Stubbers Farm, Mountnessing Road, Blackmore, Ingatestone, Essex CM4 0NX
Email: info@cadenza-music.co.uk
Phone: 01277 823810

The Cadenza team welcome you to Cadenza Music School, a business built on the foundation of a strong vision and a shared passion for music and education. We all possess the ambition and drive to create a place where we can provide excellent tuition in a professional and comfortable environment. You will find Cadenza a warm and friendly school, with the emphasis on aiming high.

Tom Potten graduated from the London College of Music with honours in 2002, having specialised in composition and contemporary music, studying with composer Kit Turnbull and Jazz leaders Eddie Harvey and Johnny Dankworth. Since leaving there Tom has worked as a freelance musician and tutor across the country, ranging from playing with his own Jazz group to accompanying choirs.

He currently holds the post of deputy organist at St. Mary's Church, Stapleford Abbotts. As well as his degree in music, Tom also holds a Diploma in Piano Performance from LCM. Tom is an enthusiastic music educator, teaching some 70 piano students privately each week, as well as lecturing in Modernism and Post-Modernism in Music at Havering College. He runs music workshops in schools which have little or no music, with the clear aim of attempting to get children interested in learning a musical instrument.

He also started up his own 'informal' choir in Billericay, yet to be named but growing in popularity since its founding in 2006. It is in Billericay that Tom has worked as piano teacher and accompanist at the Billericay Music Academy for 8 years. At Cadenza Music School, he is in the same role; also providing accompaniment for examinations and for practice purposes in lessons.

Katherine Clark is a BA Hons graduate of The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA). Founded by Sir Paul McCartney, the performing university is one of the top in the world and focuses on training its students for a lasting career in the entertainment industry. Katherine completed a 3 year intensive pop music course focusing on vocal technique, performance skill, song writing and the music business.

During her studies she developed her musicianship, learning to play the piano and guitar, and wrote and recorded her debut album. In her final year she had a private song writing tutorial with Sir Paul McCartney where she performed her original songs to him.

After graduating and moving back to Essex, Katherine joined established function band Soul Desire, singing lead vocals and playing keyboard and guitar. She then went on to teach voice and piano, building large student base around Essex, teaching over 80 students a week through private tuition, Thurrock Music Services and The Billericay Music Academy. Katherine is a talented vocalist with an impressive range, pure tone and natural ability to emotionally connect to songs. She is a skilled performer with a range of experience that she uses in her lessons to further her students' vocal education. Katherine is a true pop princess and believes in the enjoyment of music. She prides herself on building a strong rapport with students, making them feel comfortable, and developing their confidence in a fun and relaxed environment.

Alison achieved Grade 8 in both Oboe and Piano by the age of 18 and attended the Royal College of Music where she studied with top class performers including Roger Lord and Yonty Solomon. She graduated from the Colchester Institute in 1984 and began teaching oboe and piano privately before working as a peripatetic tutor in schools around Essex.

Alison attained a PGCE prior to working in Infant and Primary schools as a full time teacher and music co-ordinator. During this time she directed countless concerts and productions and was responsible for delivering the music curriculum for children between the ages of 4 and 12.

As well as playing with other leading orchestras in the south east, Alison has been the principal oboist in the Southend Symphony Orchestra for over 20 years and has been selected to play oboe in the pit orchestra for well over a hundred performances with local operatic and dramatic societies. She has also been musical director for local amateur choir the Dove Singers for over 20 years.

Alison is widely regarded as the top oboist in South Essex and In addition to working as a tutor for the Essex and Southend Young Persons' Orchestras, Alison was also for several years the sole woodwind adjudicator on the panel for the Thurrock Young Musician of the Year.

Believing passionately that music is vital in the wider development of both children and adults, Alison always encourages her students to reach their full potential and gives structured and thorough lessons developing independent learning. She fundamentally believes in the enjoyment of music and that it should be accessible to all.

Alison is keen on getting ensembles together and making music a social experience and it is her ambition to help develop the Cadenza Orchestra one day!

Will Potten has been playing the piano and trumpet for nearly 30 years and during that time has built up a broad range of performing experience in many different musical styles. He completed a music degree at Girton College, Cambridge University, studying and performing with Martin Ennis, Daniel Harding and Stephen Cleobury amongst others. Whilst at Cambridge, he sang with Girton College Chapel Choir with whom he toured Italy, Mexico and Ireland as well as appearing on their inaugural CD.

Will is a qualified teacher, having completed a specialist music PGCE at Exeter University following his degree. In recent years, he has performed and recorded with many local musicians, embracing jazz, ska, and classical music. An ardent jazz fan, Will is a firm believer that learning music should be fun and aims to instill in all his students the grounding for a lifelong love of music.

Luke is a professional musician, guitarist and bass player. He studied for his Foundation degree in Music performance at Essex University. He holds Grade 8 in Guitar, as well as Grade 8 in Bass Guitar and Grade 8 in ABRSM Theory. Since completing his University studies in 2009, Luke has gigged extensively across the UK and parts of Europe. He has played in a wide variety of bands and musical ensembles ranging from tribute bands, Jazz bands and function bands. He has played alongside West End composer Richard Brown as a pit musician on several local theatre productions. This has enabled him to become experienced and versatile in playing many different styles of music, which he believes is a huge advantage when teaching meaning he can cater for all students from young ages to the more mature.

As well as performing Luke has always had a keen interest and enthusiasm in music education, he has worked in several schools and music academies throughout Essex. Luke currently teaches GCSE music and works for Havering Music Services in several primary and senior schools as a guitar tutor. He can cater for grades 1-8 and beyond in guitar, bass and theory but likes to keep lessons as fun and relaxed as possible.

All tutors are fully qualified and CRB checked with documentation on file.