We are proud to have some of the country’s most respected musicians and teachers among our team of specialist examiners.
We have listed below our management, heads of instrument and senior advisors who assist with syllabus development and lead their team of examiners.
With over 40 years’ experience as a classical performer, arranger, composer and instrumental teacher of students of all ages and experience from beginner to university, Mark Kesel has been Chief Examiner for MTB Exams throughout the development of the Board, overseeing its gaining recognition from Ofqual and UCAS as well as the development and launch of MTB’s Pre-Grades and Grade 1-8 qualifications. Mark was appointed trumpet teacher for the University of Reading soon after graduating there and also spent 20 years teaching ‘A’ level Composition.
David has a diverse skill set and experience working in a range of finance, operations, management & software roles. His last role was Head Of Operations at the charity Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK overseeing their administrative staff, offices, finance, retail arm and more. David oversees all operational activities at MTB.
Paul Cox studied cello with Christopher Bunting and then went on to forge a career as soloist, conductor and chamber musician whilst building a portfolio of teaching and coaching. To support these activities, he founded the Eureka! Foundation of which he is Chair. He was Secretary for the London Branch of ESTA and was, for many years, Head of Strings at the University of Southampton whilst, simultaneously, teaching pupils of all abilities from age 3 to 90.
As soloist, he has performed all the major ‘cello repertoire including as soloist in the Beethoven Triple Concerto with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra as well as being ‘cellist in distinguished chamber ensembles. He has taught in many situations including UK Primary Schools, Public Schools including Eton and privately. He was engaged to develop the String materials for the Diploma Course ‘Music Teaching in Professional Practice’ (University of Reading/ISM/ICRME) and has been an examiner/adjudicator/assessor at all levels for 30 years.
Samantha enjoys a multi-faceted career as a freelance performer and teacher of the flute. She studied at the Royal College of Music, achieving a scholarship, various prizes and then a Senior Exhibitioner Scholarship while a student. Samantha has worked with opera companies, symphony orchestras and other chamber groups. Her wind quintet, Chamberhouse Winds, is particularly busy with bringing educational projects to schools and local theatres, inspiring the next generation of musicians.
Naveen Arles BCA FRSA, has established himself as an energetic, inspirational vocal leader and animateur. Founder of MDBrunch, his 36 years in music incorporates 26 years of creating singing groups of all ages and skills. Nav’s ability to motivate people to try music and train any group of people means he equally delivers workshops in senior management training courses, with wellbeing support groups and in prisons. His choirs have toured with Hugh Jackman, Take That, Lulu; performed with George Ezra, Alexandra Burke, Freya Ridings, on all TV channels, for HRH Prince Charles and welcomed the guests for Michelle Obama’s exclusive UK book launch. Nav’s experience and social justice work has led him to both be invited onto the council of the Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD) and to join a 10 person consultancy panel to advise Hal Leonard Europe on their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies.
Andy was Headmaster of St Joseph’s College from 2012 to 2021. During his time as Headmaster, Andy served on the Society of Heads’ Main Committee, chaired their Education Committee, was a member of the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) Teacher Association Liaison Group, an ISI Inspector, and a Founding Member of the Chartered College of Teaching. During his headship, St Joseph’s College won a number of awards including the ‘Independent School of the Year’ award at the 2015 TES Independent School Awards. In 2018 Andy was recognised as one of the top 25 influencers and innovators in education by iExcellence. After 32 years in teaching, including sixteen in senior leadership, Andy took early retirement, becoming an independent educational consultant. In addition to being a trustee of a couple of charities, Andy is also a governor of an Independent School.
Based in London, Cecilia McDowall is perhaps best known for her choral works, though her output extends far beyond this and into the realm of organ music. She has won many awards including the British Composer Award Choral category in 2014 for her haunting work, Night Flight. McDowall’s distinctive style fuses fluent melodic lines with occasional dissonant harmonies and rhythmic exuberance. Her music has been commissioned and performed by leading choirs and artists, including the BBC Singers, The Sixteen, Oxford and Cambridge choirs, ensembles, and at festivals worldwide. One of her most recent CDs has been recorded by William Fox on Naxos of her entire organ catalogue published by OUP. Hyperion has released a CD of her choral and organ music performed by The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, conductor, Stephen Layton. In December 2020 McDowall was presented with the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for ‘outstanding works collection’ for a ‘consistently excellent body of work’. This was a ‘gift’ from The Ivors Academy.
An experienced Chief Executive with a career in the business of education, Andrew combines strong networks with deep subject knowledge linked to his Fellowship of The Chartered College of Teaching, founder member of the Chartered Institute for Educational Assessors; Membership of the e-Assessment Association & consultant with Alpha Plus (Educational Research); Membership of The Royal Geographical Society & Institute of British Geographers; Membership of The Worshipful Company of Educators, focusing SEND & Outdoor Education; and a Trustee of Ability 2 Access promoting Assistive Technology solutions linking education & the workplace. Andrew is an entrepreneur, influencer of government policy and an international advocate for the UK’s education system across Africa and China.
Kate is a qualified solicitor and having started her career with a magic circle law firm in London has since worked in-house for major IT companies on government, industry and international contracts. She has previously served as a school governor and a Business Adviser for Young Enterprise.
Sally has vast experience of piano teaching at all levels privately, in schools and in tertiary education. She was mentor in piano pedagogy for the Music Teaching in Professional Practice course at Reading University, where she also taught on the specialist B.A. in Music Education degree. She currently holds the position of Music Coordinator at Brunel University London, a role created specifically for her.
Sarah Field is a saxophonist and trumpeter. She is a freelance musician performing a range of styles classical, contemporary and pop recording work and tours. Sarah studied at RNCM and the Royal Academy of Music and currently has roles as guest lecturer Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Trinity Laban. She created and developed the ‘Art of Teaching’ woodwind and brass course at Royal College of Music for 12 years. Performances include recent appearances on BBC Radio 3 with her saxophone quartet Marici Saxes and a Royal Philharmonic Society Award for this same group to support their performances and outreach work.
Jonathan Darnborough is a pianist and composer. He studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge and the Royal Northern College of Music and has performed extensively in Britain and abroad. He is Director of Studies in Music at Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education and is author of the university’s first three online music courses.
Pam Asbury is currently Head of Piano and Guitar at St Joseph’s College, Reading and studied Piano and Singing at The London College of Music. Pam has extensive experience teaching across a range of ages, having taught those from 2-years-old as a primary school music teacher, all the way to adulthood in her work as a private piano and singing teacher.
Penny Carter LTCL is a piano, keyboard and theory teacher and examiner. Penny studied at Trinity College of Music and has ample experience in music education, having taught music since 1988. This pedagogic knowledge of music culminates in Penny’s various compositions and arrangements of educational pieces.
Carol Hultmark has been a member of the Philharmonia Orchestra since the early 90s. After studying in London, she lived and worked in Sweden. As a teacher, she has worked for Maestros in Berkshire and is Head of Strings at Bradfield College.
Antonia is a London based violinist and teacher with a first class degree from the Royal Academy of Music. She is currently a member of the London Mozart Players, leader of the Phacelia Ensemble and a busy freelancer. Antonia coached undergraduate ensembles while a Chamber Music Fellow at RAM, going on to teach a range of ages and abilities.
Martin Pleass has been a music educator and examiner for 25 years, conducting music examinations in 30 countries. Martin has 40 years’ experience as a professional musician, with clients including The National Youth Music Theatre, Sir Paul McCartney and The Who. Martin’s current album, “The Lark in The Clear Air” is on national BBC radio playlists.
Will has been a teacher of percussion and a specialist examiner for over 30 years. He has performed in the UK and Europe, and currently has pupils all over the world. He lives in Oxfordshire where his time is spent teaching and writing percussion music.
Lindsay Higgs has over two decades teaching experience and has performed widely. Lindsay’s career has spanned from recording with the bands Super Furry Animals and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, to composing the first ‘ukulele concerto to be performed in Britain, which premiered with Ben Rouse from the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain as the soloist and was conducted by Paul Cox.
Vanessa Hammond studied at the Royal Academy of Music and for over thirty years has pursued a joint career as a freelance chamber and orchestral oboist and a specialist oboe teacher in schools. She also collaborates with Jane Finch writing books of fun, educational music for young oboists.
Rebecca Austen-Brown is a regular specialist recorder adjudicator for the UK Conservatoires, and teaches at the Royal College of Music Junior Department. As well as performing and recording with such ensemble as The Sixteen, Dufay Collective, Arcangelo, La Nuova Musica and Fontanella, Rebecca has played on film soundtracks including The Hobbit, Grand Budapest Hotel and Les Miserables.
Classical guitarist Vincent Lindsey-Clark has been performing, composing, teaching, adjudicating and examining for the last 40 years. His compositions for students and professionals are well known and played all over the world. Currently he holds teaching posts at the University of Southampton, Eton College and London’s Centre for Young Musicians.
Tony McMahon B.mus L.T.C.L has been a music teacher and performer for over 40 years. His work has covered most styles of music from classical to popular, with experience giving solo and ensemble concerts and performing in rock and pop bands.
Angela studied at the Royal WCMD and is a sought-after singing teacher working privately and in several independent Berkshire schools; regularly coaching for exams, national choirs and auditions. Angela enjoys diversity, teaching piano and music theory plus accompanying a chapel choir, exams and adjudicating music competitions. Angela is an active performer on both the operatic and concert stage.
Catherine Millar studied Music at Oxford as a Leask Scholar and bassoon under Bob Codd, principal of BBC NOW. She is currently Head of Woodwind at Berkshire Maestros, and regularly travels internationally giving seminars on teaching the bassoon. In 2020 she was awarded the Francesca Hanley Inspiration Award (formerly Music Teacher of the Year) for her contribution to bassoon teaching.
Caroline Owen studied the clarinet on the Joint Course at the RNCM and Manchester University, and later in Paris, achieving awards for performance and composition. Caroline’s career has involved woodwind teaching at Berkshire Maestros, freelance orchestral work, educational concerts and workshops with Chamberhouse Winds (www.chw.org), and solo performances. Currently, Caroline is completing a PhD researching emotional responses to music.
Diane graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, gaining her Licentiate of the RAM for teaching whilst there. With 25 years’ experience as a freelance player and educationalist, she has worked with a variety of age groups including young people and adults with learning difficulties. Diane also works with local adult groups, coaching sections for amateur orchestras and workshops for community groups.
Torbjörn is a trumpet teacher and Director of Brass Dectet at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music, London. With a playing career that has taken him to 25+ countries, Torbjörn’s pioneering work with the Soprano Trombone Project is widely documented.
Website:www.hultmark.me
