Our Teachers
We pride ourselves in delivering high quality music education. Our teachers are highly qualified and experienced professionals and specialists in their musical discipline. Collectively they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our school and have studies at some of the UK's most prestigious UK based musical establishments. All of our tutors are dedicated to the success of their pupils and many of our students go on to complete ABRSM, MTB, RSL and SQA examinations, compete in local competitions and perform in concerts.
Nicole started her musical training early through participation in West Lothian NYCoS from age 7 as well as receiving piano and trombone tuition in primary school. At the age of 14, Nicole went on to study trombone and voice at the Junior Conservatoire for four years and held principal positions in many youth orchestras and brass bands internationally including NYBBS, European Youth Brass Band and Edinburgh Youth Orchestra. Nicole studied trombone performance at Birmingham Conservatoire with scholarship before transferring to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree in 2009 receiving tuition from some of the UK's most prestigious orchestral musicians. Deciding to pursue a career in Education, Nicole completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE Music) at Strathclyde University before accepting a post as a secondary music teacher within Dundee Council. Nicole currently holds the post of Principal Teacher of Performing and Expressive Arts at Carnoustie High School in Angus. Throughout her study and career she has performed in a variety of different settings and with a wide array of ensembles and regularly freelances as a trombonist in the Dundee and Angus area. Nicole has worked with children of all ages and abilities and has experience of delivering brass workshops, early years music sessions, music workshops for WIZ KIDZ and was a former teacher for NYCoS Dundee Area Choir. She has also delivered early and primary music education workshops to Dundee University BEd and PGDE students. Nicole pursued a life long dream of opening a music school and established Music Lessons Angus School of Music (2018), Music Collective Scotland Dundee (2020) and Perth (2021) which now delivers music lessons and classes to over 350 children a week.
Nicole Tonner (Director)
BMus, PGDE
GTCS Registered
Eoin Tonner
(Musical Director)
JPS BMus (Hons), PGDE
GTCS Registered
Eoin is a multi-award winning musician and teacher working professionally across different disciplines of music. Eoin studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, with a joint principal study of Trumpet and Orchestral Conducting. Since graduation, Eoin has worked professionally as a trumpet player, conductor and musical director throughout the UK and Europe. He was the musical director of the award winning Brass Band Sachsen (2011-2016) and has worked on UK touring productions as well as the multiple shows within the Pitlochry Festival Theatre including Chicago, White Christmas, and High Society. Eoin has keen interested in youth musical theatre and has Musically Directed youth productions for The High School of Dundee as well as the being the Musical Director of Dundee Youth Music Theatre. Eoin is Co-Director of Music Collective Scotland (MCS) with his wife, Nicole. MCS is a music school that delivers classes and lessons for all ages of three studios based in Angus, Dundee and Perth. Eoin also freelances as a composer, orchestrator and arranger for MCS and other organisations and his work is performed throughout Scotland. As well as a busy freelance career, Eoin holds the post of brass instructor at the High School of Dundee and has recently completed a Post Graduate Degree in Education with the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Gill Simpson
Dlp Mus. ALCM
A native of Dundee,Gill started her teaching career in Angus after Edinburgh Napier,having studied with Miles Baster,Roger Foxwell and piano with Margaret Murray McLeod. She taught at Brechin High School and surrounding primaries in the area, before accepting the first full time string post at the High School of Dundee,where she currently teaches, directs Sinfonia, the Chamber Orchestra and various string ensembles. She has been the Musical Director of a variety of educational projects in Europe,Canada and America combining Classical and Scottish music, as well as projects in Juilliard in New York,and writing for the Strad magazine. She plays with Scottish Sinfonia in Edinburgh, and records with BBC Radio Scotland as a string player, keyboard player and vocalist,having made her debut recording at age 13. Her pupils have gained many awards throughout their playing careers as Classical/Scottish violinists,including the coveted Glenfiddich Championship,under 12 to Senior Championships, as well as holding the title for 8 consecutive years in Ensemble Championships in Scotland. Gill is an adjudicator,and is an examiner for Scottish Fiddle Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland,and for the past 11 years has taught early years Violin/Viola,and Chamber music with senior pupils at Edinburgh Young Musicians. She currently has pupils in the NYOS programme,EYM Orchestras and Edinburgh Youth Orchestra. She is a former Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year in Scotland and Runner Up in Great Britain.
Sarah Elgin
BMus (Hons)
DipABRSM
Sarah recently completed her music degree at Edinburgh Napier University where she graduated with first class honours, receiving the university medal for her class. Throughout her time at university Sarah worked closely with Edinburgh Young Musicians, assisting and teaching in pre-school and early years musicianship classes. As part of this she focused her 4th year major research project on the positive impact of a music education on children and young people. More recently, in the summer of 2022 Sarah completed a teaching post in Thailand where she taught music and English to the pupils of Romklao Kanchanaburi School. Sarah studied at the High School of Dundee where she achieved her DipABRSM on flute and her ARSM on alto saxophone in 2018. She currently plays and performs with the Dundee University Big Band and Dundee University Concert Band. Her previous ensemble experience includes performing with groups such as Flutes Unlimited, The Central Band Scotland, and the Edinburgh Napier University Orchesta. Throughout her time at university, Sarah has also participated in a number of projects as a studio musician and has performed in venues around Scotland such as the Usher hall and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
Hannah is a keen and outgoing musician with experience of working within the music industry. Hannah holds a BA (Hons) in Popular Music Performance from the University of the Highlands and Islands. Hannah has experience of working with YMI (Youth Music Initiative) devising and delivering songwriting workshops in schools within Angus. She has also tutored both privately and within council music services, as well as playing in a range of different venues both in cover bands and with original material. More recently she has focused on writing and producing her own material and has released her own produced singles and is currently working towards releasing an EP. With a particular interest in contemporary music, she enjoys writing and composing her own material on guitar and piano. She has been part of the teaching team with MLA since April 2019 offering lessons in guitar and ukulele and leading our ensemble classes.
Hannah Smith
BA (Hons) Popular Music
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Hannah Gibson
BMus (Hons)
M.Mus
Hannah was born in Scotland in 1991. From an early age she had an interest in music and took piano lessons with Judith Wilkes, followed by the organ with Stuart Muir at St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee. In 2009, she joined Royal Birmingham Conservatoire's prestigious organ department on a scholarship. During her time there she won the Birmingham Organists’ Association Leonard Gibbons Fund Competition and was a finalist in the Northern Ireland International Competition in 2011. The same year, she was awarded a place to study at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, studying principally with Pier Damiano Peretti. Hannah graduated from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in June 2013, having studied under Henry Fairs and Daniel Moult for the duration of her undergraduate degree. Subsequently, Hannah was appointed Musical Director of St Barnabas, Worcester, combining this post with teaching at the Queen Elizabeth Humanities College in Bromyard, Herefordshire. In September 2014, she returned to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on a scholarship and completed her Master of Music degree with Distinction. From September 2015-2017, Hannah was appointed the College Organist of Mount St Mary’s College, Sheffield, a post combined with teaching the organ, academic music and assisting in the running of the music department. She is now based in Fife and Dundee and has recently been appointed the Organist and Choirmaster of Newport-on-Tay Parish Church. She is also member of the Education Subcommittee for the Friends of the Caird Hall Organ.
Rosie McDonald
BMus (Hons)
DipABRSM
Rosie McDonald is a Scottish soprano who is a recent graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, studying vocal studies (2019). As a classical singer, Rosie has performed in choirs in events such as Bach’s St Johns Passion (2015), Britten’s Spring Symphony (2017) and Bach’s Magnificat (2018). She was a part of the RCS Chamber Choir for 4 years singing in concerts alongside The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and The Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Rosie has also performed alongside Scottish Opera in the chorus of Prokofiev's Fiery Angel (2017) and has performed in the UK’s staged premier of Jake Heggie’s opera, Dead Man Walking (2019). Her other performances include being one of the Gossips in Britten’s Noye's Fludde (2013), being part of Scottish Opera’s Connect Chorus in The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (2016) and performing the role of Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni (2019). Rosie has completed piano skills and accompaniment modules as part of her degree, accompanying her peers in exam settings. She has also helped to devise and deliver workshops alongside the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for Primary and Secondary students across Glasgow and Edinburgh and she has taught music in Nursery and Primary Schools for the past 4 years. Rosie has achieved her Diploma in Vocal teaching from ABRSM and is a vocal and piano teacher at Music Lessons Angus and Dundee.
Zoe trained in Musical Theatre at New College Lanarkshire, receiving her BA in Performing Arts. Throughout her youth, Zoe was involved with a number of musical productions produced by Dundee Schools Musical Theatre and performed in local venues such has the Gardyne Theatre, Dundee's Rep Theatre and the Whitehall Theatre. Some previous parts she has performed as are: Elle Woods in ‘Legally Blonde’, Sarah in ‘Our House’, Cathy in ‘The Last 5 Years’ and the Narrator in ‘Joseph’. Zoe is a decorated vocalists, having one local singing competitions including winning the opportunity to sing as a soloist with Scottish Pop's Orchestra at Glamis Castle. She has recently played the role 'Flo' in DYMT's production 'Mr Kipps' at the Dundee's Rep Theatre. Zoe also regularly freelances as a dancer and vocalist in the local area. Zoe currently works as a musical theatre and street dance teacher around Dundee, Dunfermline and Perth for local performing arts schools. Zoe leads our baby and toddler classes in Dundee and Arbroath as well the Musical Theatre Classes in Arbroath.
Zoe Heggie
BA Performing Arts
Evan Hill
HNC Performance
Evan is a drummer and percussionist from Arbroath with years of experience in performing in a variety of musical settings. At age 7, Evan began drum kit lessons and developed a keen interest in drumming and music performance. During high school, Evan also received tuition in percussion and began playing with Carnoustie & District Youth Brass Band, Arbroath Instrumental Band, Tayside Symphony Orchestra and the NYBBS. During this time, he enjoyed several successes with CDYBB, winning the Scottish and British Youth Brass Band Championships multiple times from 2010 to 2013. He has also performed with brass bands on television, radio and in the Royal Albert Hall at the BBC Youth Proms. In 2012 Evan completed a HNC in Music at Aberdeen College and went on to perform with various bands and musicians in styles ranging from big band to indie rock and heavy metal. He has enjoyed opportunities to travel through music and has performed across the UK and in Europe, including in Belgium, France, Germany and in at the royal palace in Lithuania with his traditional ceilidh band The Flingstones.
Evan currently plays regularly with Arbroath Instrumental Band, Carnoustie Choir and The Flingstones and is excited to pass on his passion for music to others as a drum kit tutor at MCS.
Ross Montgomery
ArtDipRCM, MSc, MA, JPS BMus (hons)
Ross has a wealth of experience as a musician and educator. He has most recently held teaching posts for Lambeth, Wandsworth and Harrow Councils. He has worked for Southbank Sinfonia, In Harmony Lambeth, Morrison’s Academy, Cardinal Vaughn Memorial School, Islington Arts Council, RCS Short Courses and the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland. He toured with Athenaeum Winds, giving workshops around Scotland with Chamber Music Scotland (formerly Enterprise Music Scotland). Ross graduated in 2019 with an Artist Diploma from the Royal College of Music. He also studied Saxophone and Clarinet at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, graduating in 2016. Ross is passionate about mental health and wellbeing and completed a MSc in Psychology at the University of Glasgow. He has performed across the UK, Europe and Asia as an orchestral, solo and chamber musician. Ross was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Julian Isserlis Scholarship, enabling him to continue his studies in Paris with Pascal Moragues. In 2021, he was awarded an Enterprise Fund award by the Royal Philharmonic Society (in conjunction with the Harriet's Trust) to further studies in psychotherapeutic interventions for musicians wellbeing, an award for entrepreneurial responses to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Andew Neill
BMus (Hons) Student
DipABRSM
Andrew is currently an undergrad student on the BMus (Hons) Vocal studies course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, studying under baritone Julian Tovey. Andrew began his musical education at the Aberdeen City Music School, one of four centres of excellence for music in Scotland. He studied voice under Gillian Jack, and piano with Dr Barbara Strawa-Payne, going on to gain a DipABRSM in Piano performance. Andrew has experience in solo vocal performance, solo piano and piano accompaniment, performing different genres from classical, jazz and musical theatre. He has also been a part of NYCoS, and enjoys ensemble work with other instrumentalists and singers. Andrew has experience in both piano and singing tutoring, and also works with the Glasgow School of Music as a vocal and piano tutor. He has also completed Kodaly modules at a high standard, and enjoys using Kodaly musicianship in his teaching and own practice.
Rosemary Stanford
BA (Hons) Acting and Performing Arts
Rosemary studied acting and musical theatre at Fife College and Edinburgh’s Telford College (2005 -2007) before starting her training at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (2007 - 2010). It was here she explored all the main disciplines of performance and founded her passion for working with the voice.
Rosemary is currently a Part-Time Lecturer and Academic Tutor in Musical Theatre at Perth College UHI specialising in vocal techniques and singing skills (2016 - current). For the past ten years Rosemary has enjoyed working as a freelance tutor with various local performing arts schools teaching all ages in singing and drama such as Horsecross Glee/Voices, PKC Saturday Cool School, Ad-Lib Arts, and Inspire Dance Studio. Rosemary is currently in her third year as a vocal tutor at Pirrie Performing Arts Saturday Stage School.
Since graduating Rosemary has enjoyed working with local bands and artists either recording in the studio or performing in various venues and theatres across Scotland. She has enjoyed most of all working on new musical theatre productions with writer/composer Finn Anderson and regularly performing together as Jazz duo Finn and Rose since 2015. Recently her focus has been expanding her knowledge in vocal coaching
further developing skills through the Estill Vocal Training. She is currently working towards an Estill Figures Proficiency (EFP) certification after having completed Level 1 and 2 with a goal to become an Estill Master
Trainer (EMT). Rosemary is very excited to join the team in Perth to continue to help singers grow in self confidence and build the technical skills required for a happy healthy voice. Rosemary herself is a versatile vocalist and enjoys exploring all styles of music and working with all ages.
Lizzy McDonald
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
Lizzy is a classical singer, pianist and musical theatre performer who has recently graduated with a first
class BA (hons) in Musical Theatre at Solent University. Lizzy started her musical career at The University of Aberdeen where she studied voice and piano, performing at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Youth Chamber Choir for the BBC Proms, and as part of the ensemble in Carmen. She holds ABRSM Grade 8 piano and also acquired her Grade 6 music theory. Lizzy studied musical theatre at Solent University which gave her many experiences of solo and ensemble performances as well as piano accompaniment and music directing. She played the female lead role, Hope Cladwell, in Urinetown as well as many ensemble roles. She was also cast as the Music Director for Cabaret, Flashdance and Ghost, using her music skills to provide vocal lessons, transposition of music and harmonies as well as piano accompaniment. Lizzy also has teaching experience of working as a singing and piano instructor to a variety of ages. She is a passionate performer and hopes to pass on her skills to others.
Megan Cassidy
HNC Musical Theatre
HND Student
ABRSM Grade 8
Megan is a HND Musical Theatre student at the University of the Highlands and Islands. From a young age, Megan has been surrounded by music and has been part of the National Youth Choir of Scotland Angus area choir for the past 10 years and recently received a distinction in her 'Go for Gold' exam. In 2018 Megan gained her ‘Go for Bronze’ teacher training certificate and has taught three ‘Wee Sing’ programmes through the National Youth Choir of Scotland. At the age of 10, Megan began brass lessons and has played in Angus Youth Orchestra, Angus Wind Band as first cornet and Arbroath Instrumental Band. Megan is a multi-instrumentalist and has experience in solo vocal performances, ukulele and guitar as well as brass. In 2020, Megan was awarded the music Dux award from Arbroath High School for achievements in music practical and performance. She is continuing to develop her vocal skills with tutor Rosie, and has recently achieved a distinction in ABRSM grade 8 in Musical Theatre Voice. Megan has also performed in a number of theatre productions including the role of Princess Fiona in Shrek at college and played the lead role of 'Anne' in DYMT's production of 'Kipps' in the Rep Theatre, Dundee. Megan teaches across a variety of different early and junior class disciplines including her specialism - Musical Theatre.
Jacqueline Yu
ARCT (RCM)
Jacqueline is a classically trained pianist and currently a 4th year medical student at the University of Dundee. She obtained the “The Associate of The Royal Conservatory” (ARCT) Performance Diploma in Oct 2017, which is the highest academic standing awarded by The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) in Toronto, Canada and is equivalent to the Diploma of The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (DipABRSM). Jacqueline graduated from the Senior Piano program at the Phil & Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists (The Taylor Academy) in 2019 under the guidance of Dr. Michael Berkovsky. The Taylor Academy is a prestigious, highly sought-after music certificate program with limited spaces offered to advanced young classical musicians after a rigorous audition process. Throughout her piano studies since age 4, Jacqueline has had many performance opportunities both solo and with orchestras, as well as actively engaged in master classes by world renowned pianists. She also participated in and won awards from many local, provincial, national, and international music competitions. Since 2015, she has been tutoring piano students of different ages and different levels both in person and online. Jacqueline is the pianist for the University of Dundee Big Band since Sept 2019 and regularly performs at different public venues, most recently at the Dundee Jazz Festival.
Chloe Watt
BMus (hons)
Student
Chloe is currently a final year Bachelor of Music (Jazz and Contemporary) vocal student at the University of Aberdeen. Chloe is a vocal freelancer and often performs Pop, Rock and Jazz songs as part of an acoustic cover duo called ‘Gin+Tonic’. She has performed in many cities around Scotland including Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow and her hometown of Dundee. In 2018, Chloe performed in Dundee Jazz festival which sparked her interest in Jazz singing. Chloe now specialises in Jazz vocals at University, studying under Marrianne Mcgreggor who previously won the 'best vocalist' award at the Scottish Jazz awards 2021. Throughout her training, she has participated in vocal masterclasses with leading contemporary and jazz vocalists, including the two-time winner of the 'Best Vocalist' at the Scottish Jazz Awards, Seoniad Aitken. During her training, Recently, she undertook module called ‘Digital Music practitioner’, which focuses on the advantages technology can bring to a pedagogical setting. She plans to continue her studies to complete her honours year. Chloe is a multi-instrumentalist and regularly accompanies herself and her pupils on guitar and piano. Chloe is excited to start working with pupils who have a keen interest in developing their vocal technique and confidence in a Pop, Rock and Jazz style. Chloe is also keen to support students who would like to begin building confidence accompanying themselves on piano and guitar. She finds it important that students can have fun learning music they enjoy and learn how musicians in this sector interpret the music and convey their individual musical identity.
Darren Lindsay
BMus (hons)
BSc Audio Engineering
Darren is an enthusiastic educator and musician who has extensive experience composing songs and playing live across the UK with various bands. He graduated from the University of the Highlands and Islands with a BSc in Audio Engineering and a BA in Popular Music, and he is currently pursuing his Honours degree there. The stages of T in the Park and the Wickerman Festival, as well as some of the largest studios in Britain, have all played host to Darren's music during the course of his life. Radio 1 and BBC Introducing have also given his music a great deal of support alongside being previously nominated as one of Scotland's best live acts at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards. Darren has taught guitar in Dundee through one-on-one and group lessons, as well as songwriting and performance classes. With the ability to teach both electric and acoustic guitar, he has everything you need to expand your knowledge and skills as a guitarist, songwriter, and performer.