Amy Walton

Mike Nichols

Like many bass players Mike took up the bass because someone had to play it and no one else wanted to. Fortunately he loved it. He studied jazz and studio music at Leeds College of Music, followed by the postgraduate course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. After several years of learning his craft in covers bands and on cruise ships Mike established himself as a freelance player in London, working with various artists and shows. Mike has been involved in education throughout his career and has taught and written content for many of the major colleges and exam boards.

Matt Aston

With over a decade of professional experience, Aguilar endorsee Matt Aston has toured the UK and Ireland year on year with various artists performing headline shows at venues such as Shepherds Bush, KOKO, the O2 academies, The Roundhouse, The Ritz in Manchester, Glasgow ABC and many more, as well as having played festivals such as Glastonbury, TiTP, V festival, Belladrum, Wakestock, Victorious festival, Isle of Wight.
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TV/radio credits including: BBC1, BBC2, BBC radio 2, BBC radio London, ITV1, ITV2, Channel 5, MTV, Ont sofa, Sofar sounds and 4Music.

In addition, Matt has a vast recording/song-writing experience, having recorded on Lucy Spraggan’s (Xfactor, Sony/Columbia Records) Silver album ‘Join the Club’ which peaked at number 7 in the official UK chart, as well as many other recordings, writing sessions and videos since in studios such as Wendyhouse, Metropolis, Park Studios, Oktopus Studios, BBC broadcasting house, Sofarsounds, remote sessions.

Arran McSporran

Arran has been a professional electric bass player and teacher since finishing his studies at ACM in 2007. He has toured nationally and internationally, playing in over 30 countries across 3 continents including many large international festivals. Known for his innovative plucking and legato technique on fretless 6-string bass, Arran has contributed educational articles to popular bass website bassplayersunited.com, has been interviewed for the UK’s Bass Guitar Magazine and bassmusicianmagazine.com and has taken lessons with Jeff Berlin.

A very versatile player, Arran has played in every genre from acoustic songwriters to jazz to metal and also in orchestras for musical theatre. Primarily touring in the metal scene, Arran has supported many of the biggest names in death and black metal with the bands Virvum and De Profundis and has also toured supporting Steve Vai with the Nicolas Meier World group.

Arran has played on over 30 releases, with artists that he has worked with live and on record including Virvum, Vipassi, Utopia, De Profundis, Seven7 (with Nicolas Meier), Demonstealer, Mark Lettieri (Snarky Puppy), Justin Stanton (Snarky Puppy), Scarab and many more. He has recorded on tracks with members of Obscura, Fear factory, Ne Obliviscaris, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Leprous, Cynic, Six Feet Under, Shining (Nor), Nile, Necrophagist, Nevermore, Allegaeon, Inferi…

Arran is endorsed by Rotosound Strings and Carillion Basses and is one of the few bass players using a fretless bass in metal. He has won several ‘bassist of the year’ awards including being voted one of the top bassists of 2014 in a Zero Tolerance Magazine poll.

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I’ve got a few choices of pictures because I’m not sure what vibe’s being looked for (square/landscape/portrait). Maybe it’s even worth having a gallery of 3-5 studio/live pictures on each tutor’s web bio page?

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/juwxsbncqnifmkh/AACMw1jMMmS-zBZt-Yv3fMZIa?dl=0

There’s also a good picture of me taken by the ACM photographer a few years ago on file for the wall pictures in the entrances which you could also use for consistency with the website. I don’t think I was put on the wall in Guildford last time it was done – is this something you’re also updating? I have just had some headshots done if that’s what you’re looking for, but I do like the old ACM photo.

Maria Radoje

Maria studied cello at the Royal Academy of Music and The National Centre for Orchestral Studies and has worked as a freelance cellist, teacher and composer and performed with a wide variety of professional ensembles.

Maria went on to study Music Therapy at the University of Surrey, Roehampton and The University of the West of England, graduating with distinction. She has since worked in adult and older adult mental health services, with people living with dementia, and with children and adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities, and has led teams of therapists in this context

Maria is also qualified in Guided Imagery and Music, a therapy that uses the imagination and music to work with unconscious processes, and is on the BAPAM register of approved therapists, using these skills to support performing artists struggling with anxiety and depression.

Mattia Mazzoli

Mattia is a driven independent video game developer who has been dedicatedly working on his current project, Russell’s Range, independently. In his professional experience, he has previously collaborated with Whizz productions as a productions assistant, primarily mentoring and supporting aspiring students in filming their portfolio work. Additionally, he has also worked at the Joldwynds acting course hosted by Clare Davidson and Will Thomas Freeman, in the beautiful Surrey Hills.

Mattia’s passion for digital art and programming has fuelled his creative endeavours and enabled him to execute his game development projects single-handedly. With an unwavering commitment to his craft, Mattia is pushing the boundaries of solo indie development and is keen on leveraging his expertise to aid and inspire other young creative minds to pursue their aspirations with unbridled passion.

Gwen Howard

Gwen’s (she/they) music practice spans disciplines including songwriting, composing, production, scoring, and sound design for film and TV. Her work has been licensed to Saint Rogue (Sony/ATV), placed in major international television spots such as “Married at First Sight” and “The Ultimatum,” and featured by organisations such as the Illuminated River Foundation and IKLECTIK .

She holds a B.M. in Popular Music Performance from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music and an MComp in Electronic Music from the Guildhall School of Music.

Gwen takes a special interest in the intersection of electronic music, gender equity, and disability studies and sees her artistic practice as an extension of her activism.

Ben Scott

Ben Scott has worked at the international level of music performance for over a decade, recording or performing on drums with some of the UK and USA’s most prominent pop artists – notably Ed Sheeran, Tom Walker, Declan J. Donovan, Alex Winston, and Bülow. Ben is currently the musical director and drummer for pop artist St. Lundi, as well as fronting his own boundary-pushing solo show ‘The Ultimatum Experience’ where he performs at corporate events across the globe. Ben also enjoys writing and producing from his studio in South London as part of his own artist project and with an array of up-and-coming artists.

Marwan Elbergamy

King Tut is a Multi Platinum selling producer from London. You’ll find him
between Hip Hop, Indie, Rock and Pop sessions.
His discography includes artists such as Jessie J, Ella Henderson, Professor Green, Maino,
Joel Ortiz, Chip, Nekfeu, Wretch 32 and Dappy to name a few.
He has received many awards for his work including Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond
plaques from the UK, Europe and the US

Bwinji Makatalilo

My name is Bwinji Shamutete.

I was born and raised in Zambia where I completed my GCSEs. I decided I wanted to complete my tertiary education in the Uk. This is due to having a passion for Video games growing up and I was intrigued by what went into their development, especially in the artist side of it.

Sadly there are no games companies in Zambia, so I came to the Uk where I studies Games Art and Design and completed with a BA Honors.

My skill sets include 3D modelling and sculpting, animation, 2D traditional as well as 2D digital art and I specialise in 3D character art.

Catia Carvalho

Catia supports young talent holistically by equipping emerging graduates with the tools to navigate the complexities of personal, professional and civic identities for the future of work. With a multidisciplinary background in the creative industries for a decade, Catia advocates for the (re)design of siloed, incremental and reductionist views of talent; exploring themes around design thinking, holistic learning, interdisciplinarity and metaphysics.

Catia has a deeper understanding of the creative industries through her experience with different perspectives and languages, having worked with international clients in both multinationals and startups, branding and advertising agencies, and design and innovation firms across the B2B2C spectrum. Wishing exploring was still a lucrative path, her specialisms lie within creative strategy, brand development, design thinking, art direction and graphic recording.

Joe Yoshida

As a freelance drummer, Joe has a wealth of experience working for TV and Radio, to live tours and studio sessions. Over the years, he has worked with various artists for most major and independent record labels, including, Katie Melua; Mike Batt; Mika; Jessie J; Robin Thicke; DJ Cassidy; Joel Compass; Bob Blakeley (BBC’s ‘The Voice’); Akala and various others.

Joe has made various TV appearances; for commercials such as the LEXUS CT 200h Commercial, the HEINEKEN “The Date” Commercial; and several TV and Radio sessions on BBC, ITV, Channel 5, Radio 2, MTV, VEVO and others. He performed with Katie Melua for the HRH Coronation Gala 2013 at Buckingham Palace, and in 2014 with Molly Smitten-Downes for the Eurovision Song Contest.

In the studio, Joe has been credited on multiple UK Top 10 and Top 40 singles and albums for artists such as Katie Melua and The Overtones (Warner).

Joe joined UK rock outfit Toseland and as well as scoring their first UK Top 40 album with the group, they have toured internationally with acts such as Deep Purple, Black Stone Cherry, and various others. Joe currently tours internationally with Katie Melua.

Ineza Kerschkamp

Ineza is an experienced Jazz vocalist and songwriter hailing from Rwanda and Belgium. Since graduating from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Ineza has become an in demand vocalist regularly performing in London’s iconic Jazz venues such as Ronnie’s Scott’s Jazz Club, Boulevard Soho, Piano Bar etc. A versatile singer, Ineza is a member of the critically acclaimed Jazz choir ‘The London Vocal Project’, she toured with award winning singer songwriter Tom Odell, and starred as ‘Valaida’ (alternate) in the London immersive experience ‘The Greatest Night of The Jazz Age’.

An accomplished songwriter Ineza has released 2 EP’s, (‘Where are you from’ and ‘Who Am I’) her original music has received praise from Bandcamp, BBC Introducing, Women In Jazz Media, Fresh On The Ned and Jazz in Europe. in 2023 Ineza’s commissioned choral composition ‘Home’ was performed by 1800 children at The Royal Albert Hall.