Meet the team
Philip Aird
Phil studied violin at the RWCMD and Guildhall School of Music & Drama before joining the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. He has also enjoyed a varied freelance career playing with the RPO, Welsh National Opera, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, ENO, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, RSNO and recordings for TV and film – Including Harry Potter. Phil has taught throughout his career from beginners to conservatoire level and is Chief Executive of European String Teachers Association. He is also an Ambassador for RWCM, a senior partner at MPS international Consultancy and Co-Director of PartPlay.
Mandy Britton
Mandy Britton studied violin at the Royal Academy of Music before joining the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and then the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. After two years Mandy moved to Manchester to join the orchestra for Phantom of the Opera.
During her time in Manchester she joined the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and freelanced with Manchester Camerata, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Halle, Opera North, Northern Ballet and Welsh National Opera.
Mandy now lives in Hertfordshire where she enjoys teaching and coaching and plays regularly with the City of London Sinfonia, Royal Ballet Sinfonia and is a member of the Laurel String Quartet.
Thomas Gregory
Thomas Gregory studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in his hometown London. From then he received a fellowship to continue his studies at the University of Michigan, completing both a Masters and Specialist degree in cello performance studying with the eminent Danish Cellist Erling Bløndal Bengtsson. Thomas performs regularly as soloist with an extensive knowledge of the solo repertoire. As a member of the Marmara Piano Trio, he performs regular concerts throughout the year.
Thomas currently conducts The Fortismere Community Symphony Orchestra in north London, an ambitious and delightful orchestra made up of semi-professionals, teachers and students in the local area. In 2009 Thomas published his educational compositions for beginners in a series known as Vamoosh. The simple format has proven popular with wider-opportunity projects that deliver group instrumental lessons all over the country. The series is also proving popular further afield in Europe, Canada, US, Australia and South America where Thomas is often invited to present seminars and workshops for teachers.
Thomas currently teaches cello and coaches ensembles at the Centre for Young Musicians at Morley College.
Charlotte Dodwell
Charlotte won a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music, where she studied with Simon Fischer and Krzysztof Smietana. She won Guildhall’s Lutine solo competition and Ackroyd Concerto Challenge and reached the National semi-finals of BBC Young Musician of the Year. In 1995 she formed the Carrodus Piano Trio which regularly gives recitals in the south-east of England. As a freelance musician she plays with The Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Ulster Orchestra, English Philharmonia and Cameratta of London. Charlotte has a great passion for musical education and helps run a project of violin tuition aiming to inspire young people from underprivileged backgrounds; as well as private lessons she coaches Youth Orchestras and Chamber groups.
Fiona Robertson
Fiona is a professional violinist with 32 years of performing experience in the profession, having studied at the Royal Northern College of Music with Richard Deakin from the Deakin Piano and Horn Trio. She has played with many renowned orchestras in the UK, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Hallé, Royal Liverpoool Philharmonic and toured the concert halls of Germany with Klassische Philharmonie Bonn as Principal 2nd Violin. She has held a position in the Royal Ballet Sinfonia since 2001.
Josephine Handy
Jo Handy started the cello at the comparatively late age of 15.After gaining the ABRSM Silver medal for Grade Eight she entered the Royal Academy of Music to study with Lilly Philips and Douglas Cummings. Jo studied Chamber music under Sidney Griller, Ruth Harte and Wilfred Parry. Jo went on to represent the Royal Academy in several chamber Ensembles across Europe.
After winning the Bach prize, Jo joined the Chamber group ‘Collage’, specializing in contemporary works, many written for them, and the Baroque repertoire. A well as having a thriving private practice, Jo teaches on the New Forest Cello Academy every summer, as well as at Junior Grittleton. Jo plays frequently in the Ruskin Ensemble and the group ‘Trio del Bosco’.
India Blackshaw-Britton
After attending Young Grittleton for five years, India studied viola at the Royal Academy of Music and is currently doing her masters at the Royal Northern College of Music. She has toured with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the Hofesh Schechter Company and worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Manchester Concert Orchestra, as well as playing alongside the Halle and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. India has lots of experience caring for children, and enjoys teaching the violin and outreach work.
Hannah Roberts
Hannah studied viola at the Royal Academy of Music and is in her final year of postgraduate study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Hannah enjoys freelancing with Sinfonia Cymru and the London Symphony Orchestra. As a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, Hannah has participated in side-by-side projects with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Hannah has plenty of experience with working with children and is very passionate about making music accessible for all.