Staff List

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Music Director

Rachel Erdos BA (Oxford), PG dip (Trinity), MA (Oxford), BKA, MSTAT [Profile]

Deputy Director

Maryan Balkwill ARCM, GRSM [Profile]

Colourstrings Orchestra Conductor

Blai Soler BA (RCM, hons), PG dip (RCM), MA Comp (KCL)

Choir

Holger Aston MA (Oxon), MA (Liszt Academy), ARCM, LRAM [Profile]
Angela Fogg MA Dip ABRSM LRSM CKME PGDip [Profile]
Myrto Loulaki 
Elaine Rodgers BMus (Hons) PGCE ALCM [Profile]

Violin

Iva Butler MA Prague, PGRNCM [Profile]
Fiona Chesterman  [Profile]
Angela Dally  [Profile]
Rachel Erdos BA (Oxford), PG dip (Trinity), MA (Oxford), BKA, MSTAT [Profile]
Sanae Honda BMus PGC [Profile]
Diana Mathews LRAM [Profile]
Tanya Perez Jovetic BMus with Honours [Profile]
Blai Soler BA (RCM, hons), PG dip (RCM), MA Comp (KCL)
Gabriela Zukowicz  [Profile]

Viola

Iva Butler MA Prague, PGRNCM [Profile]
Fiona Chesterman  [Profile]
Angela Dally  [Profile]
Diana Mathews LRAM [Profile]

Cello

Maryan Balkwill ARCM, GRSM [Profile]
Miguel Calvo Mmus (Guildhall), Pg Dip (Trinity)
Mark Dobson AGSM MSTAT
Daniel Figols  [Profile]
Rowena Taylor BMus LRAM [Profile]
Annie Walton 

Theory

Daniel Figols  [Profile]

Piano

Hanna  Kuosmanen 
Maria  Levandovskaya  [Profile]

Maria Levandovskaya is a London-based concert pianist and collaborative artist who received her formal education at a conservatory in Russia (earning a BA with qualifications as a concert pianist and piano teacher) and in London. After moving to London, Maria received a scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Martin Roscoe and Caroline Palmer.
Maria also holds a degree from the Art History Department at the European University at St. Petersburg. Her dual expertise and unique background make her highly sought after for lecture-recitals and interdisciplinary performances across both the UK and Russia.
Since 2013, Maria has been an integral part of the charity Opera Prelude as an accompanist, delivering lecture-recitals, and working as the Director of Russian Programming.
As a collaborative pianist, Maria regularly works with singers and instrumentalists while also performing solo recitals. Beyond the stage, she is a dedicated coach and accompanist, mentoring students for auditions, recordings, and exams at London's leading musical institutions. Additionally, she worked as the official accompanist for the Kingston Performing Arts Festival in 2024 and 2025.
Maria has been teaching piano for 25 years, beginning at a music school in St. Petersburg and continuing in London as a private teacher based in her New Malden studio. She has led "Music for Babies" concerts in South-West London, and her students regularly pass ARSM Diploma and ABRSM grade exams with distinction. Her students have also won prizes at various festivals and competitions and secured music scholarships at top London schools.

Double Bass

Liz Bradley 

Flute

Pedro Lopez BMus, MMus, ArtDip [Profile]
Liz Meyer  [Profile]

Guitar

Erika Clevejarn 
George Tarlton  [Profile]

KG

Christine  Hicks  [Profile]

KG Teacher

Kath Cleeve  Colourstrings Associate Teacher (Music Kindergarten) ;Certificate of Music Education (Trinity College of Music) ;Counselling Children & Adolescents Diploma (Level 4) [Profile]
Ali Rycroft BA Oxon MA UEL

Musicianship

Holger Aston MA (Oxon), MA (Liszt Academy), ARCM, LRAM [Profile]
Angela Edwards CKME, CSAK, Cert (Mus) Ed
Angela Fogg MA Dip ABRSM LRSM CKME PGDip [Profile]

Administration

Kath Cleeve  Colourstrings Associate Teacher (Music Kindergarten) ;Certificate of Music Education (Trinity College of Music) ;Counselling Children & Adolescents Diploma (Level 4) [Profile]

Assistant

Tanya Perez Jovetic BMus with Honours [Profile]

KG assistant

Christine  Hicks  [Profile]
Myrto Loulaki 
Marianna Ordog  [Profile]
Beccy Sharp 

Visiting Teachers

Mr Pal Banda (Cello) 
Miss Sarah Bennington (Flute) BMUS Hons (1st class)
Mrs Marianne Dodge (Flute/Theory) Ed Hons (Cantab), Ct ABRSM
Ms Gerri Drought (Violin) 
Ms Ruth Herbert (Musicianship) 
Miss Lesley Larkum (Violin) Bmus, Mmus, ASCM, PG RCM (cond.)
Ms Bea Leadbetter (Violin/Viola) 
Ms Muriel Levin (Piano) BMus ARCM, Founder, Holiday Music Piano/Chamber Music Courses.
Dr Shay Loya (Piano) BA Hons (TAU), MA Hons (TAU), PhD (KCL)
Mrs Rebekka Poffley (KG) 
Mr Christopher Poffley (Cello/Piano) Bmus ARCM
Ms Gil Sharp (Violin) GTCL, LTCL (Mus Ed), LTCL, ATCL
Ms Caroline Tait (Violin) 
Prof David Vinden (Musicianship/Choir) LRAM, GRSM, Bmus Hons (London), Adv Cert Kodály Inst, ARAM
Miss Maiko Vinden (Assistant) 
Ms Ali Warner (KG Teacher) BA Hons CombSocSci, BKA (Inter Mus), CKME