Bio

Fiona is a Manchester-based freelance professional French horn player and brass tutor from Northamptonshire.

She achieved a first-class honours Bachelor of Music degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester and furthered her studies with a Master of Music in Orchestral Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff.

Fiona enjoys a varied career teaching brass lessons and playing professionally with orchestras, opera companies and musical theatre productions. She has recently finished a UK Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 2024/25 and has performed with orchestras including the Hallé Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Welsh National Opera and BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

As a touring musician, Fiona has worked with Crossroads Live, Opra Cymru and London Symphonic Rock Orchestra (LSRO). Recent tours include the premiere of ‘Peth Bach ‘di Cawr’, composed by Gareth Glyn and Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte with Opra Cymru and tours of Germany, Monaco and Mexico with LSRO, with their tribute orchestra, ABBA “The show”.

Growing up with a Mum as a drama teacher, Fiona has a love of musical theatre. Since 2018, Fiona has been a member of the orchestra for Thursford Christmas Spectacular and was the principal horn for the Lambeth Jackson productions  ‘The Secret Garden’ and ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ at the London Palladium.

In 2023, Fiona was the Brass Tutor for Olympias Music Foundation and One Education, South Centre before taking on her tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. With a passion for youth music, Fiona worked for many years as ‘Social Staff’ and French horn mentor with the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain on their residential courses. In 2017, she was a graduate music assistant at Wells Cathedral School, where she coached brass ensembles and assisted practice sessions. For two years (2020-2022) Fiona was the Administrator, Head of Pastoral staff and later, Assistant to the Directors for the Benedetti Foundation and she continues to enjoy an exciting career of performing, teaching and music administration.

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Teaching Info

Fiona can provide grade-focussed lessons for Young People and Adults or just teach brass lessons for fun! Online lessons are considered online but regular ‘in-person’ lessons are preferable.