People

Wind Professors

Flute

Susan Milan

Susan Milan is the Founder and Director of the British Isles Music Festival. She was the former Principal Flute of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and is a renowned chamber musician and recording artist. Susan is also a member of the London Chamber Music Group, Debussy Ensemble and Instrumental Quintet of London. Additionally, she serves as a Professor of Flute at the Royal College of Music, London, and as an Adjunct Professor of Flute at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London.

Flute

Nina Robertson

Nina Robertson studied at the Royal College of Music with Susan Milan, winning numerous prizes including the Bronze Medal in the Shell/LSO Competition. Since then, she has forged a successful freelance career, regularly playing with London orchestras, in West End shows and recording film and TV scores. She has a chamber ensemble, 'The Hampton Trio', with cellist, Roberto Sorrentino and pianist, Paul Jeanes. Nina is also an experienced teacher and a member of the RPO Resound Educational Team.

Oboe

Christopher O'Neal

Christopher O’Neal studied with Terence MacDonagh at the Royal College of Music, London, and with Heinz Holliger in Freiburg, Germany, with scholarships from the Countess of Munster and the Martin Musical Trusts, and from the RVW Foundation. He is principal oboe and soloist with the Orchestra of St Johns, and co-principal with the London Mozart Players, and as a chamber musician, he is a founder member of the award-winning ensembles Capricorn and the Elysian Wind Quintet, and a member of the Fibonacci Sequence.

Clarinet

Sérgio Fernandes Pires

Sérgio Fernandes Pires is a distinguished clarinetist known for his roles as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. He has served as Solo Clarinetist with the Winterthur MusikKollegium since 2016 and, in 2023, became Principal Clarinetist of the London Symphony Orchestra. Sérgio has performed with leading orchestras such as the London Symphony and Basel Symphony Orchestra in venues like the Berliner Philharmonie. His repertoire spans classics and modern works, and he regularly collaborates with renowned artists like Heinz Holliger. Sérgio also contributes to music education, assisting François Benda at the Hochschule für Musik Basel.

Bassoon

Paul Boyes

Born in Dunstable, Paul Boyes studied at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Whilst in his final year, he was appointed Principal Bassoon of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, a position he held for 10 years. Since then, he has played Guest Principal with almost every major orchestra in the UK. Paul is a keen chamber musician, and has played with many respected ensembles such as London Winds, the Galliard Ensemble and the Sacconi Quartet.He is Professor of Bassoon at TrinityLaban Conservatory of Music, London.

Horn

Jeffrey Bryant

Jeffrey, a former student of Ifor James at the Royal Academy of Music, has held principal horn positions with the London Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony, London Symphony, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras. He taught horn at Guildhall School, Trinity College, and the Royal College of Music, and served as a tutor for the EU Youth Orchestra and I-Culture Orchestra. His solo recordings include the Mozart Horn Concerti and Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings with the RPO. Jeffrey, an Honorary Life Member of the British Horn Society, is also the author of The Business and Jeff’s Warm Ups.

String & Harp Professors

Violin

Philippe Honoré

Philippe Honoré was a principal player with the Philharmonia Orchestras from 2005–2011. After receiving top honours from both the Paris Conservatoire and the Royal Academy of Music in London, he was made Lauréat of the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation of France in 1992 and was awarded an Honorary Associateship by the Royal Academy of Music in 2001. He is Professor of Violin at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

Violin

Igor Keller

Igor Keller studied with Adelina Oprean in Basel, Sándor Végh at the Mozarteum Salzburg and at the International Menuhin Music Academy with Alberto Lysy. He completed his formation with Walter Levin, Hatto Beyerle, Sigmund Nissel, Yehudi Menuhin and Joseph Silverstein. In 1994 he founded the Ligeti String Trio. As a soloist, Igor Keller has performed with numerous famous European orchestras and as a member of the renowned Amar Quartet from 2006 till 2018, he performed in major concert halls and festivals internationally. Since 2010 first concertmaster of the St. Gallen Symphonic Orchestra.

Viola

Yuko Inoue

Winner of the 17th Budapest International Viola Competition, Yuko has performed as a soloist throughout Europe and Japan with many orchestras.She performs frequently with Britain’s most eminent string quartets and chamber ensembles. She is a member of the Fibonacci Sequence Ensemble and Professor of Viola at the Royal Academy of Music, and RAM Junior Department, London.

Cello

Christopher Jepson

Christopher has been 1. Solo Cello of the Gstaad Menuhin Festival Orchestra since 2011, where he also appeared as soloist in 2024 with Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations. He began his orchestral career in Berlin and later became 2. Solo Cello in Basel. A dedicated chamber musician, he performs in recitals and festivals across Europe. He teaches privately and gives international masterclasses. Christopher is also the founder of Rhein Klassik, supporting freelance and emerging musicians in Switzerland through concerts and community initiatives.

Harp

Gabriella Dall’Olio

Gabriella Dall’Olio was born and grew up in Bologna, Italy. She trained in Italy, France and Germany with Anna Loro, Pierre Jamet. Jacqueline Borot, Fabrice Pierre and Giselle Herbert. She is committed to teaching and is Head of Harp Studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She recently recorded Arturo Marquez Harp Concerto with Shakespeare Sinfonia.

Piano & Harpsichord Professor

Piano

Daniel King Smith

Daniel King Smith performs worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician. His appearances include broadcasts on BBC TV/Radio in the UK and NHK TV/Radio in Japan. He regularly accompanies auditions, lessons, masterclasses and end of year recitals at the London conservatoires as well as being official accompanist for the Countess of Munster Trust. Daniel studied at the Royal Academy of Music and is in demand as a collaborative pianist and recitalist.

Harpsichord

Robert Costin

Robert Costin pursues a varied musical career as a teacher, organist, harpsichordist, and pianist. His performances around the world and his recordings have earned him international praise. Robert’s diverse repertoire is guided by artistic curiosity, but the music of J.S. Bach is a constant in his musical life. He has commissioned and premiered works by composers including Sir Stephen Hough and David Briggs. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music and at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he was an organ scholar and read music. Robert is presently Head of Academic Music at Sherbourne School.

Resident pianists & guest composer

Resident Pianist

Francesca Carta

Francesca is currently Professor of Piano at the G. P. da Palestrina Conservatory of Cagliari. She is a member of the Hofmannsthal Ensemble, with whom has recorded for Radio Suisse Romande, Riverberi Sonori Recordings and Radio France. Francesca is regularly invited as a collaborative pianist for competitions, courses and masterclasses.

Resident Pianist

Antony Ingham

Antony studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Alexander Kelly and at the Royal College of Music with Niel Immelman as a pianist and joint first-study cellist. He enjoys a varied musical career, accompanying and coaching strings, woodwind and voice and teaching piano at Westminster Cathedral Choir School.

Resident Pianist

Leo Nicholson

Leo Nicholson studied piano at the Royal Academy of Music with Michael Dussek and Joseph Middleton, and at Trinity Laban with Douglas Finch and Yonty Solomon. A prize-winner at Trinity, he graduated with First Class Honours and the TCM Silver Medal. Leo won the accompanist prize at the 2016 Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards, performing with his cousin, bass-baritone Sam Carl, and is a Samling Artist. He performs with the six-piano group Piano Circus and has duos with flautist Rosanna Ter-Berg and saxophonist Anthony Brown, leading to acclaimed performances at venues such as Wigmore Hall and Bridgewater Hall.

Guest Composer

Clive Osgood

Clive Osgood studied Music at Bangor University before completing a Master’s degree in Musicology at Cardiff University. After teacher training in London, he spent a year as an organ scholar at Salisbury Cathedral. More recently he completed a second Master’s degree in Composition at the University of Surrey. His written output includes a variety of music for choirs, orchestras and chamber groups. Choral music constitutes the largest part of his work and he has a particular interest in church music. Clive’s music is in the classical tradition – injected with elements of jazz harmony and the rhythmic vitality of Latin American music.

Admin

Elliott de Vivo – Concerts Manager
Clarinettist / Member of the Waldegrave Ensemble / MMus from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music

Elliott De Vivo – Concert Manager

Carina Udriste – Assistant Concert Manager

Allison Conlan – Programme Manager
Flautist / Outreach Manager for the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

Juan Carlos Porras – Digital Services

Sarah Waycott – Librarian/Accounting

Melissa Valverde – Ticketing

Friends of the British Isles Music Festival

Board of Trustees

Susan Milan – Festival Director and Chair
Allison Conlan
Robert Drinkwater
Kenneth J Hsu
Christopher Jepson
Daniel King Smith

Wind Professors

Susan Milan

Nina Robertson

Christopher O'Neal

Sérgio Fernandes Pires

Paul Boyes

Jeffrey Bryant

String & Harp Professors

Philippe Honoré

Igor Keller

Yuko Inoue

Christopher Jepson

Gabriella Dall’Olio

Piano & Harpsichord Professor

Daniel King Smith

Robert Costin

Resident pianists & guest composer

Francesca Carta

Antony Ingham

Leo Nicholson

Clive Osgood

Admin

Sponsors

Friends of the British Isles Music Festival

Board of Trustees