Sam Leak (Piano): https://www.samleak.com/

Sam Leak is a London-based Jazz pianist described by JazzFM's Helen Mayhew as 'One of the brightest stars in the Jazz piano galaxy, a heavenly improviser, and a brilliant prospect for the future.'He is most widely known for his band 'Aquarium', for which he is both pianist and composer. Also featured are James Allsopp on Reeds, Joshua Blackmore on Drums, and Calum Gourlay on Double Bass. They have released two albums: their eponymous debut on the Babel Label in 2011, listed in MOJO Magazine as one of the 'Top Ten International Releases of the Year," and their follow up album 'Places' on 'Jellymould Jazz' in 2013. Both have received widespread critical acclaim and regular radio play nationally. John Fordham described ‘Places’ in the Guardian as 'surefooted creativity... way beyond respectful expertise' and Daniel Spicer described it in BBC Music Magazine as ‘assured and sophisticated acoustic jazz with deep roots in the tradition, that knows exactly what it's trying to do - and succeeds.’ Jamie Cullum introduced Aquarium as ‘the heavyweights of the British Jazz scene’ and described himself as a ‘fan’ of the band in his regular BBC broadcast. As a sideman he has performed internationally alongside musicians including Greg Hutchinson, and Ray Warleigh.

Sam Ainslie (Guitar): https://www.starnow.com/samainslie

After Graduating from the London Centre of Contemporary Music in 2014, session guitarist Sam Ainslie performed for 3 years around the world aboard luxury cruise lines. Since moving back to London in 2017 he has performed all over the country with various bands in venues such as; Shaftesbury Theatre and The Savoy Theatre in Londons West End as well as Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club. In 2018 alone Sam has performed in numerous musicals including “Grease” and ” Sister Act". Over the past decade Sam has also been teaching at multiple schools across the country including the London Centre of Contemporary Music where he has taught both Guitar and Songwriting workshops

Robert Puzey (Violin and String group): www.oberonquartet.co.uk

Robert Puzey has enjoyed a varied career teaching and freelancing on violin and viola in London and the South East. He plays with (and jointly runs) The Oberon String Quartet which provides music for weddings and other functions. His teaching includes schools in north London and work with adult string players at The City Literary Institute.

He also plays chamber music with the Max Bruch Trio. Other playing in recent years has included concerto appearances on both violin and viola, as well as work with the Orchestra of St. John's, London Gala and Brighton Philharmonic Orchestras.

For the past 10 years his further activity with amateur musicians has included leading The Chamber Orchestra-a string orchestra based in central London. Now, however, he is moving more towards conducting for this aspect of his work-both for string courses at the City Literary Institute and also Saturday workshops in North London.

Philip Miles (Piano): https://encoremusicians.com/Philip-Thomas-Miles

Patrick Hayes (Brass, Piano and Bass): http://www.patrickhayesmusic.com/

Patrick Hayes is a London based professional multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger highly experienced in a variety of musical fields.

Having studied jazz trombone at the Royal Academy of Music and Studio music and jazz at the University of Miami, Patrick has had the opportunity to study under some of the world’s foremost musicians and teachers and is now is quickly becoming known as one of the most accomplished and versatile young musicians in the UK.

Over the years, he has been fortunate to have performed, recorded or arranged for artists in the commercial industry such as Sir Tom Jones, Phil Ramone, Heather Small, Jamie Woon, Ronan Keating, Guy Garvey, James Arthur, JP Cooper, Peter Andre, Hamish Stuart (Average White Band,) Jack Jones, Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Michael Bublé, Omar Kamal, The

Lighthouse Family, James Taylor Quartet and Si Cranstoun, as well as jazz artists Snarky Puppy, Curtis Stigers, Gregory Porter, Gerard Presencer, Dave Douglas, Nestor Torres, Ed Calle, Shelly Berg, Jim Mullen, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler and Stan Sulzmann.

Patrick has played in many groups such as the London Jazz Orchestra, NYJO, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, South Florida Jazz Orchestra, Glenn Miller Orchestra (UK) and the Steve Guerra Big Band. He has performed in many venues and countries including, Ronnie Scott’s, 606 Club, Pizza Express Dean Street, High Note Jazz Club (Miami,) Half Note Jazz Club (Athens,) Montreux Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, Festival Miami, Proms in the Park (Hyde Park,) and Soir Dete Festival (Paris.)

Lydia Gosnell (Recorder): https://www.lydiagosnell.com/

Lydia graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2014 where she gained a Distinction in her Master's degree, as a recorder player and historical flautist, having previously attended Wells Cathedral School, as a Specialist Musician.

Lydia performs in the award-winning recorder quartet, Palisander. The group was recently awarded First Prize at the London International Exhibition of Early Music’s chamber group competition. Besides regular performances in the UK, the group’s international performances include France, Italy, Russia and Japan and radio performances, including BBC Radio 3. The quartet’s debut album, Beware the Spider! was released in 2017 and received 4-stars from BBC Music Magazine. Classic FM featured a video performance by Palisander, which received over 4.6 Million views! Palisander enjoys regular education work, including working for the charity Live Music Now.

Lydia shared the excitement of the London Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, having been selected to perform primarily as a drummer! A lifelong Londoner, Lydia enjoys teaching at St Anthony’s School, Highgate School and the Centre for Young Musicians.

Joe Burgess (Piano): https://www.pianoaccompanists.com/profile-joseph-burgess

Alice Jones (Cello): https://www.alicejonesmusic.net/

Alan Gruner (Rock Band and Guitar): http://www.alangruner.com/

Tim Doyle (Drums): http://www.timdoylemusic.co.uk/

Tim Doyle is a drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger and teacher based in London. As a drummer Tim specialises in jazz, drum & bass and Hip-Hop but has been booked in and around London for a wide range of other styles including working for pop groups, Balkan/Eastern European bands and the creation of a funky house sample library (for Sample Magic). As a percussionist he plays jazz vibraphone, samba, Ghanaian hand drums (Kpanlogo/Fume Fume etc.) Middle Eastern percussion and has experience with Cuban percussion and sabar (Senegalese/Gambian tradition drumming). Tim began his musical journey playing with Indie rock bands at age 13 and began the playing southern England gigging circuit by age 14 with occasional scurries northwards for mini tours. He departed this scene at 16 to commit himself to furthering his knowledge of music. And so began a period of intense and focused study where he immersed himself in the world of jazz drum kit, jazz vibraphone, piano, theories of music and all manor of world and orchestral percussion. At age 19 Tim went on to study a BMus (Hons) degree (bachelor of music) at City University with advanced performance tuition provided by The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He focused his efforts on jazz performance and composition during his time at City University but also exceled in academia and his hard work was rewarded when he graduated with a 1st class in 2013. During his time at University, Tim began to explore all the aspects of the musical world. He secured internships with music PR companies (TCK productions) and radio programs (Jazz on 3, BBC Radio 3), taking part in youth initiatives and courses such as Young & Serious (Serious), Write Stuff (Jazz Wise), Faber’s composing for commercials course (Faber Publications) in addition to his compositional and performance activities. Tim also joined several bands at this time that had a significant impact on his career and creative direction, such as, Rhythms of the City and Don Kipper, and formed his own bands Echidna and Big Beat Manifesto. It was at this time that he also began to work as a freelance performer and composer in and around London. Highlights include: playing samba on the Hyde park stage in front of 20,000 ‘anti-cuts protestors’; playing at The Royal Festival Hall as a percussionist with The London Philharmonic Orchestra; touring in Poland and Brazil playing samba with Rhythms of the City; pitching advert compositions to advertising companies (Platinum Rye) and writing music for student films and documentaries. Tim is now working around London as a composer/arranger, performer and teacher.

Ian Bumstead (Saxophone and Clarinet)

Taking up the Clarinet at the age of 10, Ian Bumstead progressed ontothe Tenor Saxophone aged 16 and quickly made a name for himself withnumerous performances at his local Derby Jazz concerts. Followingstudies at the University of Leeds, Ian accepted the prestigiousLeverhulme scholarship to attend Trinity College of Music in London in2007 where he received a Masters degree in Jazz Performance. Now ahighly accomplished mutli-saxophonist, Ian has gone on to perform withmany of the UK’s leading jazz soloists, regularly performing at venues such as The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Rooms, Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express and The Vortex, and isoften heard playing his original compositions with the fiery quintetPickpocket. He is a member of the Joe Howell Quartet, an alumnus ofthe Nu Civilisation Orchestra lead by Gary Crosby OBE, and hasperformed with the BBC Concert Orchestra, National Youth Jazz

Orchestra and Give a Little Love Jazz Orchestra. Ian is also in demandfor theatre, touring and recording work and has been featured on a number ofBBC, ITV and Channel 4 broadcasts.

https://m.soundcloud.com/ian-bumstead

Claire Filer (Voice) https://www.clairefiler.com/

Mezzo-Soprano Claire Filer was born in Auckland, New Zealand, where she began a career

that has involved studying and performing in the US, the UK and Europe. Claire holds a

Master of Arts with Distinction from the Wales International Academy of Voice in Cardiff, a

Master of Music from The Boston Conservatory in the US and a Bachelor of Music with

first class honours from The University of Auckland in New Zealand. While at the

University of Auckland, Claire was awarded the Kathleen Mary Reardon Scholarship and

Postgraduate Scholarship, and upon graduation from The Boston Conservatory, Claire

accepted a place in the Gamma Psi chapter of the prestigious American music honours

society Pi Kappa Lambda. Claire has also attended the Intermezzo Young Artist Program in

Portland, Maine, the Franco-American Vocal Academy in Périgueux, France, and New

Zealand Opera School in Wanganui, New Zealand. Claire’s operatic engagements have

included the roles of Dorabella Così fan tutte (Birgitta Festival – Tallinn, Estonia; The Black

Cat Opera Company, West Sussex Opera), 2nd Witch Macbeth (Iford Arts), Dido Dido &

Aeneas (West Sussex Opera, The Boston Conservatory), Angelina La Cenerentola

(Woodhouse Opera Festival), Hansel Hansel & Gretel (Carshalton Opera), Lola Cavalleria

Rusticana (Wedmore Opera, Woodhouse Opera Festival), Sorceress Dido & Aeneas (Opera

at Chilmark, Richmond-upon-Thames Festival, Ursula’s Arrow), Maurya Riders to the Sea

(Piccalilli Opera), Zweite Dame Die Zauberflöte (Woodhouse Opera Festival), Annina La

Traviata (London Festival Opera), Suor Dolcina Suor Angelica (Talent Unlimited), 2nd

Witch Dido & Aeneas (Opera Alumnus), Mother Hansel & Gretel (Opera Holloway),

Cathleen Riders to the Sea (Cantata Singers), La Grande Duchesse La Grande Duchesse de

Gerolstein (Franco-American Vocal Academy), Florence Pike Albert Herring (Intermezzo

Young Artist Program), Suzy La Rondine (The Boston Conservatory), Serse Serse (The

Boston Conservatory), chorus in Káťa Kabanová (Opera Holland Park) and La Traviata

(West Green House Opera), and a gala performance at the first Opera Sark Festival. Claire

has also been involved in productions of two contemporary operas with Gestalt Arts –

Cameron Dodd’s Unsung Heroes of the Planet and Sarah Dacey’s Liquid History, performed

at the Green Man Festival and the Totally Thames Festival respectively, both of which have

been revived in 2018 at The Eden Project and The National Maritime Museum.

Oratorio and concert engagements include Handel Messiah (Wetherby Choral Society, The

Maidstone Singers and The South Circular Orchestra), Jenkins The Armed Man (Wetherby

Choral Society), Mozart Requiem (Bridgend Tabernacl Choir, Dunottar Choral Society,

Wombourne & District Choral Society, St Giles in the Fields), Saint-Saëns Messe de

Requiem (Eastwood Chorale), Dvořák Stabat Mater (Wombourne & District Choral

Society), Bach Magnificat (Village Voices), Schumann Requiem (Genesis Chorale), Duruflé

Requiem (Grange Choral Society, Genesis Chorale), Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle

(Aberystwyth Choral Society, Genesis Chorale); Vaughan Williams Mass in G Minor

(Cantata Singers); Gounod Messe Solennelle (Pakuranga Choral Society); Schubert Mass in

C Major; Faure Requiem and Vivaldi Gloria (Auckland Youth Choir); Haydn Mass in Time of

War (South Auckland Choral Society), Lord Nelson Mass (Masterworks Chorale), Missa

Cellensis in Honorem (Collegium Musicum Costa del Sol) and Missa Sancti Nicolai

(Blackheath Centre for Singing); Handel Jephtha (The Handel Consort and Quire); Orff

Carmina Burana (Sing Waiheke); and Irving Fine The Choral New Yorker (Cantata Singers).

In the US, Claire performed with a range of organisations such as Boston New Music

Initiative, Metrowest Symphony Orchestra, New England Light Opera, Masterworks

Chorale, and Cantata Singers, and was selected to perform the role of Bobachino in an

excerpt from Musto The Inspector at the 2011 Opera America conference. Claire has also

performed selections from Canteloube’s Chants d’Auvergne with Croydon Symphony

Orchestra at Fairfield Halls and then with Guildford Symphony Orchestra at G Live.

Upcoming projects include Beethoven 9 in Concert for Europe at St John’s Smith Square in

2019, cover Carmen Carmen for Kentish Opera, Bach St John Passion with Wetherby

Choral Society, Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle with Dunottar Choral Society, Mozart

Requiem with Grimsby Philharmonic Society and Bach Mass in B Minor at St Giles in the

Fields.