Junior Music and Access Studies
The Team
All our JMAS students receive tuition from professional and
experienced tutors. Meet some of them here.
Ioan Davies - Cello
I was a founder member of the Fitzwilliam String Quartet
which toured extensively across the globe. The Quartet participated
in many world premieres and worked in close contact with
Shostakovich in the last years of the composer’s life. Since 1986 I
have enjoyed performing the Piano Trio repertoire with The Debussy
Piano Trio (Switzerland) and the Bohemia Piano Trio. I was Head of
Strings at Wells Cathedral School from 1994 – 2003 and, until
August 2008, Director of Music for Pro Corda. In addition to
working for JMAS I coach chamber music at the Yehudi Menuhin School
and teach at Bristol and Oxford Universities. I am also String
Consultant for Marlborough College.
Emanuela Buta - Violin & Chamber Music
I finished the Masters of Arts course at the Royal Academy
of Music studying with Maurice Hasson. In 2001, I came from Romania
to study at Wells Cathedral School followed by an undergraduate
course at the RNCM for which I achieved a first class BMus (Hons)
in 2007. I won the Romanian Solo competition in 1999 and 2000 and
performed solo concertos with Arad Philharmonic Orchestra in
Romania 1993-2009. I toured Europe both as a soloist and chamber
musician, won several national chamber music competitions and took
part in the international chamber music festival as part of Azzura
and Myrios Quartets.
Stephen Wheel - Music Technology
I specialise in composing with technology and head the
Music Technology programme for JMAS. I write and record my own
music and recently released an album of original song-based
material that includes elements of electro-acoustic composition and
orchestral writing. I am passionate about collaborating and
performing with other musicians and an enthusiastic teacher who is
always keen to pass on knowledge and experience to others.
Lara James - Saxophone
I am a saxophonist known for my work as a collaborative
musician and soloist. I have a busy and varied portfolio career
ranging from recital, chamber, orchestral and band performances to
lecturing and perform across a variety of musical genres. As an
orchestral and ensemble performer I have appeared with the BBC
Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Opera
North, Liverpool Philharmonic, Welsh National Opera, the Martel
Ensemble, Cornelius Cardew Ensemble and many others.
My debut CD was selected as Presenter's Choice for Instrumental
and Chamber Music, May 2009 by Classic FM Magazine. As a soloist I
have been broadcast on Classic FM, BBC Radio 3, RTE Lyric FM and
radio stations abroad including NPR, USA.
Nicola Meecham - Piano
I gave my first concerto performance at the age of
thirteen and went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music where I
won the Academy’s highest distinction, the Macfarren Gold Medal.
Since my debut for the Park Lane Group 20th Century Music Series in
London, I have performed throughout Britain and overseas in
Belgium, Holland, Italy and the Czech Republic, and I have
performed in all the major London venues, including Wigmore Hall,
St John’s Smith Square and the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and at the
Exeter and King’s Lynn Festivals.
I have broadcast recitals for BBC Radio 3 and for Dutch Radio
and also appeared on BBC 2. I have premièred works by a number of
composers, including Górecki, HK Gruber and David Horne, and my
recording output includes music by Kurt Schwertsik and Louis
‘Moondog’ Hardin. My latest CD of music by Enescu, Janácek and
Kodály for the SOMM label was released in 2008.