Performers, composers, conductors and educators across classical, jazz, world and popular music — all teaching together at YMM on Saturdays.
Woodwind Tutor and Ensemble Coach
Ashley Bonfante is a London-based saxophonist, composer and improviser known for his highly individual sound and integral presence in the UK and European jazz scene. He has performed as lead alto with the Royal Academy Jazz Orchestra at the EFG London Jazz Festival, and leads his own projects including "Mostly Ornette", which debuted at the Vortex Jazz Club.
Violin, Viola
Catherine McCardel is a Violinist and Violist, currently at the Royal Academy of Music studying with Jack Liebeck and Jon Thorne with a full scholarship. She has performed with ensembles including St Pauls Sinfonia and Graffiti Classics.
Woodwind, Voice, Choir and Ensemble Leader
Emily Masser is a jazz singer and saxophonist from Wigan, currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. A graduate of Chetham's School of Music, she released her debut album Songs With My Father to critical acclaim, praised for her pin-sharp singing, sparkling scat, and polished vocalese.
Violin and viola tutor
Emma has recently won the Musicians' Company Award 2019 and she has been entitled to become a Yeoman of the Company and to join a Young Artist Program for the duration of five years. Born in Como, Emma regularly performs across Italy and the UK as a soloist and in different ensembles.
Bass Guitar, Double Bass
Giovanni Cresseri is an electric bass and double bass player who started his career as a rock and funk bassist before being seduced by jazz. He completed a postgraduate course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Piano
Harmin studied piano performance at the Sarajevo Music Academy and holds a Master of Music Therapy from the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre in London. He works as a music therapist with children within the autistic spectrum and adults with learning difficulties.
Saxophone tutor and jazz ensemble coach
Saxophonist Jamie O'Donnell has been working as a performer and educator since attending the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1992. He took lessons with Jean Toussaint, Bob Martin and Rick Margitza.
Cello tutor
Jennifer Sturt is an accomplished cellist and dedicated educator with a passion for helping students of all levels and ages unlock the joys of music. As a recipient of the highly competitive fellowship at Southbank Sinfonia (now Sinfonia Smith Square), she has toured the UK and Europe playing chamber music.
Brass tutor
Joel Knee is a highly versatile trombonist, educator and producer with expertise in jazz and Latin music. A first-class graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, he has performed at Glastonbury, Ronnie Scott's, and the EFG London Jazz Festival, and has collaborated with artists including Hermeto Pascoal and the James Taylor Quartet.
YMM Lead and Musical Director
John K Miles is YMM's Musical Director and a composer, saxophonist and educator with a career spanning film and TV scores, orchestral commissions, and education projects for organisations including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera, and CBSO. He has been a visiting professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Trinity Laban.
Acoustic & Electric Guitar
Jon Russell first started learning classical and electric guitars at age 10 and in 1998 was a finalist in Guitarist magazine's Young Guitarist of the Year. He studied jazz at Middlesex University and held the guitar chair in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra from 2007–2010.
Drum Kit
Kari Paavola has been teaching drums professionally for 25 years in London and has lectured about professional music making in top European universities. He is an active performer playing 100–150 concerts annually as a freelance drummer.
Piano tutor and improviser
A sought after player and teacher, Liam has worked with countless musicians at home and abroad. Collaborators include Mark Lockheart, Christine Tobin, Julian Siegel, Chris Batchelor, Lionel Loueke, Eric Harland, Drew Gress, Larry Grenadier and duos with Dave Liebman and Tim Berne.
Voice (Jazz & Soul)
Recognised as one of Australia's finest singers, Lily Dior has shared the stage with outstanding musicians from Australia and around the world, performing at venues including The Opera House Concert Hall and Ronnie Scott's.
Cellist, singer, and workshop leader
Maddie Johnston is a cellist and singer studying at the Royal Academy of Music with Josephine Knight. Her performing highlights include performing at The WCTC Gala Evening at OXO Tower, London, and 'The Chartered Institution for Further Education' Admissions Ceremony at Apothecaries' Hall, London.
Flute, Recorder Tutor and Ensemble Coach
Martina Pura Mihulková is a genre-spanning flautist, composer, and educator, graduate of the Prague Conservatoire and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, the EFG London Jazz Festival, and contributed vocals to Jacob Collier's album Djesse Vol. 4.
Guitar
Michel Ferrari started playing guitar through a love of 70s and 80s music, growing up playing hard rock and heavy metal. In 2016 he moved to London and graduated from The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in 2019, studying many different genres including Funk, Blues and Jazz.
Drum Kit, Percussion
London-based Michèle Drees is an established drummer, Latin percussionist, vocalist, guitarist and composer with more than 30 years on the music scene. She has performed with Marc Almond, Kirsty MacColl, Seal, KD Lang, and Candy Dulfer, among many others.
Contemporary guitar tutor
Morgan is a Guitarist and Ukulele teacher specialising in Jazz and Rock music. He studied at the University of Southampton where he gained a passion for performing.
Guitar tutor
Born in Athens, Nikos Baroutsakis is a classically trained guitarist whose debut album A la Cubana — recorded at Abbey Road Studios and featuring new commissions by Leo Brouwer and Eduardo Martin — was released in 2024. He holds degrees from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and an Artist Diploma from the Royal College of Music.
Recorder
British-Polish recorder player Olivia Petryszak is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she received a 1st Class Honours degree with added Concert Recital Diploma. She has performed at venues including Snape Maltings, the Barbican, and Shakespeare's Globe.
Drum Kit, Percussion
Oren McLoughlin moved to London from Manchester in 2016 to study on the Jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating with 1st Class Honours and a Licentiate diploma. He has performed at The Roundhouse, Southbank Centre, Ronnie Scott's, and recorded at Abbey Road Studios.
Piano
Rea Qunta is a songwriter, pianist, singer and teacher with many years of musical experience across a wide range of fields. She graduated with a BA (Hons) Music from the University of Salford and holds a Post Graduate Certificate of Music from Middlesex University.
Jazz Trumpet, Trombone
Reuben Fowler is a jazz trumpet player, composer, arranger and teacher based in London. He is currently the trumpet player for Paloma Faith and Culture Club, and has performed at the BBC Proms, Hollywood Bowl, Montreux Jazz Festival, and Glastonbury.
Piano, aural skills, and theory tutor
Robert Mitchell is a renowned pianist, composer, teacher and poet with experience spanning Jazz, Classical and many other genres. He has released 15 albums, toured to over 40 countries, and is a Professor of Jazz Piano at both the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music.
Music Technology
Robert Southby is a music producer, composer, sound designer and DJ, specialising in dance music. He graduated Guildhall School of Music with a starred first studying popular music production.
Violin
Rocket Brooks is a versatile violinist fast establishing herself across multiple musical genres. She has recorded with British electronic group Underworld, performed with the Dartington Festival Orchestra and Holland Park Sinfonia, and currently studies with Jack Liebeck on a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music.
Flute, Recorder
Sara Minelli is a flautist and teacher described as 'clearly a formidable exponent of the contemporary flute repertoire' (Music Web International). Her albums New Resonances and Where Song Was Born were released with critical acclaim.
Flute
Hailing from Dublin, Sinéad Walsh recently completed her postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music, where she was awarded a DipRAM and Exam Board Award. She was a Southbank Centre Future Artist for the 2024/25 season and made her solo debut at Wigmore Hall in 2025.
Piano
Eclectic pianist Stefano Marzanni has performed regularly across Europe and received his Master in piano performance from the Royal College of Music, studying under Dina Parakhina. He has performed at Kings Place, the Royal Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall, and the Dubai Opera House.
Guitar and ukulele tutor
Steven Edwards has several decades of experience teaching guitar across primary, secondary and adult education. He has performed with a range of ensembles including Musicworks Big-Band, Nigerian Afro funk band Juwon, and Brazilian dance ensemble Yes Brasil, and has attended workshops with guitarists Frank Gambale, John Scofield, and Allan Holdsworth.
Acoustic & Electric Guitar
Vitor Pereira was born in Porto, Portugal, where he studied classical music and classical guitar. His interest in jazz led him to London in 2004 to study at Middlesex University, where he graduated in Jazz performance.
