Meet Our Team -

Our Staff Team

Bethany Dullea
Founder and Director

Bethany has been playing piano for as long as she can remember, starting at just five years old. That early love of music led her to a scholarship place at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she found her passion for music education and for making a difference in the industry.

Beth set up Aura Music Academy because she wanted to create a place where brilliant, qualified tutors could teach lessons that students genuinely look forward to, in purpose-built studios. In an unregulated industry, Beth built Aura around a simple promise – real quality tuition you can trust, with opportunities to expand your musical horizons through performance opportunities, exams, group sessions and ensembles.

Beth lives in London with her husband, Chris, who is the Bandmaster of the Scots Guards Band, and her two young boys, Lochlan and Ieuan.

The Admin Team

At Aura, we understand that students and their families lead very busy lives, which is why we have a friendly, efficient admin team who are always happy to help. Our admin team are the ones keeping everything ticking along smoothly for students, parents, and tutors alike. Seren is available Monday to Friday, Collette provides support on Saturdays, and Aavni is on hand on Sundays. However you get in touch, they’ll be happy to help.

Seren Seo

Collette Grffiths

Aavni Talwalkar

The Tutors

Aura Music Academy connects students with a network of vibrant and dedicated independent tutors, all passionate about delivering high-quality music tuition in a supportive and engaging environment. As an agency, Aura carefully selects the tutors it introduces to families – every tutor holds a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, undertakes regular training, and holds a valid DBS check. Tutors operate independently, teaching their own students within Aura’s professional, purpose-built studios.

Piano

Violin

Woodwind

Guitar

Drum

Singing

Piano Tutors

Denica Georgieva

Piano

View Denica's bio

Denica started playing piano at the age of 5 and graduated from the National School of Arts and the Music Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she studied piano pedagogy and completed her
MA in Piano Performance, with Distinction. Later, she passed her ABRSM Teaching Diploma, also with Distinction. During this time, she performed in many concerts with orchestras and made numerous recordings for the Bulgarian National Radio.

In 2009, Denica moved to the UAE, where she was teaching piano and music theory to children and adults, preparing them for ABRSM and Trinity exams as well as conducting music workshops and performing. Her students took part in many local concerts, festivals, and competitions. Denica loves working with children and in addition to her piano tutoring, in 2010 she completed her Kindermusik training, which allowed her to lead group music lessons for newborns to 7-year-olds. In 2014, she became Head of Music at the school where she worked, and ABRSM Coordinator for the region.

In 2016, Denica relocated to the UK, where she continues to teach piano privately. As a teacher, Denica believes in the individual approach for fun and engaging lessons.

Denica teaches at the Altrincham studios on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Abigail Wade-Gledhill

Piano

View Abi's bio

Abi has been playing music since the age of 6 and has over 5 years experience teaching music tuition and 15 years in the music industry. She has toured Europe and the U.K playing in world renown venues
such as Barbican, The South Bank Centre and London Coliseum. She studied music and visual art at Brighton University. She has a wealth of musical knowledge and a passion to share this with others,
guiding and encouraging her students with empathy and understanding.

“ I always want to empower my students, whether they are 5 or 95. It’s about finding out what inspires them and how they process information and using this to create a unique learning journey with lots of creativity and fun along the way!’

Abi teaches at the Wilmslow studios on Saturdays.

Tracy Chan

Piano

View Tracey's bio

Tracy is a dedicated music educator with over 25 years of experience teaching piano, singing, music theory and harp. Graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a master degree in Music and a bachelor degree double majoring in Music and Comparative Literature, Tracy founded her own music studios L’Atelier du Piano Rouge and has been the Music Director for 22 years in Hong Kong before residing in Manchester.

Tracy’s cheerful attitude has made a positive impact on her students of all ages. She knows the key to motivate her students especially in times of difficulty. Her continuous alertness to new teaching tools as well as her YouTube channel has inspired her students with a fresh feeling in each instrumental lesson. With a light-hearted and jolly teaching style, Tracy believes a structured lesson plan implemented by interesting pedagogical methods is the key to stimulate students reaching
their full potential. Her students have a track record of achieving high marks in the ABRSM, Trinity College of Music and London College of Music exams.

Tracy teaches at the Altrincham studios on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Misha Tyshkul

Piano

View Misha's bio

Misha completed his undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, studying classical piano under Paul Janes – graduating with First Class Honours. Misha first began learning piano from YouTube videos and soon after began formal piano lessons and grade exams. At the age of 16 Misha was accepted into the RNCM junior school which helped him develop further as a young musician. At the Junior RNCM Misha was the recipient of the ‘Fergal O’Mahony prize’ with a performance opportunity at the Fergal O’Mahony Foundation concert in Covent Garden, London.
At the RNCM graduate school Misha was a keen classical pianist playing solo repertoire, chamber music and accompaniment. He was fortunate to participate in Masterclasses with internationally renowned pianists such as Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Stephen Hough and Steven Osbourne. During Misha’s time studying at the RNCM, he was the recipient of the ‘Shirley Cattarall Award for Piano’. Misha also has an affinity for Jazz and Improvisation and has performed with the RNCM Big Band on numerous occasions with celebrated guests such as Eric Marienthal.
Through his interest in jazz style repertoire Misha was also fortunate to perform the works of Errollyn Wallen at the Wigmore Hall, London. As a teacher, Misha is very versatile and keen to find the right approach for every individual student. Misha aims to create a learning environment that is safe, fun and engaging, helping students develop and achieve their goals!
Misha teaches at the Altrincham studios on Wednesdays.

Ramiz Duad

Piano

View Ramiz's bio

Ramiz has lots of experience teaching all age groups, supporting students to enjoy playing music at any level. With a background in blues/jazz, Ramiz also encourages learning to improvise and compose as well as music-reading skills.
Ramiz teaches at the Altrincham studios on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Sophie Ahmed

Piano

View Sophie's bio

Sophie Ahmed is a Pianist, Keyboardist and Singer/Songwriter from Stockport. She graduated from The University of Chester in 2014 with a BA (Hons) in Popular Music Performance and since then has gained valuable experience as a music teacher and performer.
She has taught mainly classical and popular music styles and has experience teaching in one-to-one settings as well as early years and group music classes. She regularly gigs in a Soul/Motown function band across the UK and writes her own material which she performs across Manchester.
Sophie teaches on Mondays at the Altrincham studios and Tuesdays and Thursdays at Wilmslow.

Michael Cutting

Piano

View Michael's bio

Michael is a Manchester-based composer, performer
and producer. Specialising in composition, he graduated from the RNCM with BMus(Hons) and MMus degrees before completing a PhD at Kings College London supervised by George Benjamin. He has been commissioned by groups such as London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Ensemble Intercontemporain and Exaudi, but more recently produces and performs as part of Hyperdawn, an experimental duo regularly touring the UK and Europe.
Aside from working as an active musician, Michael is passionate about supporting the next generation of musicians in Manchester and has over 10 years experience teaching piano, composition, theory and violin. He currently has around 25 private pupils, with recent alumni going on to specialise in music at Oxford, Royal Holloway and Southampton University.
Michael teaches at the Altrincham studios on Saturdays.

Dorsa Milani

Piano

View Dorsa's bio

Dorsa is a classical pianist and an experienced piano and music theory teacher. She has over nine years of teaching experience and more than two decades of experience performing on the piano.

Throughout her career, Dorsa has worked with various music academies across different countries, teaching students of all ages and skill levels. She offers private and group lessons, as well as workshops, adapting her teaching methods to suit the needs of each student.

Dorsa designs personalized learning programs based on the student’s age, goals, interests, and musical background, using diverse methods and materials to make every lesson engaging and effective.

She specializes in preparing students for ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) exams, both in music theory and piano performance. With her structured and creative approach, Dorsa helps her students develop technical skills, musical expression, and a deep understanding of theory, guiding them to achieve high scores and confidence in these internationally recognized certifications.

Committed to delivering flexible, high-quality instruction tailored to each student’s goals and learning style, Dorsa creates a positive and motivating learning environment. Alongside her musical career, she holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, reflecting her strong academic background and disciplined approach to teaching.

Dorsa teaches at the Altrincham studios on Tuesdays and Fridays and at the Wilmslow studios on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Tezcan Mert-Cakal

Piano

View Tez's bio

Tezcan is a piano, music theory, and ear training teacher and accompanist, and has been teaching since 1990s. She has a BA in Music and Piano Pedagogy from Plovdiv Music, Dance, and Arts Academy in Bulgaria and a qualified teacher status (QTS) from the General Teaching Council for England.
She has been teaching students of all ages privately and in music schools in Turkey, Cyprus, and the UK
as well as leading children’s choirs. Tezcan has been successfully preparing and entering students for the ABRSM graded exams. Her teaching style is to tailor the lessons according to the students’ pace and needs, but her goal is to develop overall musicianship skills and love for music in addition to the technical abilities.
Tezcan is a member of the European Piano Teachers’ Association. She also has a PhD in Human Geography.
Tezcan teaches at the Altrincham studios on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Po-Lin Hou

Piano

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Po-Lin is a dedicated piano and music theory tutor with over five years of teaching experience. She has worked with students of all ages and abilities, including those with Special Educational Needs, tailoring lessons to meet individual goals, whether preparing for exams or learning for enjoyment.
She graduated from Leeds Conservatoire with a first class honours under Jakob Fichert. She gained extensive performance experience through masterclasses with Eva Doroszkowska, the New Music Collective orchestra and as an accompanist, and was awarded the Wolfson Grant for her achievements.
To further her expertise in education, Po-Lin completed her PGCE with QTS in Secondary Music at Manchester Metropolitan University and RNCM. Here, she refined her skills in teaching mixed-ability groups, curriculum development, and inclusive strategies, skills she now brings to her teaching practices to foster a positive and creative learning environment.
Po teaches at the Altrincham studios on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Paul Shaw

Piano

View Paul's bio

Paul graduated with a First – Class Honours Degree in Band Musicianship from the University
Of Salford, where he was also awarded the ‘Elgar Howarth Award for Composition’.
Paul initially studied Piano from the age of 7, however as he reached his mid-teens he
developed an interest in Keyboards / Synthesisers, and eventually joined his first Band.
At the age of 30 Paul went back to studying Piano, eventually gaining a distinction at Grade 8.
Following this, Paul studied ‘Band Musicianship’ at The University of Salford under Robin Dewhurst and Paul – Mitchell Davidson, gaining a 1 st Class Honours Degree.
In 2000 Paul began his Teaching journey with The Manchester College; it is here that Paul developed a passion for helping student’s fulfil their potential in a wide range of subjects, including Composition, Performance, Piano / Keyboard Skills, Arranging, Technology
(Cubase) and Sibelius. During his time teaching, Paul also completed a PGCAP, (Post
Graduate Certificate of Academic Practice and became a member of the Higher Education Authority).
In 2005 Paul also co-wrote a Number 1 Dance hit, which was also Record of the week on
Radio 1.
Paul left the Manchester College in 2014, after which he immediately began teaching Piano at Riffs Music Academy, where he still teaches 3 days a week. Paul has worked with
countless students’, many of whom have been having lessons regularly for 10 yrs. Paul has
successfully helped Students’ to achieve exceptional results in graded exams at all levels, as
well as in GCSE Music Performance. Paul has also helped adult Students’ to re-kindle their love of playing Piano years after their first experiences. Paul’s enthusiasm for music and teaching has never waned. Paul continues to perform, over the years he has worked in Denmark and Germany, in 2025 he toured large theatres in the UK with Steve Steinman Productions (Love Hurts Tour). He also occasionally works with his godson, Jake Fletcher, who is Paul Weller’s Bass Player, as
well as this; Jake also performs with ‘Blossoms’, Jamie Webster, Miles Kane and Chrissie Hynde.
Paul teaches at the Wilmslow studios on Thursdays and Fridays.

Yvonne Ho

Piano

View Yvonne's bio

My name is Yvonne Ho, and I am a dedicated piano
teacher with over 12 years of experience. Originally
from Hong Kong, I moved to Manchester, UK, in 2022
and have continued my passion for teaching piano
since settling here.
Before relocating, I ran my own education centre in
Hong Kong, where I specialized in piano instruction
for children of various ages and skill levels. Teaching
piano is not just my profession – it is my lifelong
passion. I take great pride in helping students develop
both their technical abilities and their appreciation for
music.
I believe that music education plays a powerful role in building confidence, discipline, and creativity. In
addition to teaching, I also enjoy singing and sharing music in everyday life. I strive to create a warm,
encouraging learning environment where students feel inspired and supported.
Yvonne teaches at the Altrincham studios on Tuesdays.

Sidney Ng

Piano

View Sidney's bio

Sidney Ng is a Hong Kong born; UK trained musician. He is a dedicated music educator and performing musician with over nine years of experience teaching piano. Holding an ARSM Diploma in Piano Performance, with training up to advanced LRSM level and Grade 8 Music Theory, he creates tailored one-to-one and group lessons that build fluency, technique, tonality, musicality and confidence for learners of all ages. He supports students from their first notes through to more advanced repertoire, adapting each lesson to their individual goals, learning style and pace. Sidney also prepares learners for ABRSM examinations and performances, with a focus on developing secure technique, expressive playing, sight-reading skills and a lasting enjoyment of music.

A versatile multi-instrumentalist, Sidney is an advanced pianist and drummer, as well as a beginner violinist. He performs regularly with live ensembles, bringing strong rhythmic awareness, sight-reading ability and a collaborative approach to rehearsals and performance. His experience working across different musical settings enables him to make lessons engaging, practical and well-rounded.
After reaching LRSM level, Sidney has spent the past four years studying with award- winning RNCM graduate musician Phil Best and is still committed to keep improving. This continued mentorship has deepened his musical understanding and informs his thoughtful, encouraging approach to teaching.
Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, Sidney welcomes students from a range of backgrounds and is committed to helping each learner develop both skill and confidence.

Aside from music, Sidney also holds Diploma in Marketing and Degree in Media and Cultural Studies.
Sidney teaches at the Altrincham studios on Fridays.

Madeliene Wickham-Brown

Piano

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Madeleine began piano studies at the age of three, growing up in a musical household with a pianist and an opera singer. Alongside her lifelong piano training, she has also studied voice and is currently in her third year at the Royal Northern College of Music, specialising in Classical Voice. Passionate about sharing her love of music, Madeleine keeps her piano practice active through teaching and pedagogy, guiding budding young pianists as they develop
their skills and confidence.

Madeliene teaches at the Altrincham studios on Sundays.

Sophia Hurst

Piano

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Sophia is a Manchester-based pianist, composer, and educator. Having started piano lessons at the age of eight and completing all ABRSM examinations, she went on to study piano under the tutelage of Leanne Cody during her music degree at the University of Manchester, graduating with first-class honours. She was then awarded a distinction upon completing her master’s degree in composition at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Sophia has been teaching throughout her studies and has accumulated a wide range of experience, working across different age groups and abilities. Her flexible and enthusiastic teaching style aids her students’ success and nurtures a love for music. She ensures high-quality, tailored tuition for her pupils, resulting in strong technical and musical command.

Sophia teaches at the Wilmslow studios on Mondays.

Belle Wong

Piano

View Belle's bio

Belle Wong is currently studying piano at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) with SallyAnn Macleod. She was awarded the LTCL Diploma in Piano Performance and is passionate about sharing her love of music with students of all ages.

As an active performer, Belle regularly performs as a soloist, chamber musician and piano duo partner. She has performed in venues including the RNCM Concert Hall, St Ann’s Church and St Alkmund’s Church in Shrewsbury. In addition to her performance experience, she has further developed her musicianship through masterclasses with internationally
renowned pianists Philippe Cassard and Joanna MacGregor, including at the Chetham’s International Piano Summer School.

Belle has taught piano for over five years, working with students of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to advanced students preparing for Grade 8 examinations. She finds teaching incredibly rewarding and believes every student learns differently, tailoring each lesson to suit the individual’s goals, interests and learning style. Whether students are learning for enjoyment or working towards examinations, Belle strives to create a supportive, engaging and inspiring environment where they can develop confidence, strong musical foundations and a lifelong love of music.

Belle teaches at the Wilmslow studios on Saturdays.

Julia Leszczyńska

Piano

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Julia Leszczyńska is a Polish-born pianist and piano teacher based in England. She graduated with First Class Honours from the Royal Northern College of Music, where she studied with the acclaimed pianist BingBing Li. During her studies, she was awarded the Clifford Hartley Prize for achieving the highest mark in Advanced Pedagogy, recognising her outstanding teaching skills.
She began piano at age six with Elisabeth Bulbena-Vela at the Beethoven Music School, who described her as “an excellent musician, sensitive, intelligent, and sophisticated.” At thirteen, Julia entered Junior Guildhall, studying with Michael Schreider and later Frances Angell. Julia has also benefited from masterclasses with internationally renowned pianists including Stephen Hough, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Pascal Nemirovski.
Alongside teaching, Julia maintains an active performing career. Highlights include winning the Blackheath Music Festival in 2021, reaching the Grand Final of the International LOML Competition in 2024, performing Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G with the London City Philharmonic in 2025, and giving the premiere of Xavier Williams’ Keyboard Concerto with the Bedfordshire Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2026. Alongside her solo career, she is an experienced chamber musician and accompanist, recently collaborating with Contigo Saxophone Duo at Manchester Cathedral, singers at the Lied Academy and accompanying for RNCM final recitals.
With over five years of teaching experience, Julia has taught students from complete beginners to advanced pianists. She is also the founder of The Music She Found, an initiative celebrating the transformative power of music through performance and education. Her outreach work with organisations including Songbirds, String of Heart and Jessie’s Fund has strengthened her belief that music should be accessible to everyone.
Julia’s lessons are engaging, supportive and tailored to each individual, helping students develop strong technique, musical confidence and a lifelong love of music!
Julia teaches at the Altrincham studios on Fridays and Sundays.

Kristin Lien

Piano

View Kristin's bio

Kristin Lien was born in Taiwan in 1978. She undertook her initial studies at the Kuang-Jen Music School as a pupil of Anita Cheung and won numerous prizes and awards for both piano and cello. In 1995 she was awarded a Music scholarship to Durham School and she later became Durham Young Musician after a recital in Green Palace, Durham.

In 1997, she was awarded an entrance scholarship to the Royal Northern College of Music, where she learnt with Carole Presland. During this time, she performed in numerous concerts as both soloist and accompanist, also appearing in Masterclasses with Anne Queffelec, Ronan O’Hora, Martin Roscoe and Renna Kellaway. Kristin was awarded the Gordon Green memorial award and the “Anne Cantelo” Scholarship in 2001.

Between 2002 and 2003, Kristin achieved her Postgraduate Diploma and the Professional Performance Diploma at the RNCM. Since then, she has continued with her professional development training by completing her PGCE and was awarded Certificate of Teaching (CTABRSM) by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in 2012.

As a highly committed teacher, she is now a member of staff at Junior RNCM, Yorkshire Young Musicians and the Bolton School.

Kristin teaches at the Altrincham studios on Thursdays.

Vladimir Vojevodin

Piano

View Vladimir's bio

Vladimir Vojevodin is an experienced piano teacher and performer, and a laureate of several international piano competitions, with over 18 years of teaching experience. He began his musical education at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art in Lithuania before continuing his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Vladimir has performed across the UK and Europe and has twice received recognition from the President of Lithuania for representing his country internationally.

Throughout his career, Vladimir has helped hundreds of children and adults, from complete beginners to advanced pianists, prepare for ABRSM examinations, music festivals, school performances, GCSE and A-Level Music, and achieve their personal musical goals. His engaging lessons are tailored to each student’s age, ability, interests and learning style, combining strong technical foundations with creativity and a modern approach. Experienced in supporting students with ADHD, ASD and dyslexia, Vladimir helps every student build confidence, enjoy making music and reach their full potential.

Vladimir teaches at the Altrincham studios on Saturdays.

Violin Tutors

Caterina Bordoni

Violin

View Caterina's bio

Caterina was born in Bologna (Italy). She started her music journey at the age of 5 under the guidance of Isabella Ripa and the Suzuki method. She is currently freelancing in the Manchester area after finishing her PGDip course at Royal Northern College of Music with the final mark of 94, under the guidance of Pavel Fisher and Callum Smart.

In 2022 she graduated with First class for her Master degree in the same institution.

She graduated with Honors for her Bachelor degree at the Institutes of Higher Education “G.Lettimi” placed in Rimini (Italy) with Maurizio Sciarretta (Zakar Bron assistant). She also studied in Santa Cecilia academy in Rome with M° Marco Fiorentini from 2017 to 2020, and at the Maderna Conservatory Academy of Cesena with Maestro Pagliani Stefano (Scala Orchestra concertmaster).

She performed and worked with conductors including: Mark Elder, Mark Heron, Riccardo Muti, Donato Renzetti, Domingo Hindoyan, Omer Meir Wellber, Maxime Pascal, Maria Filippo Bressan, Manlio Benzi, Ezio Bosso, Rory Macdonald, Gabor Tackas-Nagy.

She had the opportunity to play with many Orchestras and Ensembles including:

BBC philarmonic, The Hallè, Manchester camerata, Neue Philarmonie Munchen, The New Sinfonia, The Opera North, The Manchester Film Orchestra, the Paneuropean Youth Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra B. Maderna, Cherubini orchestra, Orchestra giovanile Italiana (OGI).

Over the course of her career she had the chance to meet and study with some of the most important and interesting teachers including: Zakar Bron, Ilja Grubert, Marco Rizzi, Sciarretta Mauruzio, Stefano Pagliani, Rudens Turku, Stefano Succi, Yair Kless, Anton Martynov, Claude Richard.

She has been awarded a number of prizes that have allowed her to perform as a soloist in competitions including the Zanuccoli International Competition, the Marianske Lazne Competition, the G. Lettimi scholarship. She is hugely grateful to have received these awards which have also given her the opportunity to record as soloist with WEST BOHEMIAN SYMPHONE ORCHESTRA where I performed Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto no. 1 in G major and A. Vivaldi Concerto for 4 Violins in B Minor.

Caterina teaches at the Altrincham studios on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Louise Williams

Violin

View Louisa's bio

I am a violinist and tutor originally from Oxford. I spent a big part of my childhood surrounded by classical music and began learning the violin at the age of 7 after being deeply inspired by the introduction to live chamber music.
I graduated from Leeds Conservatoire in 2021 after studying a BA Hons degree in classical music with tutor, and acclaimed violinist, Philippa Mo. During my time at Leeds Conservatoire, I discovered an interest in free jazz improvisation and creating new sounds on the violin. I have since performed various musical genres with ensembles such as string quartets and collective bands.
I am an enthusiastic and motivating tutor with 5 years of experience in teaching 1-1 and group violin lessons in and around Leeds. I ensure that students gain the most out of their lessons, whether they would like to work through exams or just play for fun. I am passionate about providing carefully tailored lessons to individuals in an encouraging environment, and have solid experience in exam preparation with a 100% pass rate success.
Louise teaches at the Altrincham studios on Mondays and Thursdays and the Wilmslow studios on Tuesdays.

Macie Wallis

Violin

View Macie's bio

Macie, South Wales born and Manchester based violinist began playing the violin at the age of 4. Over the years Macie has had the opportunity to study in some of the worlds most prestigious institutions- all starting in Manchester when she spent 6 years at Chetham’s School of Music in the city centre. Her love of music and passion for teaching evolved and grew throughout her time in education, leading her to study at the Royal College of Music in London and most recently back to Manchester where she completed her Masters degree with distinction at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Macie has studied with many different teachers over the years including Kristoffer Dolatko, Maciej Rakowski, Peter Manning and Benedict Holland. Her participation in different masterclasses, music courses and her recent freelance work has enabled her to travel around the UK and internationally. She has had the opportunity to perform with lots of different orchestras including the Manchester Camerata, BBC Philharmonic, The New Sinfonia and many more.

Macie’s enthusiasm for passing on her knowledge (which is continuously growing and changing) and tailoring her lessons to each individual in order to find the most effective and engaging learning experience is what drives her when it comes to teaching.

Apart from her love of Classical music, symphony orchestra and smaller ensemble works alike, Macie is a big fan of many different musical genres and enjoys singing and song writing. Her love of different styles of music has cultivated a cross-genre career, Macie often plays in different venues across the UK in bands or as a solo artist, performing Irish Trad, Rock, Pop, Jazz and everything in between!

Macie teaches at the Altrincham studios on Sundays.

Woodwind and Brass Tutors

Naomi Robinson

Woodwind

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Naomi Robinson is an Australian/British Flute player and Woodwind tutor. Born in Sydney, Australia, Naomi completed a Bachelor of Music Performance with Honours at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2017 and is currently completing a Masters of Music at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester studying with Kevin Gowland. Naomi has over 10 years of teaching experience in many Australian primary and high schools. She has been a director and conductor of six primary school band programs, two of which won prestigious gold awards at the Sydney Band Festival in 2018 and 2019. Naomi has been teaching flute, clarinet and saxophone at all levels since 2012. Since arriving in Manchester in 2021, Naomi has been doing creative music workshops in primary schools in Whitefield with the RNCM Children’s opera project and, Moston and Harpurhey with the Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra “This Is Us” Song cycle project. As well as many classical orchestral performances, Naomi has also taken great joy in performing in the recently modernised production of “The Wiz” at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester on all three woodwind instruments. Naomi is passionate about bringing joy to all of her lessons and inspiring students to love music from their very first day. As a part of Naomi’s university degrees she has done research in the area of positive practice motivation and believes that inspiration, passion, and positivity drive motivation as a musician for life.

Naomi teaches at the Altrincham studios on Sundays.

Miranda Woodward

Brass Tutor

View Miranda's bio

Miranda started playing the trumpet at the comparably late age of 13, after becoming fascinated by her late great grandfather’s cornet mouthpieces. Her orchestral career began with Lancashire Youth Symphony Orchestra and Wigan Youth Orchestra, where she discovered a love of symphonic and operatic performance. However, it was only when she started lessons with John Dickinson, in 2015, that she felt truly inspired and realised her dream of becoming a professional trumpeter was within reach.
Miranda studied at the Royal Northern College of Music for 7 years with scholarship, completing BMus (hons), MMus and PG Dip (distinction). During that time she received expert guidance from Murray Greig, Thomas Osborne, Rhys Owens, Tracey Redfern and Gareth Small.
Recently, Miranda has performed with Manchester Camerata, The Hallé, Northern Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of Europe. In addition to performing with renowned conductors Sir Mark Elder, David Parry and Martyn Brabbins.
In her spare time Miranda enjoys countryside walks, trips to the theatre and baking.
Miranda teaches at the Altrincham studios on Fridays.

Sam Lightwing

Woodwind Tutor

View Sam's bio

Sam graduated from RNCM on an intensive 3-year course with a 1st in 2022. He bridged between classical, pop and jazz throughout his time there, learning all three disciplines to a very high level. He now finds himself working with a multitude of groups across all genres. He also joined the RAF reserves as a musician in 2019, which he continues to this day, playing at some large events such as the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and the Coronation.
He leads his own groups out, including a jazz duo, quartet and pop brass ensemble, regularly playing at events and venues across the UK. He performs to the top level on flute and clarinet also, whether it be with orchestras or musicals.
Sam teaches at the Altrincham studios on Mondays.

Robyn Saunders

Woodwind Tutor

View Robyn's bio

Robyn Saunders is a clarinettist and woodwind tutor based in Manchester. She graduated from Leeds Conservatoire with a first-class BA (Hons), where she studied classical clarinet and jazz saxophone. She went on to achieve a master’s degree with distinction in clarinet performance from the Royal Northern College of Music.
Robyn is a Royal Global sponsored artist and has performed as a featured soloist at the International Clarinet Festivals in Dublin (2024) and Texas (2025). She was also an international headliner at the Clarinet & Saxophone Society of Great Britain’s annual Playday.
Beyond her solo work, Robyn is a musical director and musical theatre enthusiast. She has worked in New York, accompanying the Broadway casts of Wicked, Big Fish, and The Lion King. A former full-time teacher in Malaysia, Robyn values the opportunity to continue teaching alongside her performing career. She works with students of all ages and abilities, encouraging them to discover the joy of playing, grow in confidence, and reach their goals.
Robyn teaches at the Altrincham studios on Thursdays.

Matt Cliffe

Woodwind

View Matt's bio

Matt is saxophonist, flautist, composer and educator based in the Staffordshire Moorlands. He stared playing the saxophone aged 9 and went on to study jazz at Leeds College of Music, now Leeds Conservatoire.
Since then he has managed to develop his own personal style and approach on the flute and saxophone leading him to be an in demand artist in the whole UK as well as in the North. He has performed at such venues and festivals as Royal Albert Hall, The Barbican Centre, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Blue Note Tokyo, Love Supreme, Glastonbury, We Out Here and North Sea Jazz Festival.
Matt has been teaching music and leading workshops for over 10 years and specialises in contemporary styles and improvisation. He believes playing music is a joyous thing that anyone can do and when learning to play an instrument that fact should be at the core of your experience.

Matt teaches at the Wilmslow studios on Mondays.

Guitar Tutors

Sam Rodwell

Guitar

View Sam's bio

Sam studied for an undergraduate and masters at the Royal Northern College of Music with the world renowned Craig Ogden, he was then employed as an ‘Associate guitar teacher’ also at the RNCM. As well as teaching he is a busy solo and chamber musician playing across the UK.
Sam teaches at the Altrincham studios on Saturdays.

Borna Kuca

Guitar

View Borna's bio

Borna is a passionate guitar player as well as an enthusiastic and willing music teacher. He graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of the internationally renowned guitarist Craig Ogden and became a fully qualified music teacher after completing a postgraduate music teacher-training course at the Manchester Metropolitan University. He subsequently gained considerable experience as a soloist and chamber musician after participating in a number of music competitions in Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and Serbia where he won several prizes, both as a soloist and as a part of the guitar duo.

Borna teaches at the Altrincham studios on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and at the Wilmslow studios on Thursdays.

Julian Liu

Guitar

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Julian Liu is an active classical guitarist who graduated in 2020 with a Master of Music in Performance degree from the Royal Northern College of Music, where he studied with internationally renowned guitarist Craig Ogden.
Since 2018, Julian has given numerous recitals throughout the UK, including solo performances for the Crantock Chamber Concert Series, Buxton Opera House Lunchtime Recital Series, and Light Classics Recital Series. His recital for the Classical Cleveland Recital Series in North Yorkshire was reviewed by the newspaper Darlington and Stockton Times, where his performance was described as “nothing less than beautiful”. In addition, Julian has made appearances in national and international competitions including the International Guitar Competition Paris Guitar Foundation, as well as reaching the finals at the Leicester MusicFest Guitar Competition in 2019.
Julian currently holds teaching positions at Keele University, Blackpool Music Service, Fallibroome Academy, Forest Preparatory School, and a number of other institutes.
Julian teaches at the Altrincham studios on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Lucas Hui

Guitar

View Lucas' bio

I am a passionate guitar tutor with over 7 years of teaching experience, helping students of different ages and abilities develop their skills and confidence. I achieved Rockschool Acoustic Guitar Grade 8 with Distinction and have worked as a session guitarist for music productions.

As an active musician and songwriter, I enjoy composing original guitar music and bringing creativity into my teaching. My lessons focus on building strong foundations through songs, rhythm, chords, music reading, and technique. Whether students are working towards a graded exam or learning guitar for enjoyment, I aim to create an enjoyable and supportive learning environment tailored to each student’s goals.

Lucas teaches at the Wilmslow studios on Fridays.

Jack Boles

Guitar

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Jack is a professional guitarist based in Manchester. Graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2023, his work has taken him nationwide and through parts of Europe. An experienced session musician, Jack has played notable venues such as Old Trafford Emirates Stadium, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Thekla among many others, and has recorded in multiple renowned studios including Middle Farm Studios, Sain Recordiau and Ayriel Studios.

Jack’s teaching experience spans almost a decade. He has been working with teaching organisations since 2023, with past experience including community music schools and the RNCM Young Artists Programme.

Jack teaches at the Altrincham studios on Saturdays.

Zach Boyd

Guitar

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Hey, I’m Zach, a professional guitarist and musician with over 13 years of live performance experience. I picked up the guitar at age seven and have been dedicated to developing my craft ever since.

That passion led me to study at Leeds Conservatoire, where I earned a BA (Hons) in Music, specialising in Guitar and Bass performance. During my studies, I gained extensive experience collaborating with professional musicians across a wide range of genres, including pop, rock, metal, blues, jazz and soul.

Today, I work as a gigging and recording musician as well as a music tutor based in Manchester. I’ve taught over 400 students and continue to refine my skills both on stage and in the studio.

I offer friendly, personalised lessons in electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and ukulele for beginners through to advanced players. My teaching focuses on real songs, strong technique, and steady, confidence-building progress in a supportive environment.

Zach teaches at the Altrincham studios on Fridays.

Reuben Savage

Guitar

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Reuben is a professional musician and guitar teacher with a first-class honours degree in Popular Music from the Royal Northern College of Music. With over eight years of teaching experience, he specialises in contemporary guitar, helping students of all ages build confidence, develop their playing and progress through grades. Alongside teaching, Reuven has performed throughout the UK, including at the Royal Albert Hall, in pit hands for a variety of musicals, and on recording sessions for both the BBC and ITV.
His lessons are tailored to each student’s interests and abilities, whether they’re working towards grades or simply playing for fun. Reuven’s aim is to inspire a lifelong love of music and help every student become a confident, well-rounded musician.

Reuben teaches at the Wilmslow studios on Mondays.

Drum Tutors

Iestyn Jones

Drums

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Iestyn Jones is a professional session drummer and teacher who has taught at Aura music academy for over 3 years. A graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and Young drummer of the year finalist, he is a highly skilled and experienced musician having toured the UK and EU with various acts (HMS Morris, Wrkhouse, Zack Keim, TTSSFU and Griff Lynch) as well as notable festivals SXSW (Texas, USA), Green Man (Wales) and The Great Escape (Brighton, UK).
Using a holistic approach to teaching, lessons with Iestyn are enthusiastic, engaging and fun. He aims to give students well rounded ability, understanding and appreciation for the drums and music!
Iestyn teaches at the Altrincham studios on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the Wilmslow studios on Wednesdays.

James Aruta

Drums

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James Aruta has been a professional musician for over 20 years, having toured with bands such as Foo Fighters, The Killers, Smashing Pumpkins, Snow Patrol, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, Velvet Revolver and Jimmy Eat World.
James brings a unique experience into his drum classes. Not only does he teach the foundations for students from beginner through to intermediate levels, also he prepares his students for live performances by supporting them in developing self-expression and confidence through music and encouraging them to reach their full potential
James teaches at the Altrincham on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Matteo Tontodonati

Drums

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Matteo is a professional drummer and producer experienced in a variety of genres. Ever since graduating with a First Class Honours degree in Popular Music from the Royal Northern College of Music, he has played many diverse events such as: The Hundreds half time show with NXDIA at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Lakefest with Jacob Coley and Ghent Festen with various big bands.
Since he started teaching professionally 6 years ago, Matteo has always believed in delivering a student lead approach. Each student possess a different set of strengths and Matteo works actively to develop these skills, allowing each student to bloom into the best drummer they can be.
Teaching an instrument inspires both a student and teacher, and is a space where a student’s creativity and skills can really come to life. Whether learning to play along to your favourite band, preparing a graded examination or improving your technical ability, Matteo will work to help you achieve your goals.
Matteo teaches at the Altrincham studios on Mondays.

Joseph Kwok

Drums

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Joseph Kwok is a drum and electric guitar tutor with nearly a decade of teaching experience.

He holds Rockschool Grade 8 in Drum Set and Electric Guitar and has helped over 90% of his students achieve Merit or above.

Joseph makes lessons fun and confidence-building, tailoring them to each student’s pace and style. As an active session musician, he performs at festivals, churches, and events.

Recently relocated to Manchester, Joseph is excited to inspire young musicians at Aura Music Academy.

Joseph teaches at the Wilmslow studios on Saturdays.

Phil Wigham

Drums

View Phil's bio

Come and have fun learning the fundamentals of drumming and develop existing skills to advanced levels of technique, musicianship and performance.
I have worked as a freelance musician and technologist for over twenty-five years. Having taught many different students, I am able to effectively adapt the lessons to your individual needs and goals, whether that is developing proficiency to join a band and become a rock star, or progress to a high level of technical competency for grade exams.
My passion for drumming, music, performance, and technology led me to a BA in Popular Music and Recording, and more recently an MA and PhD in digital musical instrument design and audience engagement. I continue to investigate and research areas of musical interest, which inform my teaching practice, keeping my knowledge and experience current and relevant.
Whatever level you are or styles of music you enjoy, come and learn to play the best musical instrument ever!
Phil teaches at the Wilmslow studios on Sundays.

Singing Tutors

Nina Pinto

Singing

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Nina is a British/Portuguese vocalist and artist born and raised in the Jersey, Channel Islands. Since the age of 4 Nina began her musical journey and continued to craft her skills to a professional level. This included singing, classical piano and guitar as well as developing her abilities down other artistic paths such as musical theatre, acting and dancing. Having achieved distinctions at an early age in both her Grade 8 Rockschool Exam for Vocals and Grade 8 ABRSM Exam for Piano,
Nina knew she wanted to pursue a musical career moving forwards. She has since graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with a First Class Honours in Popular Music as a Principal Study Vocalist.
As well as performing and working for a variety of agencies as a function and session singer around the UK, Nina has her own original artist project under her full name NinaRosa. Having taken the Manchester music scene by storm, she has performed and headlined at several venues including one of the infamous ‘Academy’ stages within 4 months of her debut. Nina has earned praise from Maia Beth of Radio 1 and was recently interviewed by Victoria Jane of Radio 1 for GigPig with more exciting news to come. Nina’s own personal style revolves around a fusion of Soul and RnB with Jazz influences, but has also had training in other genres such as Pop and Musical Theatre.

Other notable achievements and performances include performing at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Island Games, achieving the Silver Medal at the Dance World Cup Finals in 2019 in the song and dance category with coverage from ITV News, several performances across the UK for the National Theatre Connections, starring as Dana in ‘Maya’s Moment’ for a Xiaomi Global Short Film and Nina was recently featured in Gallery Magazine’s Green Edition with her own double page spread about her journey and artistry.

Nina is now returning to teaching to help nurture peoples love for music and the voice and to help her students reach their full potential in a fun, safe and engaging way. Nina is passionate about vocal health after facing her own vocal challenges in the past and hopes to inspire and inform others of the importance of vocal maintenance and care while simultaneously assisting her students in finding their own voice and style.

Nina teaches at the Altrincham studios on Tuesdays,

Julie Power

Singing

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Originally from Waterford in Ireland, Julie Power began her studies at the Irish College of Music Theatre where she graduated with a diploma in Musical Theatre. She then went on to do a BFA in Musical Theatre at The American College Dublin, graduating with First Class Honours.
During her studies she took courses in vocal anatomy, music theory and physicality in performance which have all informed her teaching style, as well as the wealth of experience she has as a performer. Some of her credits include: various Gilbert and Sullivan productions with the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company (UK Tour), Julie Jordan in Carousel at the National Concert Hall Dublin and originating the role of Eva in a new Irish musical Find Your Way Home which toured in the US in Albany, Boston and New York. Julie is passionate about teaching what she loves and aims to create a supportive and nurturing environment for her students by taking a holistic approach and encouraging them to find their own voice.

Julie teaches at the Altrincham studios on Mondays and Fridays.

Lucy Fanshawe

Singing

View Lucy's bio

Lucy Fanshawe is a dedicated and passionate singing teacher with extensive experience as both a performer and music educator. With a love of singing that began in early childhood, Lucy developed her passion for music as a girl chorister and through performing in numerous choirs and vocal ensembles. Before studying at the Royal Northern College of Music, she achieved the ARSM Diploma in Singing through the ABRSM, before going on to graduate with a First Class Bachelor of Music (BMus) degree in Vocal Studies. Alongside teaching singing, Lucy is a qualified secondary Music teacher, teaching KS3 and GCSE Music in an outstanding secondary school, giving her extensive experience of working with students from primary age through to college.

Lucy enjoys teaching singers of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to experienced performers. She specialises in musical theatre, classical and pop, tailoring every lesson to suit each student’s individual goals, interests and learning style. Whether students are singing for enjoyment, preparing for auditions, exams, or performances, or simply looking to build confidence, Lucy creates a supportive and encouraging environment where they can thrive.

As an experienced performer, Lucy regularly sings at weddings, private events and special occasions, bringing practical performance experience into every lesson. She is passionate about helping students develop healthy vocal technique while becoming confident, expressive and engaging performers. With a strong focus on vocal technique, musicianship, emotional connection and effective performance, Lucy believes every student has a unique voice and is committed to helping each individual reach their full vocal potential while fostering a lifelong love of singing.

Lucy teaches at the Altrincham studios on Saturdays.

Menna Collins

Singing

View Menna's bio

Menna graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2021 with a first class degree in vocals on the Popular Music course. Before that she achieved her Classical Singing Diploma at just 18.

Since graduating Menna has been working as a professional singer primarily performing at weddings, conferences and events. As well as building an impressive teaching portfolio.

Some of Menna’s favourite artists include Taylor Swift, Florence and the Machine and London Grammar!

Menna teaches at the Wilmslow studios on Wednesdays.

Our Staff Team

Bethany DulleaFounder and Director

The Admin Team

Seren Seo

Collette Grffiths

Aavni Talwalkar

The Tutors

Denica Georgieva

Abigail Wade-Gledhill

Tracy Chan

Misha Tyshkul

Ramiz Duad

Sophie Ahmed

Michael Cutting

Dorsa Milani

Tezcan Mert-Cakal

Po-Lin Hou

Paul Shaw

Yvonne Ho

Sidney Ng

Madeliene Wickham-Brown

Sophia Hurst

Belle Wong

Julia Leszczyńska

Kristin Lien

Vladimir Vojevodin

Caterina Bordoni

Louise Williams

Macie Wallis

Naomi Robinson

Miranda Woodward

Sam Lightwing

Robyn Saunders

Matt Cliffe

Sam Rodwell

Borna Kuca

Julian Liu

Lucas Hui

Jack Boles

Zach Boyd

Reuben Savage

Iestyn Jones

James Aruta

Matteo Tontodonati

Joseph Kwok

Phil Wigham

Nina Pinto

Julie Power

Lucy Fanshawe

Menna Collins

Bethany Dullea
Founder and Director