Our Staff

Gwyn Owen

Music Peri

Short Career History

I started playing the cornet when I was 8 in local brass bands, county music groups, and later the National Brass Band and Orchestra of Wales. I then moved to London to study the trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music, where I graduated with a Masters degree in 2016. That same year, I was fortunate enough to win the National Eisteddfod of Wales’ Blue Riband Scholarship Prize for the best solo instrumentalist.

Since then, I’ve been working with many of the UK’s orchestras including the Philharmonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the CBSO. I’ve been lucky enough to play at the BBC Proms and to have toured internationally over the past few years!

What’s the most surprising or adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

I’ve run 3 half marathons! (…so if you think about it, it’s really just like 1.5 full marathons?!)

What was your favourite toy or game as a child? 

Lots of memories to choose from, but for the great music and storyline – I’d say the video game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time!!

Geraldine Gillman

LAMDA

About me …

I have a first class honours degree in Theatre Studies and began my career by taking up a post in secondary teaching at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts (Barbican). While there, I was engaged as a drama teacher at their full time senior stage school and student faculty (18+). I started teaching LAMDA at The Study in 2010 and also run the Y4 and Y6 Drama Clubs.

Tell us about a moment that stands out for you from your time at The Study

The times when some of my LAMDA pupils have been awarded 100 marks for their exams – a testament to the girls’ commitment, focus and hard work.

Tell us something that we might not know about you

I have a keen interest in the Classics and History.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

I went to Spain on a walking holiday and ended up staying there for a year!

What was your favourite toy or game as a child?

My favourite toy was actually a pet, my guinea pig called Twinkle. When Twinkle, quite unexpectedly, gave birth to 3 babies, my time was spent helping my father build a guinea pig village (complete with radiator) to accommodate her and her family!

Thomas Law

Woodwind and Piano Teacher

About me …

After spending most of my childhood in Germany, I moved to Manchester as a sixth form student to study at Chetham’s School of Music. I went on to study saxophone at the Royal College of Music and then at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating from the Master of Music jazz course in 2005. I have since performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the Aurora Orchestra amongst others. I also hold teaching positions at the University of Surrey, Hampton School and Surbiton High School.

Tell us about a moment that stands out for you from your time at The Study

It’s not a standout moment as such, but the biggest privilege of working as a music teacher at The Study is being able to see the pupils grow and progress as they rise through their school years. It is a real joy to start a new pupil off on their musical journey, guide them week by week over the course of their primary years and then send them off to senior school having made amazing progress, often with a plethora of memorable musical experiences under their belt.

Tell us something that we might not know about you

I like gardening.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

As a musician, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to travel the world and perform as part of my work. My children are perhaps most impressed however, with my appearance a few years ago on Horrible Histories. I was booked to be part of an Elizabethan jazz band, but despite having zero acting skills or experience, I accidentally ended up with a speaking part as well. The whole experience was bizarre, hilarious and terrifying in equal measure!

What was your favourite toy or game as a child?

Probably my skateboard, closely followed by my saxophone…

Francesca Cox

Woodwind Teacher

About me…

After studying at the Purcell School of Music for Sixth-Form, I continued my studies at the Royal Academy of Music and then studied on the Orchestral Artistry Course at Guildhall, gaining a Distinction for my MMus. I am a founding member of Ensemble Renard, an award-winning Wind Quintet, and have played Principal Oboe with many orchestras including English Touring Opera. Alongside The Study, I teach Oboe and Piano at St Richard Reynolds Catholic College and Thompson House School.

Tell us something that we might not know about you

I love all things outdoors!

What’s the most surprising or adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

Last summer I cycled around 1000 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats.

What was your favourite toy or game as a child?

Probably my rollerblades

Adrian Crawford

Woodwind Teacher

About me …

I have been a professional saxophone, flute and clarinet performer since 1987.

I teach peripatetic woodwind and I am the director of school ensembles in several South London primary and secondary schools.

Tell us about a moment that stands out for you from your time at The Study

The progress and passion of The Study’s Jazz Club members over the years.

Tell us something that we might not know about you

I am a saxophonist in various bands including Cornucopia and Grovin’ High Big Band.

Vanessa Smith

Violin Teacher

About me …

I studied at the Royal College of Music and have played with various orchestras including the BBC Concert and Symphony Orchestras. I was a founding member of the John Wilson Orchestra and played with them for many years, as well as working regularly with the Northern Sinfonia. I also played for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the West End. After the birth of my second child, I started to do more teaching and string quartet work. I’ve taught at The Study and Francis Holland (Sloane Square) for many years and thoroughly enjoy teaching beginners up to Grade 8 and beyond.

Tell us about a moment that stands out for you from your time at The Study

Whenever a pupil grasps something for the first time or is excited because she can play something really well … and all the times someone plays something so beautifully it brings a tear to my eye.

Tell us something that we might not know about you

I have had a ‘sleepover’ at Sandringham after playing with a string quartet for Prince Charles and dinner guests. We then played snooker on George V’s snooker table!

Pete Downes

Classical Guitar Teacher

About me …

I am lucky enough to be regarded as one of Europe’s leading guitarists in the modern fusion and ambient genres. My guitar playing is influenced by a wide spectrum of musical genres and my work with PD3 (Pete Downes Trio) has caught the attention of Jazzwise, Jazz FM and received critical praise from The Guardian, The Observer and many others.

Tell us something that we might not know about you

I have recorded two albums: Music for Guitar: Bach and Bach for Guitar: Cello Suites 1 and 2. The former was awarded Silver at the JPL Awards for Best Solo Classical Album and the latter is accompanied by a book of transcriptions in notation and tablature.

Daniel Schroyens

Piano Teacher

About me …

I have been a visiting piano teacher at various independent schools in and around London since 1986 and I joined The Study in September 1993.

In the early 2000’s I lectured in the Music Studies Department at GSMD (Guildhall School of Music & Drama), teaching Musical Awareness, Written and Practical Harmony, Counterpoint and Fugue classes on the BMus Course.

Following this, I was a tutor in Undergraduate Music Studies at Clare, Christ’s and St. Catharine’s Colleges, Cambridge, where he taught Harmony, Counterpoint, Fugue and Stylistic Composition.

Tell us about a moment that stands out for you from your time at The Study

The Spring 2000 visit to London’s Millennium Dome.

The whole school was involved in the outing; girls were split into small groups, each chaperoned by a staff member – I was assigned four of my piano pupils. There was a great spirit of collective enjoyment among students and staff throughout the visit.

Tell us something that we might not know about you

I was, during my teens and twenties, an active stargazer, a member of the Belgian Youth Network of Amateur Astronomers, methodically observing and recording thousands of shooting stars, plotting the fluctuating brightness of dozens of variable stars, making daily drawings of changing sunspot positions, etc.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

This hás to be my performance as a timpanist(!) in the 2004 Study performance of Mozart’s Requiem, directed by Jenny Brockless, the then Head of Music. It featured a choir of Study girls and Study parents supported by an orchestra of music staff.

Despite my total lack of prior experience and complete ignorance of kettledrum technique, I was afterwards told that the percussion part sounded ‘electric’, and ‘would look good on my CV’!

What was your favourite toy or game as a child?

From what I remember of my early years, this was a model U.S. Greyhound bus. It was eventually flattened by my (only slightly) older sister, when she attempted to jump over it . . .

Rhiannon Lock

Cello Teacher

Chris Weale

Piano Teacher

About me …

After graduating from the Royal College of Music, I continued to perform as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist. It was around this time that I began teaching, and I quickly realised that I loved working with children of all ages and helping them to develop a love for music.
Since then, time has flown, and I have now been teaching happily at The Study and Francis Holland School for Girls for over twenty years.

Tell us about a moment that stands out for you from your time at The Study

I never cease to be amazed by the speed that even the smallest children can pick things up when they are inspired to learn.

Tell us something that we might not know about you

If I wasn’t teaching the piano, I might have found myself working as a baker or a chef.

What was your favourite toy or game as a child?

Apart from my piano, my favourite thing as a child was probably my bike, as it gave me so much freedom. Some things never change!

Gabriella Jones

Harp Teacher

About me …

I started teaching at The Study in 2019 and have built a lovely harp community. I have fabulous harp students who are all passionate about playing and have gone on to gain music scholarships in some of London’s top schools and places in the National Children’s and Youth Orchestras. I am a passionate performer and balance my teaching schedule with performances around the UK – recent performance highlights have been in Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre and Westminster Abbey.

Tell us about a moment that stands out for you from your time at The Study

Every Christmas I love having the harp featured in the carol service; it’s such a magical instrument and having the students perform in such a wonderful setting is always very memorable.

Tell us something that we might not know about you

In 2019 I recorded around 50 nursery rhymes for Sony for the Amazon Alexa. If you say “Alexa play Twinkle Twinkle” and you hear the harp, it’s me!

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

I once went on tour to perform in Scotland, travelling from London to the Outer Hebrides with my concert harp via three trains and a ferry! Safe to say I got some funny looks wheeling it down the gangway of the ferry.

Kathryn Cleeve

Piano Teacher

About me…

I have been teaching music for more than 30 years to children from the ages of three months to 16 years. A majority of this time has been as head of the department, being responsible for school musical productions as well as the usual christmas/yearly concerts and open morning activities. I also teach at a music school on Saturdays.

Tell us about a moment that stands out for you from your time at The Study

A moment that stands out is realising music can indeed be taught remotely! The girls responded to this period of teaching with amazing resilience and enthusiasm, which I found very moving.

Tell us something that we might not know about you

I have a three legged dog called Dilly.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

I have, on numerous occasions, swam in a frozen lake … for fun!

What was your favourite toy or game as a child?

My favourite toy as a child was Snoopy.