Who's Who | Music Staff

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    Tom Oakshott - Director of Music and Senior Master

    B.Mus (Hons), FRCO, LRAM, Dip.Mus(Holland), Cert.Ed (Moray House, Edinburgh)

    Tom has two brothers, and plenty of nephews and nieces. He is one of the longest serving members of staff and is very dedicated to the music at Aysgarth. Tom’s interests are obviously music, architecture, gardening and bridge.

    Tom has the ability to instil commitment, dedication and great love of music in the boys and has never ending patience in obtaining the very best musical results from them.

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    John Dodd - Assistant Director of Music

    John joined the Coldstream Guards Band in 1963 from the Gordon Roys School. He taught French horn at the Guards Depot. He did a bandmaster’s course at Kneller Hall and in 1976 he was appointed Bandmaster of the 2nd BTN Royal regiment of Fusiliers until 1985. He then retired from the army. John has had various teaching posts mainly with Durham music service. His interests are painting in all mediums, composing, arranging, model railways and walking.

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    Dominic Rivron - Teacher of guitar and double bass

    Dominic has a Mus.B(Hons) degree. He graduated from Manchester University in 1979. He lives in the Yorkshire Dales where he works as an instrumental teacher, teaching guitar and double-bass.

    He is married with 4 children and his interests are Mountaineering and Amateur Radio.

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    Martin Bainbridge - Violin

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    Peter Bartlett - Woodwind

    Peter studied music at the Royal Military School of Music. He played professionally in Japan and the Middle East, doing mainly radio and television studio work. Aysgarth is one of 7 schools that Peter teaches at. He plays all the woodwind instruments and has played in a number of local orchestras. He recently completed and Advanced Diploma in Jazz Studies at St Andrews University.

    Mrs S.C. Thomson - Cello

    Mrs Thompson has been teaching Cello for many years at Aysgarth

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    Tom Alexander - Bagpipes

    Tom started piping at the age of 9. He joined the Scouts and played in their pipe band for 6 years. He is now a member of Thirsk Fire Station Pipe Band which was started 4 years ago.

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    Andrew Nelson - Piano

    Andrew has a BA(Hons) from the University of York, and a CTABRSM (teacher training)

    His hobbies include: fast cars, shooting, off-roading, old land-rovers, woodworking & gardening.