Kate Halsall CMI Course Manager
Kate studied at The Royal College of Music with Kendall Taylor and Yonty Solomon.
She teaches piano at Putney High School, London and until recently was Head of Music at St Ignatius Primary School, Sunbury, and is researching contemporary keyboard techniques and repertoire at Brunel University.
Kate is an administrator for iF festival’s Music Orbit events, one of London’s most dynamic new music Festivals. She has a strong interest in accompaniment and works regularly with German vocal ensemble, Mosåique, and for the last three years was accompanist for the Kendal Amabile Choirs, BBC Youth Choir of the Year Competition winners, 2006.
Kate is a member of the internationally acclaimed pianocircus, the six pianist ensemble, who toured with the Michael Clark Dance Company and were part of the 2005 Cutting Edge series at The Warehouse. They are currently Associate Ensemble at Brunel University where they host regular workshops with student composers.
In 2007 Kate played for Southbank Sinfonia, performing Ligeti’s Chamber Concerto for 12 instruments (harpsichord/organ) and has previously premiered Brunel student composer commissions with the orchestra. She works with fellow pianocircus pianist Semra Kurutaç, as part of duoDorT, a piano, keyboard and electronics duo, commissioning new repertoire and they will be performing Graham Fitkin’s double piano concerto at Newcastle University in December this year. Recent performances in the UK and Europe have included Sadlers Wells, RNCM, The Barbican Centre, The Sage Gateshead, The Lighthouse, Poole, Theatre Royal, Glasgow and Festivals in Malaga (MARTE), Greece , France, Belgium, Germany (Jugund Kultur Preis 06), York (Late Festival) and most recently at Rome University.
In 2006 she founded the Music and the Mind concert series, at The Institute of Psychiatry in Denmark Hill for which she also acts as promoter.
Beth Lynch Assistant Course Manager
Beth Lynch graduated from the Purcell School as a singer and percussionist in July 2006. Here, Beth was able to explore not only a zclassical vocal grounding, but also the world of Musical Theatre and Jazz. As a member of the junior Drama Department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Youth Music Theatre: UK, Beth has begun to develop her career in both Acting and Singing. Professional engagements have included many roles in successful West End musicals and shows, as well as classical performances such as her role as the voice of the young Vixen in the BBC animation of Janacek’s Opera, Cunning Little Vixen and recently a recital, “Songs from the Musicals” at theWigmore Hall, London. Beth is currently Assistant Director for Jack the Ripper, Oxford Playhouse and will be working in France for Pier Paul Jack, as a cabaret singer at Val d’Isere. Beth is also a GYMBOREE instructor and has worked with Impulse 3 Outreach Projects, an education developmental programme using Music, Drama, Art and Play for new born and young children.