Mike

Hello! I'm Mike, I am a professional cellist, composer, and educator with a performance career across the UK and internationally. I am a founding member of two award-winning chamber ensembles: the Fitzroy Quartet and Ensemble Mirage. With these groups, I perform regularly at major classical venues, including Wigmore Hall, and have been featured in broadcasts for the BBC.

My training was at Chetham's School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music, followed by postgraduate study at the Royal Academy of Music, from which I graduated with Distinction. My professional work is rooted in the classical tradition but also extends to jazz performance, composition, and musicology.

I also have a passion for languages (being a German speaker myself), as well as poetry, and the natural world.

Tutoring Experience

I possess extensive experience in music education across a variety of contexts, from private tuition to university-level masterclasses. Since 2017, I have maintained a private studio, preparing students for Cello, Piano, Double Bass, and Music Theory examinations, where they consistently achieve high marks, including frequent Merits and Distinctions.

My formal teaching appointments include five years as a music tutor at King's College London and for Harpenden Musicale. Furthermore, educational work is a core component of my professional life as a performer. With the Fitzroy Quartet, I have designed and delivered coaching and masterclasses at many of the UK's leading schools and universities including, Abingdon School, Wycombe Abbey, Queen Anne's Caversham, Dowdales School, and the University of Chichester.

This work is also international in scope. As a visiting International String Quartet at the University of the Free State in South Africa, we delivered daily recitals, alongside ensemble and individual masterclasses. My background therefore encompasses one-on-one tuition, ensemble coaching, and institutional teaching at both a national and international level.

Tutoring Approach

My teaching philosophy is built around a central, guiding belief: that my role is to help students become more confident and independent in their learning. I want to equip students with skills that will serve them for life, long after our lessons are over.

My approach balances two essential elements:

1. Building a Healthy Foundation: We will focus on establishing good playing habits from day one. By developing a solid, comfortable technique, we create a strong base that prevents future difficulties and allows you to play with freedom and ease. I teach not just what to practise, but how to practise in a way that is effective, efficient, and encouraging.

2. Sparking Creativity and Curiosity: Alongside technique, our lessons will be a space for musical adventure. I believe that learning should be driven by curiosity and joy. We will work on the music that excites you, demystify music theory to make it a useful creative tool, and focus on the most important part: expressing yourself and achieving your goals.

I warmly welcome students of all ages and abilities. My approach is flexible and adapted to the needs and expectations of each student. Whether you are seeking structured preparation for formal examinations with bodies like ABRSM or Trinity, or simply wish to learn for your own enjoyment without the pressure of exams, our lessons will be perfectly tailored to your personal goals. My aim is always to create a challenging, supportive, and deeply positive learning experience.