I was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire. My parents were not professional musicians but both had an appreciation of Classical music which instilled in me a love for music. One of my earliest musical memories was at the age of 8, hearing the Russian Dance from Tchaikovsky’s ballet, The Nutcracker: I did not understand this music but I had never heard anything so exciting and energising. I began learning the piano at the relatively late age of 10. From the beginning, I enjoyed the feel of the keys and the magical sounds they could produce. I passed all of the Associated Board’s piano examinations within 5 years, taking 3 exams within the space of a year (3 Distinctions in Grades 1, 6 and 8 and 5 Merits!). My early training was with Edith Say in Burnham-on-Sea, a wonderful teacher who introduced me to the piano and its vast repertoire. Latterly I studied with Beryl Tichbon and Norman Jones in Bristol, both former students of Tobias Matthay, who had taught many of the world’s greatest pianists. I won many competitions in the South-West of England and gave piano recitals in Bristol. At the age of 13, I also studied the Violin with Cissie Hudson in Burnham-on-Sea and Anne Hirsch in Bristol and reached Grade 8 standard within 4 years. During that time I was also a 1st Violinist with the Somerset Youth Orchestra and the Weston Youth Orchestra and played the violin with many local ensembles, at one time taking part in a master-class in Street with the cellist Paul Tortelier.

In 1978 I was offered a place at the Royal College of Music in London, where I studied the Piano with Professor Yu Chun Yee and the Violin with Professor John Ludlow. As a violinist, I played in the College’s Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of conductors such as Riccardo Muti and Claudio Abbado. I was fortunate to have been a student at the RCM when Sir David Willcocks was Director and sang in the RCM Chorus under him, which was an unforgettable experience.

In 1981 I graduated with a degree in Music: GRSM (Hons.) and a Diploma in Piano Teaching: ARCM.

I have latterly participated in advanced master-classes with Martino Tirimo in London and with Paul Roberts in France, specifically the music of Ravel, Debussy and Granados.