Meet Our Instrumental Tutors
Our instrumental tutors bring a wealth of professional experience to South South South Chingford Foundation School . Each tutor is an expert in their field and dedicated to helping students develop confidence, technique and a lifelong enjoyment of music. Lessons are available on most orchestral instruments, as well as piano, guitar, drums, voice, and more.
Mr H Christelis – Teacher of Guitar
- BA in Jazz Performance, Composition, and Theory – Middlesex University
Mr Christelis has over 15 years of experience helping students of all ages develop their musicianship and creativity. His lessons cover a wide range of genres and playing styles, focusing on the key elements of music, melody, harmony, rhythm and composition. Alongside teaching, he performs and records professionally as a guitarist and composer.
Miss S Sheane – Teacher of Piano and Flute
- BMus (Hons), Graduate Certificate in Piano Performance – Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
- Graduate Certificate in Piano Performance: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
- Postgraduate Certificate in Music Education and Performance – Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
- ATCL (Merit) in Piano Performance – Trinity College London
Miss Sheane is an experienced flute and piano teacher who has taught in schools and music institutions across the UK and Ireland. She specialises in developing motivation and musicality, preparing students for ABRSM and Trinity College London examinations. Her lessons combine technical skill with creativity and confidence building.
Mrs S Manovski – Teacher of Singing, Piano and Songwriting
- Bachelor of Music (Hons) – Academy of Music & Sound
- Bachelor of Music Performance – Australian Institute of Music
- Bachelor of Popular Music – QLD Conservatory of Music
Mrs Manovski is an internationally recognised songwriter and singer with extensive touring, recording and teaching experience. Her lessons are tailored to each student’s goals, from beginners to advanced performers. She specialises in contemporary performance, songwriting and music theory, and brings global industry experience to her teaching practice.
Miss T Kelly – Teacher of Voice and Songwriting
- BA (Hons) in Music Performance and The Industry - Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Miss Kelly is an experienced vocalist and passionate music educator with a strong background in live performance, developed through four years of study and nearly two years of teaching. She began singing at the age of eight and has since grown as both performer and songwriter. As the lead singer and songwriter of her own band, she has spent the past four years performing across London venues.
Her enthusiasm for teaching continues to develop. She has taught across multiple schools in South London, led choirs and hosted session-singing workshops for aspiring vocalists. Her lessons focus on helping students understand their unique voices and build confidence through technique and expression.
Notable highlights include recording and song writing at Abbey Road Studios and supporting Trinity Laban’s Battle of the Bands. She is delighted to be teaching at South Chingford Foundation School , sharing her passion with dedicated young musicians.
Miss R Rayner - Teacher of Drums and Percussion
- BA (Hons) Music Industry Practice – Musical Route - The Academy of Contemporary Music
I am an independent session drummer and percussionist with extensive experience in worldwide touring and studio recording. I hold a BA (Hons) in Music Performance, which has provided a strong foundation for my professional work across a diverse range of musical settings.
TV credits include: The Graham Norton Show, The Voice UK Final - Judges Performance, The 1975 - At Their Very Best Live at Madison Square Garden, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, BBC Live Lounge, Later… with Jools Holland, and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Album credits include: The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy, The 1975 - At Their Very Best - Live From Madison Square Garden, and The 1975 - Live from Gorilla.
Global tours include: The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy, Hozier - Unreal Earth Tour, The 1975 - At Their Very Best, and SIX: The Musical.
Beyond session work, I am deeply committed to music education. Teaching allows me to share my experience and passion, helping to inspire and support the next generation of musicians within the wider music community.
Mr D Smyth - Teacher of Piano, Guitar and Songwriting
- PGCE in Secondary Music Education from University College London
- Artist Development Graduate of Access to Music
- BA (Hons) from Falmouth University
- British Kodaly Academy Foundation Certificate.
I am a lifelong musician and songwriter who has spent the past few years training and developing as a music educator and facilitator. I am predominantly a guitarist but also grew up playing classical piano and teach all the way up to Grade 8. I am passionate about harmony and have recently trained in the Kodaly music method which utilizes aural learning skills to help students embody musical knowledge. I love to sing and always use my singing voice in lessons to model musical ideas and to help internalise musicianship. I have my own practice as a singer songwriter and composer, and love to help develop students’ own creative musicianship, whether through songwriting, composing, performing or simply playing for pleasure. I always like to know what types of music excite students, and tailor my lessons towards them.
I look forward to working with the students of Chingford Academies Trust and helping to shape our future musicians!
Dr A Tran Ngoc - Teacher of Violin
-
BMus & Musicology; MA in Music & Musicology – Sorbonne University (Paris, France)
-
Violin Performance Diplomas – Conservatoire of Aulnay-sous-Bois (France) & Monaco Conservatoire (Monaco)
-
PhD in Linguistics & Musicology – University of Nice Côte d'Azur (France)
Dr Tran Ngoc is an experienced and accomplished violinist and musicologist. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Music and Musicology, as well as several violin performance diplomas, and completed her PhD in 2023, focusing on the effect of musical experience on speech perception.
She has extensive experience performing as a classical violinist in theatre, chamber music, and orchestral settings, and is also an active traditional Irish fiddle player, regularly leading music sessions in London.
A dedicated and passionate educator, Dr Tran draws on both her performance background and academic research to deliver a holistic, student-centred approach to music teaching. Her experience ranges from working with very young children to adults of all ages. She is committed to nurturing a love of music in all her students, adapting to their needs and interests to help them achieve their full potential. Beyond music, she enjoys visual art and spending time outdoors.
Miss M Ibrahim – Teacher of Violin
-
Bachelor of Music (Hons) in Performance – Royal College of Music
-
Master of Music in Performance – Royal College of Music
Miss Ibrahim is a highly distinguished violinist who has established herself as a sought-after presence within the classical music scene. With a decade of experience teaching violin across private, institutional, and educational settings, she is a dedicated and inspiring teacher deeply committed to music education. Her teaching philosophy emphasises musical curiosity and creativity, helping students develop strong technique while discovering their own artistic voice. Lessons are carefully structured to balance technical development, musical expression, and performance skills, often incorporating listening, studies, and sight-reading to build well-rounded musicianship.
Her students have achieved outstanding success, earning Distinctions across ABRSM and Trinity examinations, as well as scholarships and competition prizes such as the Youth Music Centre Concerto Prize and the North London Festival. Above all, she aims to nurture a genuine love for music and inspire students to find joy and self-expression through their playing, building skills and confidence that extend far beyond the instrument itself.
Mr M McQuillan – Teacher of Bass Guitar and Double Bass
-
BMus (Hons) in Jazz – Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Mr McQuillan is an electric and double bassist who has performed at venues including St Martin-in-the-Fields, Pizza Express Jazz Club and Worcester College, Oxford. Mr McQuillan's teaching focuses on connecting students’ ear to the instrument and internalising fundamental technical and musical knowledge. Mr McQuillan has taught a range of abilities and tailors lessons and material to a student’s individual needs. He is also a prolific songwriter and bandleader, performing regularly with his band Testaments.
Mr D Storey – Teacher of Drums and Percussion
- BA in Jazz Performance, Middlesex University
- MA in Jazz Performance, Royal Academy of Music
Mr Storey is an experienced drum and percussion teacher with over fifteen years of experience working in education. He is dedicated to delivering engaging and enjoyable lessons within a relaxed and supportive learning environment.
His teaching approach focuses on building confidence while helping students develop strong improvisational skills across a wide range of genres, including jazz, soul, rock and popular music. He supports students through both the ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall practical and theory grade systems, covering Classical and Jazz pathways.
Mr Storey places strong emphasis on ensemble playing, encouraging students to take part in group rehearsals and performance opportunities. By broadening each student’s listening repertoire and introducing them to a diverse range of musical styles, he aims to develop well rounded and expressive musicians.
He also offers tailored audition preparation for students aspiring to progress to higher level music courses, ensuring they feel confident, inspired and fully prepared to succeed.
Mr E Dereli – Teacher of Piano
- MMus in Piano Performance, The University of West London
- Postgraduate Certificate in Music, Goldsmiths, University of London
- Bachelor of Music Education, Uludag University, Turkey
Mr Dereli is a certified pianist and music educator with over fifteen years of professional experience. He has taught in a number of highly regarded schools and music institutions across the UK, supporting students of all ages and abilities.
Specialising in piano performance and music theory, Mr Dereli prepares students for ABRSM, Trinity, GCSE and A Level performance examinations. He also designs engaging curricula, tracks student progress and creates high quality teaching materials to support musical development.
His teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that music fosters intelligence, personality, harmony and cultural understanding. He is dedicated to helping students develop their musical talents, communicate through music and grow with discipline and confidence.
Over the course of his career, Mr Dereli has taught at Barnhill Community High School, Hertfordshire Music Service, Central Foundation Girls’ School, Broxbourne Music Academy, North London Music Centre, Herts Music Centre and a range of other educational settings.
Passionate, disciplined and committed to lifelong learning, he views music education not only as a profession but as a moral responsibility, which he fulfils with reliability, creativity and dedication.
Miss H Cramsie – Teacher of Guitar and Ukulele
- Artist Diploma in Performance, Royal College of Music
- MA in Performance, Royal Conservatory of Brussels
- Bachelor of Music with Honours, Royal College of Music
Miss Cramsie is a highly accomplished guitarist with extensive teaching experience. She specialises in classical guitar and draws on her background as a performer and her studies with leading international guitar pedagogues.
She teaches a range of styles, including classical, acoustic, Spanish guitar and ukulele. Lessons are carefully tailored to the needs and interests of each student, whether they are preparing for ABRSM examinations or pursuing personal musical goals.
Miss Cramsie places strong emphasis on enjoyment, artistic development and musical expression, alongside the development of secure technique and a solid foundation in musicianship. Her aim is to cultivate a lifelong love of music making in every student.
As a performer, she has appeared at prestigious venues including Wigmore Hall, St James Piccadilly and Kings Place as part of the London Guitar Festival, where she performed as a Young Artist of the International Guitar Foundation. She has won two First Prizes at international guitar competitions and is also a Young Artist of the Musicians’ Company.
Miss L Barratt – Teacher of Piano
- BMus with Honours in Piano, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- LTCL in Piano Performance, Trinity College London
Miss Barratt is an experienced piano teacher and accompanist with over five years of professional teaching experience. She works with students of all ages and abilities, from young beginners and adult learners to advanced performers preparing for examinations, auditions and scholarships.
Her lessons are individually tailored to each student’s goals, with a strong focus on developing secure technique, musical expression and performance confidence. She offers comprehensive preparation for ABRSM and Trinity examinations in both performance and music theory, with students consistently achieving excellent results.
Miss Barratt also has extensive experience coaching choirs, orchestras and ensembles, and brings valuable collaborative expertise to her teaching. Alongside her teaching work, she is an accomplished accompanist for classical, musical theatre and Rock and Pop examinations, as well as school concerts and external performances.
Her aim is to inspire creativity, discipline and a lifelong love of music in every student she teaches.
Join Our Music Community
Our instrumental tutors are part of a vibrant department that supports students across all year groups. Whether a student is taking their first steps with an instrument or preparing for performance exams, our tutors guide them every step of the way.
