodies to enhance the educational experience.

• Vocal Coaching & Peripatetic Lessons: Delivered one-on-one and group vocal tuition, focusing on vocal technique, health, and performance. Helped students overcome technical challenges and develop their musical abilities and confidence with a holistic teaching approach.

• Musical Productions & Performances: Directed and collaborated on a range of school-wide productions and community projects, utilising musical theatre and performance as tools to boost student confidence and skill development.

• Community Engagement: Organised, led and collaborated upon various musical projects, such as school choirs and performances, which involved collaboration with the local community, contributing to a vibrant and inclusive musical culture.

• Project Management: Planned and executed a variety of musical projects, often under tight time constraints, delivering high-quality performances that engaged and inspired the community.

• Teachers Rock Collaboration: Led school choirs into various performances for the community, recently engaging with Teachers Rock projects, enabling choir students to participate in prestigious events such as recordings at Abbey Road Studios, BGT auditions in London, and performances at Exeter Cathedral. From September, to lead a new Teacher Rock Youth Choir. Musical Director (MD) Barnstaple Male Voice Choir | Ongoing

• Leadership & Collaboration: Selected relevant repertoire, directed and coordinated a number of choir performances each year, helping build a community of musicians of all experience levels to create successful and enjoyable musical events. Events include participation in the National Cornish Male Voice Choir Festival, hosting international choirs in joint concert and collaborations with local choirs to raise money for charities. ________________________________________

Skills

• Music Education & Curriculum Design: Expertise in planning and delivering music curricula for a broad age range, with a focus on individual learning needs and creative engagement.

• Vocal Coaching & Performance: Specialise in peripatetic vocal tuition, vocal health, and holistic approaches to singing and performance.

• Leadership & Department Management: Experience in leading music departments, managing teams, and fostering positive relationships with students, parents, and staff.

• Musical Theatre & Drama: Passionate about musical theatre, with experience directing and performing in amateur dramatics, enhancing students’ performance abilities.

• Event Planning & Community Engagement: Skilled in organising and leading musical events that involve collaboration with the local community and beyond.

________________________________________

Additional Experience

• Head of Department & House: Demonstrated leadership in managing teams, overseeing curriculum delivery, and organising school-wide music initiatives.

• Music CPD sessions for Swift (South West Institute for Training)

• Amateur Dramatics: Active involvement in directing and performing within community theatre groups, with a focus on musical theatre productions.

________________________________________

Education & Certifications

• Certificate of Secondary Music Education, (GTP) [Wolverhampton University]

• BA (HONS) Contemporary Arts [Nottingham Trent University] ________________________________________

Services Offered

• Peripatetic Singing Lessons: Available to all schools for individual or group vocal tuition, focusing on vocal technique, health, and performance.

• Primary Music Educational Workshops: For small and large groups, tailored to request (EYFS/ KS1/KS2). Workshops consider curriculum demands, the needs of the school and the children and are designed to inspire, enhance musical knowledge and skills and promote creativity.

• Staff CPD Training and group/1:1 support: Providing professional development for non-specialists, focusing on music education strategies, successful curriculum engagement, the importance and impact of Music on individuals, and integrating music into the broader curriculum.

• Music teacher: Offering whole class music lessons and vocal tuition for children.

________________________________________

Interests

• Vocal Health & Development: Committed to ongoing learning in vocal health and teaching methodologies.

• Musical impact upon individuals and groups

• Musical Theatre: Directing and performing in musical theatre productions.

• Choir Leadership: Leading choirs and organising community-based musical events.

________________________________________

References available upon request.

Julian Jensen

Music degree, PGCE and postgraduate performance diploma. Twenty years experience of teaching classroom music, music theory and one to one singing lessons. Familiar with ABRSM, Trinity and LCM
exam boards. Highly skilled and experienced choir trainer. Particularly familiar with musical theatre singing including Estill technique. University singing teacher

Woodwind, Brass & Percussion – Come and play with Superlocrian!

Devon Music Education Hub are delighted to be collaborating with nationally acclaimed acoustic wind septet Superlocrian and Devon Youth Chamber Brass to offer young woodwind, brass and percussionists in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay this exciting opportunity to play side by side with some of the finest musicians and educators in the country.

Join us and Devon Youth Chamber Brass from 2-4:30pm on Sunday 8th September 2024 at King Edward VI Community College, Ashburton Road, TOTNES, TQ9 5JX with a sharing for parents/carers from 4:15pm. This event is open to 11-18 year olds that play an woodwind, brass or percussion instrument to a Grade 3 level of ability or higher and is being offered free of charge.

Superlocrian is one of the UK’s finest new chamber ensembles. South-West based and fresh from a recent live broadcast on BBC Radio 3, they have just released their debut album to critical acclaim.

Led by highly regarded local composer/bandleader/trumpet player Sam Massey, this seven-piece wind ensemble contains some of the country’s leading educators, soloists, orchestral players and world-class session musicians.

“This is subtle music, cleverly voiced and perfectly executed” ***, Peter Vacher, Jazzwise Magazine, July-August 2024

“This versatile ensemble stylishly delivers its material with creative musicianship, all arranged with elegance and flair to make this a sophisticated debut“ 3.5 stars, Neil Duggan, All About Jazz, June 2024

Devon Youth Chamber Brass is a County Group for young Devon brass and percussion players Grade 4 standard and above, specialising in Chamber brass music – we perform all styles of music, from the Georgian Courts to scrumpy and western and everything in between!

Devon Music Education Hub would like to acknowledge the generous support of KEVICC for hosting this event.

If you have a query, please call Devon & Torbay Music Education Hubs on 01392 287235 or email  Visit our website  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @DevonMusicEdHub

GDPR & Privacy Policy

Susan Willer

I am a retired physiotherapist. I have played the violin for most of my life, gaining distinction in Grade 8 a few years ago. I have extensive experience in playing in amateur orchestras in London in the 1990s and more recently in Devon and Dorset including the Axe Vale Orchestra, Axe Valley Community Orchestra, Isca Ensemble, Dorset Chamber Orchestra and Bridport Chamber Orchestra.

Rosie Davies

Rosie Davies (BMus, DipABRSM, LRSM) was raised in a very musical environment, her father was a professional violinist and her mum was a violin teacher and owned a music shop. Music was part of everything. Rosie went on to join the Royal Marines Band Service and studied with Portsmouth University earning a degree in Music. She did a lot of travelling and performing with the Marines until the birth of her first child and has since shared her passion for music with others. 
Rosie is a keen singer, as well as being trained in piano, strings and woodwind. She is keen to inspire young people to enjoy making music and have fun performing.

Elisabeta Furtuna

Elisabeta Furtuna, Corner Close, Broadmead Road, Woking, GU23 7AD

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Self-motivated person, always striving to deliver a high-standard customer service and great at working under pressure, in multi-tasking situations and managing a high volume of work overload, keeping a rapid and target focused deliverance.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Steward – -09/2016 – 06/2018 Royal College of Music

Responsibilities: • working in a group of stewards • making sure concerts run without disruptions • managing tickets/programs sales • managing tickets at the door • managing the public in case of emergency, for example fire (leading them to fire escapes) • managing the public before and after the concert, making sure everyone is satisfied with the services • keeping a professional etiquette for the Royal College of Music high standard • being a steward of high profile events, such as the president’s (Prince Charles) annual visit • interacting with people from various social backgrounds

Music teacher/Session musician – Sparks at Royal College of Music – 09/2013 – 06/2018

Responsibilities: • teaching music theory to small groups of children • leading school workshops • being part of music in schools outreach schemes • creating lessons/outreach sessions plans • teaching basic instrumental skills • working as a session musician for schools’ concerts and events

Piano teacher – 09/2018 – present Windsor Music School 

Responsibilities: • Train students for piano and music theory ABRSM grade exams up to grade 8 • Finding the right teaching technique for each student according to their needs and abilities • Creating individual lesson plans for each student on a weekly basis • Solved problems such as part imbalances with creative techniques • Taught appreciation of the arts by instructing on concepts and including students in hands-on activities • Mentored struggling students with individualised approach • Cared for equipment and rental items to keep them in good working order • Attended training and community events to broaden expertise and help students

EDUCATION

BA (Hons), Music – September 2012 – July 2016. Royal College of Music, London

International Baccalaureate – July 2012 The National College of Art Iasi, Romania

Professional Skills • Self-motivated • Salesforce • People-orientated • Goal focused • Detail-orientated • Dedicated team player • Superior organisational skills • Adept multi-tasker • Exceptional customer service • Cash handling • Thrives under pressure • Effective multi-tasker • Rapid order processing • Customer focused • Inventory management proficiency • Mathematical aptitude • High creativity • Flexibility and easy-adaptability

Svaja Radvila

I am a professional music teacher and performer working with children of all ages and abilities in one to one, small groups or whole class setting. I have 12 years of experience working in primary and secondary school

NYO Side by Side

Devon Music Education Hub are delighted to be collaborating with the National Youth Orchestra to offer young musicians in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay this exciting opportunity to play side by side with NYO and NYO Inspire musicians.

Join us from 3.30-5.30pm on Friday 12 July 2024 at St Peter’s Church Aided School, Exeter EX2 5AP with a sharing for parents/carers from 5pm. This event is open to 11-18 year olds that play an orchestral instrument (including saxophone) to a Grade 4 level of ability or higher and is being offered free of charge.

Some lucky young musicians participating in this event will be nominated to join NYO and NYO Inspire musicians from around the UK on their summer residency, which includes a prestigious televised performance as part of the BBC Proms.

Devon Music Education Hub would like to acknowledge the generous support of St Peter’s Church Aided School for hosting this event.

Elfyn Jones

Dr Elfyn Jones was brought up in a Welsh-speaking family in North Wales. He is a composer, opera maker, sound designer and music educator. He taught at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, led creative music projects for Welsh National Opera, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and St David’s Hall Cardiff, and was a Core Group Leader for ENO Baylis for ten years before moving to South West England in 2004.

Currently he directs Sonopera®CIC, and is a music consultant for Devon and Torbay Music Education Hubs. In this capacity he co-directs Devon Youth Choir. He teaches composition for Junior Trinity’s Distance Learning A level and tutors on the Creative Music Maker course at Trinity Laban, and has a portfolio of freelance engagements as a composer, musician and music educator.

His music has been performed in the UK, the USA, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland. Commissions include opera, musical theatre, music for dance, music for orchestra, chamber music and music for a number of plays. His symphony The Journey was premièred by De Havilland Philharmonic in 2011 and featured by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in their Composers’ Day 2013. Opera includes The Nightjar, (Tête à Tête 1999), The Dead of Night (Opera North 2003), Jacko’s Hour (Opera Engine 2009), The Trial of Jean Rhys (Opera Europa 2011 and ROH 2011-2012), and Nine Stories High (WNO 2012), and three operas for his PhD, namely Vicky and Albert (2018), Her face was of flowers (2019) and The Trilobite, Or The Fall Of Mr Williams (2020). Last year he created a musical, BOAT, for Exeter College’s UAL Musical Theatre students, and has been invited back this year to create another, INFLUENCE, to be performed May 2024.

Elfyn gained a Natural Sciences degree from Cambridge University in 1989, before changing course for a career in music. He trained at Cardiff University (BMus 1st 1993), Guildhall School of Music and Drama (MMus 1995), and on attachment with London Sinfonietta (1994/5). He gained his PhD Sound design for the opera composer: concepts and methods at Goldsmiths, University of London in 2022.