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Adrienne Aiken
(
Tech
/
Keys
/
Misc
)
BACM
/
BASW
Adrienne is a writer and producer with
over 20 years experience, gaining respect
fromher peers, including legendary
producer, Tony Visconti. She has written
and produced tracks for hundreds of TV
commercials for major brands, as well as
writing and producing with / for several
artists, some of which have gained her
top 20 hits in the UK National Charts, and
even an appearance onTop Of The Pops.
She is currently working on a pop / dance
studio album and a contemporary rock
band, whilst also continuing to record
and produce other bands as well.
Darren Ashford
(
Drums
)
Higher Diploma
/
BMus
/
BACM
Darren began playing drums at age
11 in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra
(NYJO). This led him to join the Andy Ross
Orchestra of ‘Come Dancing’ fame and
then to a 12-year stint with the Drifters.
During this period Darren was also the
house drummer at the famous Monday
night jam sessions held at the 10 Rooms.
He got the opportunity to play withmany
leading artists in contemporary music
such as: Beverley Knight, Westlife, Will
Young, Will Smith, Ja Rule, Lionel Ritchie
andmany more. He has a strong online
presence with his website, The Drum
Lesson Academy.
Berlin Asong
(
Music Business
)
BAMB
Berlin Asong is Lecturer of Strategic
Management. Berlin has an interest
in competitive capabilities of firms in a
disruptive marketplace. Before embarking
on a career in academia in 2007, Berlin
worked for TNS plc. He conducted
numerous market studies for
organisations, including Diageo,
Home Office, Pfizer, Nokia, BBC,
Gillette, Barclays, BT, Tesco andVodafone.
Before joiningTNS in 2003, Berlin was
a member of "Last Night Crew", an
R&B playback/choreography group.
The group disbanded in 2001 to pursue
solo projects.
Fini Bearman
(
Vocals
)
BACM
/
BMus
London Jazz Singer of theYear nominee
Fini Bearman is a singer and composer,
highly regarded on the UK jazz scene.
Having successfully released her debut
album in 2011, she is preparing for the
release of her highly anticipated second
album‘Porgy & Bess’on F-ire Records this
Autumn. A graduate of the prestigious
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
and Jazz Institute Berlin (BMus and
MMus in performance and composition,
respectively), Fini performs regularly
across the UK and Europe both as a
soloist and with other bands, at
prestigious venues and festivals including
Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express Dean Street,
the 606 Jazz Club, The Royal Festival Hall,
the Barbican, London Jazz Festival and
Berlin Jazz Festival. Radio credits include
BBC London, BBC 2, BBC 3, BBC Kent,
Berlin Jazz FM. Notable performances
include working with Bobby McFerrin,
Jon Hendricks, KennyWheeler and Norma
Winstone, and supporting Avishai Cohen
at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club.
Lucy Bernstein
(
Vocals
)
Higher Diploma
/
BACM
Lucy began performing at a young age
inmusical theatre and was a student of
prominent session vocalist Stevie Lange.
Since achieving her degree in popular
music performance and qualifying as a
teacher, she has been teaching privately
along with setting up and running
school choirs. As well as teaching,
Lucy accompanies herself on the piano,
performing at functions in and around
London. She also devotes much of her
time to songwriting in her studio and is
currently collaborating with producer’s
on a number of projects.
Ross Bicknell
(
Guitar
)
BASW
/
BACM
From 2000 to 2007 Ross was guitarist and
songwriter for the group S Rock Levinson
who were championed by NME and
released on Fierce Panda, Vice andTiscali.
During this period Ross also worked full
time creating soundtracks for trailers and
other film advertisingmaterial at PPC
in Soho. Since then he has followed his
passion to educate within the media
andmusic arenas and he also continues
to write, record, produce and play music
live. This informs his teaching practice as
does his interest and involvement in the
wider arts.
Tutors
David Birnie
(
Guitar
)
Higher Diploma
/
BACM
/
BMus
Dave Birnie is a professional guitarist
based in London. He has recorded for
various TV projects including numerous
Channel 4 documentaries and the movie
'Stoned'. As a member of The Counterfeit
Stones (the world’s most successful
Rolling Stones tribute act), he has
performed in theatres and at corporate
events internationally for clients
such as the BBC, Chelsea Football Club
and even the Royal Family of Monaco.
Angela Blacklaw
(
Singer
/
Songwriter
/
Producer
)
BASW
/
BAMB
Angela is a multi-genre singer/
songwriter/producer. She frequently
collaborates with other writers, artists
and producers, but her own productions
are atmospheric and experimental,
reminiscent of Bjork, Portishead, Imogen
Heap andMassive Attack. She also runs
a bespoke songwriting business, creating
unique songs for films, for corporate
clients or to celebrate special occasions.
She released her first album this year
and is already working on the second.
Angela is a live performer in premier vocal
groupThe Mike King Collective, and has
sung backing vocals for international
artists such as Angelique Kidjo. She has
performed at the Royal Festival Hall,
Barbican, Hippodrome and for the BBC.
In addition to her music career, Angela
also works as a freelance leadership
consultant and coach
.
Xantoné Blacq
(
Vocals
)
Higher Diploma
/
BACM
Vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and
producer Xantoné Blacq has many years
of experience in fusing Jazz-Funk, Soul,
Afro and Latinmusic. Xan is a seasoned
musician having sung and been the
keyboard player with AmyWinehouse
for 3 years, recorded and toured with
violinist Nigel Kennedy’s on his last 3
albums and worked with the likes of
Jessie J, Mark Ronson, Dionne Bromfield,
EarthWind & Fire, Candi Staton and
“PeeWee”Ellis amongst many others.
Xan has played Glastonbury Festival,
Isle ofWight Festival, MTVMovie Awards,
Brit Awards and Lolapalooza to name
a few. His ownmusic has been voted
twice as iTunes staff favourite and his
last album“Revelation”reached no.1
on the UK Soul Chart.
Vic Bynoe
(
Vocals
)
BACM
/
BMus
/
MMus
As well as live and recording sessions,
Vic had a lead role in the stage production
‘BigTime’at the Talk Of London, Drury
Lane in 1999. He sang for the UK with
Niki French in the Eurovision song contest
in Sweden 2000. Vic has toured worldwide
and has performed with numerous artists
including Sir Bob Geldof, Eric Clapton,
Jocelyn Brown, Rick Asley, Alexander
O’Neal, Primal Scream, Jimmy Cliff and
the late great James Brown. He joined
The Drifters in 2001 as a vocal member
and performed worldwide for 7 years.
Vic has completed a DVD on‘HowTo Sing’
working withWOW Stuff Productions
for Britain’s Got Talent.
Donna Canale
(
Vocals
)
Higher Diploma
Renowned jazz, big band and pop
singer Donna Canale has worked in the
UK and toured around the world since
completing the Guildhall School of Music
Jazz course in 1988. She is the voice
behind hit singles“Mucho Mambo (Sway)”
and“Mambo Italiano” for dance act Shaft
and in 2002 she released her own album
“Thinking of You”on Jazz 33 Records.
In addition to songwriting, session
singing and performing, she has taught
vocal technique andmusic theory in
various educational institutions in and
around the London area.
Phil Capone
(
Guitar
)
Higher Diploma
/
BMus
Phil’s industry experience includes
working as session guitarist for Arista
Records during the 80s, recording
withmany artists includingMaggie
Bell, Jason Bonham, Wilko Johnson,
The Mobiles and Beverley Martin.
He has been running his own successful
residency in London’s East End for over
twelve years, where he performs with
his band plus guest vocalists. A respected
author with 12 books currently published
worldwide (including the acclaimed
Exploring Jazz Guitar), Phil is also a
regular contributor to Guitar Techniques
andTotal Guitar magazines.