Questors Young Musicians Club
The QYMC Committee
The QYMC Committee has an enormously important role in running the Club. QYMC now is what past parents have made it. The Committee meets on a termly basis and holds its AGM in the Autumn Term.
- Chair - Orla Kelly
- Treasurer - Peter Tolley
- Secretary - Carole Dinsley
- Parent Rep. - Annabel Crowe
- Parent Rep. - Graham Judd
- Parent Rep. - Jeremy Travers
- Administrator - Loredana Johnson
- Musical Director - Fiona Johnson
- Dan Keane left last year, having recorded his first album, and has recently been seen backing the Gorillaz and performing on Jules Holland's TV show.
- Winston hasn’t left, and isn’t about to, but has released an album or two as well and played with his usual style at the Ealing Jazz Festival.
- Anna Wolstenholme has just left to pursue her performing career and is currently on trial for the position of Principal Flute with the London Symphony Orchestra.
- Claus Efland left us to assist Sir Colin Davis preparing orchestras and opera choruses and got to the final three in the 2004 Donatella Flick Conducting Competition. He became principal guest conductor of the Bardi Symphony Orchestra
- Becca Dell is fulfilling her life’s ambition in Stomp.
- Mike Tetreault is being percussive in the USA.
- Rosie Richardson is teaching, performing and recently had her first baby.
- Eddie Maxwell is performing, teaching, composing and arranging and had 4 children at last count.
- Cara Spencer has returned from teaching and travelling in Mexico, and is currently studying at York.
- Jo Warren (nee Rudgley) is performing and teaching and expecting her second baby
Orla Kelly helping on Open Day
Fiona Johnson conducting the Junior String Ensemble
Gwen Page - Administrator
Jane Boehm - Chair 1999 - 2006
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Our Teachers
Jobs at QYMC
We are always keen to hear from prospective teachers. Please download and complete an application form!
To download an application form in Word click here
To download an application form in .pdf click here.
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Past Teachers at QYMC
It is often sad for pupils when QYMC teachers move on, however we thought you might like to hear what some of them have been up to!
Obviously you can’t go from teaching for QYMC to these sorts of careers without building up to it, so if your child’s teacher is absent for a week or two occasionally, just remember that many of our teachers are at the start of dynamic careers and are highly motivated individuals whose teaching is usually of equally high calibre!
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A Brief History of the Questors Young Musicians Club
The Questors Young Musicians Club was founded in 1965 by a group of friends who were all members of the Questors Theatre. Lessons in Carl Orff percussion initially took place in a front room in Ealing but rapidly became so popular that a move to larger premises was necessitated. The Club moved to Montpelier School where it remained for many years. During this time recorder and piano lessons were added to the curriculum, with strings, woodwind and brass following. Guitar lessons also took place, for some while at the Questors Theatre, then moving in with the rest of the Club.
As children progressed a number of ensembles were added along with orchestras and a variety of chamber groups. In the early 80s the Club moved to Elthorne, however as the school closed another local school was found; Grange Middle School (as it was then) and the Club has remained there for over 20 years. During the Grange era the Club has grew from around 150 pupils to around 230. We moved again last summer and are now very happy in our new premises at Fielding School where the Club atmosphere has really taken off and the Cafe has become the hub, not to mention raising very useful funds.
Over the last decade we have added classes in singing, electric guitar, keyboard, drum kit and jazz, but the ethos has always remained the same - to instil in pupils a lifelong love of music. Our pupils are dedicated and enthusiastic - one has just accepted a place at the Purcell School for September. Former QYMC pupils are to be found throughout the music industry - 1 leads an international string quartet and others are members of professional orchestras. They are to be found in jazz, pop and light music also.
The Club has always been run by a committee of parents who are tireless in their efforts to support events such as this concert, as well as the day to day business of the Club. QYMC today is only what it is through the hard work and enthusiasm of parents over the last 40 years.
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