Claire Phillips received an MA in Music from Cambridge University, and is a qualified teacher. She has experience of teaching Music from Foundation Stage to Advanced Level. Claire teaches both the GCSE class and Junior Music at the College, as well as violin and piano. She is passionate about sharing her love of music with each of her pupils.
David is a familiar face around the Ulster College of Music, having taught at the UCM for over ten years. A qualified teacher, he completed his teacher training at Stranmillis College and has experience teaching in both Secondary and Primary Schools. At the College he teaches piano to Grade 8, and is a UCM Accompanist for students sitting Exams. Further to this, he regularly prepares students of various instruments for Exam Aural tests.
Outside College, David plays the Organ and is a member of a leading amateur Operatic Company, appearing in the Grand Opera House.
Elena has been teaching piano at the Ulster College of Music since 1999, and maintains an enthusiastic student base within the College. She is educated to the highest level, having attained her Masters Degree in Music at the Moscow Conservatoire and having undertaken further study at the Bach Academy in Stuttgart.
A skilled performer and conductor, Elena’s extensive experience includes being employed by the prestigious Novodevichy Cathedral Choir in Moscow as Assistant Conductor (1990-1999), performance work at the A. Vasiliev Drama Theatre in Moscow and Music Directorship of the V. Mayakovsky Academy Drama Theatre between 1995 and 1999. Proir to teaching at the UCM, Elena taught at the Central Music School in Moscow for 8 years, further honing her ability to convey musical ideas. The width of Elena’s professional experience allows her to effectively improve student performances and technique whilst educating them within a broader awareness of musical traditions.
Whilst at the Ulster College of Music, Elena continues to promote excellence in performance and enjoyment of music with her students, and organises performance opportunities where possible. Ever the approachable and intuitive teacher, her students continue to develop their skills and passion for the piano in an encouraging and welcoming environment.
Francis King, BMus, MA, LRAM, FTCL was born in Belfast. His highly experienced piano teacher was Bertram Llewellyn Jones (who arrived in Belfast in 1921, taught generations of Ulster pianists and musicians and whose emphasis upon not only technique but also theory and analysis helped form his pupil’s outstanding sight-reading skills).
He read Music at Edinburgh University before pursuing his Master’s studies at Queen’s University, Belfast. After periods in school-teaching and lecturing he established himself as one of the most sought-after pianists, accompanists and teachers in Ireland. There followed many recitals for the BBC, working with some of the finest singers and instrumentalists in the British Isles. He has spent many years as repetiteur with Opera Northern Ireland and as orchestral pianist with the Ulster Orchestra, in concerts and recordings. He was a founder-member of the twentieth-century music group, Sequenza, and has played in many chamber ensembles, his latest venture being the investigation of the Piano Trio repertoire in the company of Morag Stewart, Cello, and Astrid King, Violin. He lives in Bangor, County Down where he continues to encourage young musicians to develop their potential.
Michael McGuffin L.T.C.L., F.T.C.L. is one of the most highly recognised and distinguished faces within Northern Irish music. He has taught Piano at the Ulster College of Music for over 20 years and continues to strive for excellence with his students. He is also well-known as an Conductor, Adjudicator and Accompanist, and often offers his Accompaniment services to students at the College for Recitals and Exams.
Paul has had a long and lasting relationship with the piano – first studying with Doris Savage whose love of music education kept her teaching into her 100’s. It was at the Ulster College of Music as a student that he gained his Performance Diploma and Associate Diploma in Teaching piano under Frank King’s tutelage. He progressed onto the Teaching Staff and has been a very welcome addition for many years now.
Paul is an experienced teacher, gaining his teaching degree at St Mary’s College, Belfast and having completed post graduate studies at Queen’s University Belfast spending some time researching Special Educational Needs. This extensive experience and interest in the diverse needs of students, serves to compliment his love of music – providing students with a sympathetic and encouraging learning experience.
He is currently tutoring at a number of primary and second level schools throughout the local area, as well as at the Ulster College of Music. This is a particularly impressive balancing act as he is also the Chairman of the College, and within this role he continues to demonstrate his deep-seated passion for the organisation and for music within Northern Ireland.
In his spare moments Paul harbours a love of the Trombone and has played in various brass bands over the past number of years.
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