TRUSTEE (CHAIR)

Arts Fundraising and Development Consultant, with a speciality in fundraising and planning for classical music and culture.

TRUSTEE & CO-FOUNDER

Headteacher at Eyke C of E Primary and has worked closely with Maria since Morabe Rural Music’s infancy. Lucie is a passionate advocate for the power of arts within schools and particularly for providing children with rich, quality music making opportunities. She believes these opportunities have the power to change outcomes for all children regardless of their background, root schools in their communities and bring joy to all, enhancing the wellbeing of adults and children alike.

TRUSTEE

Soprano Juliet Fraser specialises in the gnarly edges of contemporary classical music. She is an active commissioner of new repertoire and regularly performs in some of the most prestigious festivals around the world. Alongside her performing, Juliet is founder of the eavesdropping festival in East London and programme director of VOICEBOX, a new programme for contemporary vocal performance. She was recently awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Southampton.

DIRECTOR & FOUNDER

South Africa born violinist; Maria (MMus, PG Cert. String Teaching,) became Artist Development Manager of Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme at Snape Maltings in 2006. Key achievements were founding the Aldeburgh World Orchestra for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad and the Britten-Pears Orchestra for Peter Grimes on Aldeburgh Beach, for the Britten Centenary in 2013.

Maria is a passionate educator and accredited with the British Kodaly Academy, Paul Rolland Society and British Suzuki Association. Maria has taught violin for Sistema Scotland, Sistema Norwich and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama -Junior String Training Programme.

Her love for childhood education and her desire to democratize music education, led her to found Morabe Rural Music in 2023.

UPPER STRINGS TEACHER

Beth attended the Menuhin School, the Purcell School and Colchester Institute and the Royal Academy of Music, studying with Frederick Grinke and David Martin.

As a soloist Beth has appeared at the Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert and Wigmore Halls, and as a recitalist Beth has a duo with pianist Nigel Clayton. Beth established Kingfisher Ensemble in 1991.

Beth has always been in great demand as a teacher, teaching in schools across Suffolk. She has formally mentored advanced students at the Colchester Institute Centre for Music & Performing Arts and has been the first violin coach for the Essex Youth Orchestra.

Many of Beth’s pupils have gone on to study at the UK’s leading Conservatoires, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, the National Children’s’ Orchestra, Aldeburgh Young Musicians, the Suffolk & Essex Youth Orchestras, and her students regularly attend Chamber music course at Pro Corda.

LOWER STRINGS TEACHER

Chris studied cello at Colchester Institute and Trinity College of Music. He has performed on BBC Radio 4 and as an orchestral player his work has taken him on several European concert tours and major recording studios

As an educator, Christopher has directed Suffolk Young Strings, coached for the Ace Foundation and has enjoyed collaborating on educational projects with Aldeburgh Music, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

Many of Christopher’s students have won places and scholarships to undertake formal studies at Conservatoire and University, been accepted onto youth training schemes with the Britten Sinfonia Academy & Aldeburgh Young Musicians and been members of Suffolk Youth Music.

ACCOMPANIST & PIANO TEACHER

Daniel Law completed his undergraduate studies in piano, accompaniment, and composition at Colchester Institute , before going on to earn a MMus at the Royal College of Music.

Daniel was also resident accompanist at the Institute for 11 years, working with visiting artists, ensembles & educators from leading music conservatoires & London's West-End productions.

Since moving to Suffolk, he has worked with Aldeburgh Young Musicians and with choral societies & musical theatre companies throughout Suffolk.

Alongside work as an active professional musician Daniel has a thriving teaching practice, having taught at various schools across Suffolk.

VOCAL & MUSICIANSIHP TEACHER

Suffolk-born Stephanie studied cello and piano at Trinity College of Music and has performed live across the UK, as a session musician, and broadcast on Radio 1 and Radio 3.

Stephanie is a community artist for Britten Pears Arts, providing workshops and music making sessions for all ages and backgrounds. She is also the Musical Director of Notoriety Community Choir in Ipswich and sings with Aldeburgh Voices.

DJEMBE DRUMMING TEAM

Wooden Roots was started in the USA in 2003 by husband-and-wife Marcus and Gemma Brown. Now back in the UK, they are continuing their journey and passion for traditional West African drums and percussion instruments, especially the djembe.

They source the world’s best djembe shells, instruments and materials (generally from West Africa). Making, selling and teaching these drums is their passion.

Since 2018, this is delivered from their shop and studio at Bentwaters Parks, Rendlesham.

Wooden Roots have been collaborating with Eyke CofE Primary since 2022.

EARLY YEARS MUSICIAN

Charly is a music leader, clarinet and saxophonist and singer in community setting who also Charly writes and performs with the experimental progressive rock brass collective Perhaps Contraption

Charly holds a BMus Hons, PGCert from Centre of Research in Early Childhood (CREC) and has completed Spitalfields Music’s Music Leader scheme.

She works for Britten-Pears Arts community projects including Participate, Group A and Mini Music Makers, and has worked on the groundbreaking opera for babies project, Musical Rumpus for Spitalfields Music.

Her self-composed show Beekabop has featured in the Aldeburgh Festival. Charly’s principles of child-led musical play lies at the heart of her early years music approach.

MUSIC THERAPIST

Sophia graduated in Popular Music at the University of Highlands and Islands in 2019 and has a Master’s in Music Therapy from Queen Margaret University.

Sophia has taught music and worked with individuals across various settings and age ranges, children and adults in school, care, and summer camps.

Sophia joined Suffolk Music Therapy Services and Morabe Rural Music in 2023, supporting SEN pupils and pupils with additional needs; allowing all young children to access a meaningful connection to music.