Music Director James Willshire has been heralded for performances of “spectacular musicianship and technical brilliance”.
A pianist and educator, James is on the Keyboard Department faculty at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and is Head of Keyboard at Clifton College
He has appeared as soloist at the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican, St John’s Smith Square, the Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, Glasgow City Halls, Queens Hall Edinburgh, and the Fairfield Halls. His recording work has been praised as ‘outstanding’ by International Record Review.
Accompanist Louise Matley studied music at The City University and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and gained a BSc Honours degree. A music teacher for many years, she was Head of Music at Farmor’s School in Fairford, Gloucestershire. While teaching she earned a Masters degree in Educational Leadership.
An excellent sight reader she has accompanied soloists, bands and choirs from a young age and has been organist at her local church for 18 years having studied the organ whilst at Westonbirt School.
Last year Louise was appointed as an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and examines any instrument up to diploma level all over the country.