Music Lessons

INSTRUMENTS: Violin, Viola, Piano
LESSON FEE: £24 per 30-minute lesson

Rachael is a highly experienced professional violinist and educator with over 20 years of teaching experience, 12 of which have been at Hymers. She studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, later receiving a full scholarship to complete her Master’s and Doctorate at the University of Michigan, USA.

Rachael is Suzuki-trained and has played with numerous orchestras including Opera North, Northern Ballet, and the National Festival Orchestra. She continues to freelance widely and runs her own string quartet. She has also taught at Yorkshire Young Musicians, Hull University, and Leeds Conservatoire, and regularly coaches on national orchestral courses. Rachael teaches all levels, from beginner to diploma standard, with many of her former students now professional musicians.

INSTRUMENTS: Double Bass, Bass Guitar
LESSON FEE: £25 per 30-minute lesson

Pietro studied at the Conservatorio di Musica in Como, Italy, and has performed with orchestras across Europe and the USA. He is the founder of the award-winning avant-garde jazz ensemble Gatto Marte and has released four solo albums for double bass.

Since moving to the UK, Pietro has taught at the University of York, Durham University, and Hymers College, among others. He continues to freelance with major orchestras including BBC Philharmonic, Opera North, and Royal Northern Sinfonia.

INSTRUMENTS: Clarinet and Saxophone
LESSON FEE: £22.50 per 30 minute lesson

INSTRUMENTS: Piano, Brass (Trumpet, Cornet, Trombone, Tuba, French Horn, Tenor Horn)
LESSON FEE: Piano £22.50 / Brass £20 per 30-minute lesson

Lester, head of instrumental studies at Hymers, began his training at Chetham’s School of Music and has studied with leading musicians including Dame Fanny Waterman. He has performed at major venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Now in his 18th year at Hymers, Lester supports the school’s thriving extracurricular programme and teaches both piano and brass. Outside school, he is an organist, performer, YouTube content creator, and Freddie Mercury tribute artist.

INSTRUMENTS: Percussion (Tuned, Drum Kit)
LESSON FEE: £25 per 30-minute lesson

With a career spanning over 45 years, Bill is an experienced and versatile percussionist whose work ranges from classical orchestras to West End theatre, jazz, and cabaret. A former member of the City of Hull Brass Band and Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra, he studied at Leeds College of Music, becoming the first drummer to complete its postgraduate course in Jazz and Contemporary Music.

Bill’s performance career includes touring with the Andy Prior Big Band, musical theatre shows such as Cats, Miss Saigon, and Chicago, and appearances alongside entertainers like Bruce Forsyth and Lenny Henry. He is currently the drummer for the internationally renowned Empress Orchestra, recording and performing at ballroom events worldwide.

As a teacher, Bill has worked with peripatetic services across Hull and East Yorkshire and delivered a wide range of music education programmes through his business, Fully Functional Music. His former students have gone on to work in professional music, theatre, and education, with some performing internationally and supporting major acts such as Stereophonics.

INSTRUMENTS: Guitar (Electric, Acoustic and Classical), Bass Guitar and Ukelele
LESSON FEES:  £25 per individual 30-minute lesson, £16 per shared 30-minute lesson

After graduating in 2007 and then completing his PGCE, Mr Shepherd joined Hymers College in 2008.

Over the past 20 years he has written, recorded and performed original and cover material at hundreds of events. These include festivals, weddings, musicals and corporate functions all around the country with a variety of groups including Rock/Blues/Pop/Funk and Soul bands as well as a Spanish/Latin/Classical duo.

Mr Shepherd is the director of the school’s Rock/Pop bands, preparing them for performances and competitions, alongside his occasional recording studio and live sound responsibilities.

INSTRUMENTS: Singing and Piano
LESSON FEES: £22.50 per 30-minute lesson

Berenice is a voice coach, pianist, organist, and choral conductor. A graduate of the University of York, she is musical director of the York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir and Hull Male Voice Choir, and director of music at St Mary’s Church, Beverley.

She has taught singing and piano at Hymers since 2012, with a broad portfolio as a soloist and accompanist.

INSTRUMENT: Singing
LESSON FEE: From £22.50 per 30-minute lesson

Camille is a mezzo-soprano, educator, and vocal animateur with over 20 years’ experience working in schools, universities, and national arts organisations including the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, and Opera North.

She teaches students from beginner to diploma level and is known for her holistic, tailored approach. Camille performs internationally across genres and cultures, with recent roles at Glyndebourne, Opera North, and the Royal Opera House.