OUR TEACHERS

LEEDS BRANCH

Choose a teacher below, click on a picture and learn all about them!

João Figueiredo

DRUMS

FOUNDER & CEO

Ben Cockburn

PIANO

Simon Pritchard

GUITAR/BASS

Jemma Freese

PIANO/SINGING

Oliver Dunster-Sigtermans 

GUITAR

Jake Mehew

SAXOPHONE/PIANO

Genevieve Begley

SINGING/PIANO

Jemma Freese is a pianist/keyboardist, vocalist, composer and lyricist who is involved in bands such as; DOMI (dark electronic/Norwegian pop), freesetrio (dark jazz/grunge/triphop), J Frisco (avant-garde), Eva Eik (electronic pop) and Maximo Park (rock/indie).

Jemma studied Pop Composition and Jazz Vocals at Leeds College of music and graduated with a first, since then;  J Frisco received the Jazz North Introduces award in 2017; DOMI's single Let Me Follow reached over 30k views on Youtube and got onto the Czech pop charts; freesetrio received a place on Jazz North's northernline scheme 2019-2020, and Jemma received a place on Manchester Jazz Festival's Hothouse Scheme 2018-2019. Jemma is set to tour Europe with Maximo Park, will be releasing an album with both J Frisco and freesetrio in September 2019 and to release a music video and more singles with DOMI. 

BIO COMING SOON!

Ben Cockburn is a Classical pianist, accompanist and teacher based in the United Kingdom. He graduated in Classical Music from Leeds College of Music in 2016 with a BA Honours. Ben is also member of Clarinet and Piano duo Reed & Ivory, and has been a member of Leeds College of Music’s Camerata Orchestra, New Music Collective, Part-song choir, symphonic wind orchestra and Chamber Orchestra.

Ben grew up in Carlisle, England. He didn’t start studying the Piano until the age of 16 where he was taken under the direction of Piano teacher Nick Rimmer. He achieved a grade 8 merit in Piano within 2 years with the London College of Music examination board and won 3 awards for attaining the highest grades in his county.

He often credits his Grandmother as being the biggest influence in his choice to pursue music, and the time he spent listening to her play when he was younger.

While at Leeds College of music Ben studied under the direction of internationally renowned pianist Jakob Fichert, while also working there as an events steward and Student ambassador. He has participated in several concerts and events around Yorkshire including at the Leeds City Art Gallery, Holy trinity church, Wakefield Cathedral, Christ Church Harrogate and White Cloth Gallery. Ben achieved the bronze award in 2014 at the East Coast Musician of the year and was invited back as the principal Piano student in a masterclass with Richard Utley. Ben has also taken part in masterclasses hosted by renowned baritone Roderick Williams and international Pianist Wolfgang Manz, performed with the Leeds College of Music symphonic wind orchestra and accompanied viral flute sensation Azeem Ward as part of his UK tour.

His duo Reed & Ivory won 2nd prize in the Leeds College of Music’s track of the year award in 2015 and have premiered pieces written by composers here in Britain and in the United States, most notably at an event spotlighting female composers. Ben has also performed internationally, on tour with a Camerata Orchestra in Germany.

Since graduating Ben has been teaching regularly, working as a freelance accompanist and taking part in various community projects across Leeds, with one such project culminating in a performance at the West Yorkshire playhouse. Ben currently works in schools across Leeds, teaching keyboard, full class and working with students in preparation for various seasonal performances. He has been heavily involved with theatre, working for the award winning amateur dramatic society, LIDOS, as well being a regular accompanist at the West Yorkshire playhouse. Ben currently works for and teaches with Leeds Music Academy, taking on a wide range of students, with his youngest being aged 5 and his oldest being aged 80! As a teacher, Ben has a 100% pass rate with all his exam students and currently prepares students for exams with ABRSM and London College of Music, theory and Practical.

Ben also works as an accompanist for students taking both Trinity and ABRSM Music exams as well as various concerts. He also accompanies professionally, working with singers around Yorkshire.

“My philosophy is that everyone can sing! I believe that singing is both fun and therapeutic for all, whether you're looking to sing in private or perform on stage.”

Genevieve is an experienced, talented and friendly singer who graduated from Leeds College of Music BA(Hons) specialising in Jazz. She performs regularly in a wide variety of projects ranging from singer-songwriter original to Jazz and Pop across the UK and in notable venues such as The Belgrave Music Hall, the Jazz Leeds Festival in 2018 and 2019, the 2012 BBC Proms, Disneyland Paris and Notre Dame Cathedral. She has also fronted Big Bands and recorded duo tracks with Laurie Holloway MBE.

Jake is a composer, producer, performer and educator based in Leeds city centre. Jake has been practising music for the majority of his life and has recently finished his formal musical education, graduating with a masters at Leeds College of Music in 2019, studying composition and performance with Matthew Bourne and Ben Lamdin (Nostalgia 77).

He currently work as a live/studio session musician playing keyboards for Tom Williams and also for the Invisible Orchestra. Jake creates his own music, producing and writing with his band Space Dolphin and also create solo piano/ambient records. Having spent his entire musical career collaborating with other musicians and creatives, Jake wants to teach students how to play and interact with other musicians, how to be successful in the 21st century music industry and teach students how to find many years of happiness within musical performance.

TO READ OUR FOUNDER'S BIO, CLICK HERE.

Oliver is an experienced and versatile musician (guitar, bass guitar and drums) who is keen to pass on his love and passion for music.

He graduated from Leeds College of Music in 2017 with a 2:1 degree in Popular Music, focusing on electric guitar and song writing, and he is very active as a gigging musician in three bands - Near Blackout(Hard Rock), Master the Crown(Metalcore/Djent) and On The Dancefloor(Covers/Wedding Band).

Oliver feels that as a working musician he brings valuable practical tips to his teaching, showing pupils how to apply technique to real music making.