Taran Harris
'Rock' Instruments

Taran Harris is a singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer and trumpet player based in Liverpool and teaches ‘rock’ instruments in Ormskirk School. He graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2013, having achieved both a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and a Master’s Degree in Applied Music Technology and Musicology. He is a prolific performer, having performed in several prestigious concert venues around the country including London’s Festival Hall, The Wales Millennium Centre and Birmingham Symphony Hall to name but a few. Taran is a tenor in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, and the Liverpool Chamber Choir and was a member of the male voice choir ‘John’s Boys’ who made it to the grand final of BBC’s choir of the year 2016. Along with his wife Aimee, Taran has been the composer and musical director for MATE productions, in association with Shakespeare North, for the last three years, performing his own compositions across the north west and in Stratford Upon Avon. Taran has performed at the opening and closing concerts of the National Eistedfodd in Llangollen, including the world premiere of Karl Jenkins’ ‘Adiemus Colores’, conducted by the composer.

Rachel Holt
Flute

Rachel Holt studied at the RNCM with Trevor Wye, and during this time was a prizewinner in the Young Artists’ Competition of the International Flute Association, held in the USA. She was the Principal Flute in the Performing Arts Symphony Orchestra for fifteen years, and is currently Principal Flute with Sinfonia Viva.

As a freelance performer she has played with many of Britain’s leading orchestras, including the Halle, Manchester Camerata, Orchestra da Camera and the Philharmonia. Rachel also performs with the light music group Fourtune, and is a member of the chamber ensemble Zephyr. She is one half of Appassionata, a flute and harp duo which, in addition to performing at weddings and functions and giving workshops, has released a CD entitled ‘Music To Iron By’.

Rachel teaches at Chethams School of Music, Arnold School, Clevelands Preparatory School and Lancaster University, and she is a tutor for the National Children’s Orchestra. She has been the adjudicator for music festivals and has given masterclasses in association with Miyazawa Flutes.

Ben Knowles
Brass / Drums / Bass Guitar

Ben Knowles is fast becoming one of the most sought after brass musicians of his generation. His expanding career as a freelance multi-instrumentalist has lead him to work extensively throughout the United Kingdom and further afield with some of the finest ensembles in the world. He has been privileged to have toured to many destinations including Norway, Italy, Spain and the United States of America with various ensembles as well as having performed at many of the countries top venues including The Bridgewater Hall, Symphony Hall Birmingham and the Royal Albert Hall in London. He has won multiple prestigious awards ranging from individual accolades such as the Mortimer Award through to ensemble awards such as the British Open Championships and the National Brass Band Finals with the Foden’s Band based in Sandbach.

He currently can be found performing as a session musician with many big-bands, function bands, brass bands and national orchestras as well as having worked commercially, appearing at multiple festivals and on national tv and radio with The Unthanks, British Sea Power and numerous Musical Theatre Productions such as Boogie Nights, Legally Blonde, White Christmas and Les Miserables."

Catherine Whitehall
Singing / Piano / Keyboard

Catherine Victoria Whitehall is a singer, pianist and music tutor with fifteen years professional experience.

Catherine began singing and playing piano aged seven and at fifteen years of age had gained her Grade 8 ABRSM in both instruments progressing to gain her associate diplomas. As well as music, Catherine's other passions were acting and dancing and after a years of training, Catherine started her professional performing career aged eighteen as a triple threat performer in singing, acting & dance, performing for celebrity audiences including Bruce Willis, Britney Spears and Destiny's Child to name a few at Disneyland Paris where she played the Disney princess principal roles of Cinderella, Ariel and Alice in Wonderland. After many years touring the UK and abroad, performing at both intimate venues and large stadium venues to over 66,000 people, Catherine returned to the North West to complete her music degree gaining first class honours at The University of Liverpool and was honoured to receive the Evans Memorial Prize after graduating.

Catherine now performs as a piano vocalist, sings soprano with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir and teaches piano, keyboard, singing and music theory lessons. Her students have
taken part in music festivals and numerous charity events including performing at the 02 Arena, London, The Echo Arena & St Georges Hall, Liverpool, appeared on BBC Children in Need, broke a Guinness World Record and have also been interviewed on local radio stations. Catherine often organises concerts and produces shows and is called upon to judge competitions.

Aimee Harris
Piano / Singing / Keyboard / Clarinet

Aimee Harris is a singer, violinist, clarinetist and pianist and has been teaching music for 8 years. Aimee studied music from a young age and reached grade 8 ABRSM singing before heading to university and gaining undergraduate and master’s degrees in performance and musicology from the University of Liverpool. Through the years she has performed in many notable concert venues around the UK and abroad. Aimee has performed in a number of exciting concerts such as the concert premier of Adieums Colores by Karl Jenkins, in Llangollen international Eisteddfodd, and a number of Operas including this year’s concert performance of Carmen in Llangollen with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra and Llangollen singers. She is a soprano in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, a member of Liverpool Chamber Choir, and a regular performer called upon to sing in Cathedrals around the UK and in Llangollen International Eistedfodd concerts. As well as performing as a soloist and chorus member Aimee has been co-musical director, composer, and performer for MATE productions for three years. The two most recent shows are Shakespeare's productions of Midsummer Night’s Dream and As You Like It, both of which contained original music written by Aimee and were produced in conjunction with Shakespeare North and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

As a teacher, Aimee leads choirs and has had many students taking exams across a variety of exam boards from initial/prep test up to diploma level as well as helping students to prepare for GCSE, B-Tech and A-level performances.

Cathryn Lane
Piano / Keyboard / Saxophone

Cathryn studied music from an early age starting both the piano and clarinet at the age of 8, achieving Grade 8 ABRSM in piano, clarinet and saxophone by the age of 15. She performed with the LSCB for many years, ultimately as ‘principal clarinet’ and toured each summer including trips to Denmark, Austria and the US.

Cathryn went on to study Music and Italian at Reading University, performing with the University Orchestra, Choral Society and local orchestras as well as teaching during her spare time. She then spent one year continuing her studies at the University of Siena in Italy. On her return, Cathryn taught privately before setting up and opening her own music business in Crosby in 2001.

Cathryn also now teaches piano and keyboard at Ormskirk School. She helps her students achieve superb results through her enthusiastic approach to learning and tailoring lessons to individual needs, thereby bringing out the very best in her pupils.

Gill Harris
Singing / Piano / Keyboard

Gill has studied music from an early age, learning piano, singing, violin and viola from the age of 8. She gained a BA (Hons) in Music from the University of Liverpool and later earned the Associate of Trinity College London (Piano). Gill was a member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir for many years and with them was lucky enough to perform in various venues throughout England, including the Royal Albert Hall, as well as performing abroad. As a soprano with the RLPC Gill performed with many artists including Leslie Garrett, Russell Watson and Tony Hadley. Gill has also performed around the northwest as part of a jazz duo and in numerous musicals with societies such as Southport Spotlights. As musical director Gill has worked with both children and adults on shows such as Godspell, Return to the Forbidden Planet and The World Goes Round. Gill is both a vocalist and musical director for U Turn Productions, a semi professional vocal group producing concerts around the north west.

Gill has been teaching piano and singing for over 15 years privately and with several primary and secondary schools in the local area. She also has many years experience both teaching and as principal of Stagecoach Theatre Arts and as singing teacher at WSDA in Merseyside.

James Hall
Brass

James is an alumni of Ormskirk school where he took up the trombone at the age of 13. Soon after, he joined the St Helens Youth Brass Band and Lancashire Youth Symphony Orchestra. Later, he was awarded a scholarship to study for his undergraduate degree at Birmingham Conservatoire and more recently studied for his Masters degree at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

He has performed in some of the country’s finest concert halls including Symphony Hall and the Bridgewater Hall. A particular highlight of his playing career was as a featured soloist with the Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Band in a Concerto performance written especially for him by Clara Catt. He was a recipient of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble prize in 2015 as part of the quintet ‘Lowry Brass’ who were featured on BBC Radio 4.

James is the Musical Director of the St Helens Youth Brass Band and conducts various ensembles regularly throughout the area. He works for both Lancashire Music Service and Scarisbrick Hall School. He is looking forward to working with the excellent team at Ormskirk School to help develop outstanding young musicians.

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