Music Staff

Robert Parton, Director of Music

Robert Parton first picked up a Trumpet 25 years ago and has never looked back. Progressing quickly he passed Grade 8 aged 14 and gained places at the Birmingham Conservatoire Junior School, National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain and English Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Throughout his youth he toured world-wide with a variety of youth orchestras, as well as his school choir in which he also developed a passion for singing. At 18 he successfully gained Grade 8 singing and won a place at Trinity College of Music to study Classical Trumpet with Brian Thomson and Robert Farley.  After graduating from Trinity with honours Robert has performed as a professional Trumpet player in London for the last 14 years, performing with a wide variety of ensembles and artists as well as his own bands. Robert has performed internationally with the soul and funk band London Soul and tropical gypsy band Molotov Jukebox.

Robert began his career in music education 13 years ago when he co-founded a music scheme in London called the South London Initiative for Music. Since then he has gained experience working as a music and brass teacher in a number of schools, both primary and secondary.  Robert has also developed a series of interactive schools’ workshops for children promoting live music and encouraging children to take up musical instruments.  In 2009 he became Head of Music at Goose Green Primary School where he has developed an extensive department and curriculum, which focusses on positively impacting the whole school and the wider community.

In 2013 he founded the East Dulwich Academy of Music and Performing Arts at Goose Green Primary School, creating a musical environment for over 150 students from across South East London to receive arts tuition.

Robert is currently Director of Music at Papplewick school where he is thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to educate and inspire the boys.

Chris Goodwin, Director of Chapel Music

Chris was appointed organist at Papplewick in 2010 and is now Director of Chapel Music. He teaches piano, organ, singing and theory and assists the Director of Music with class teaching and accompanying. He went to RGS High Wycombe and studied with the organist of Eton College, winning an organ scholarship to Pembroke College, Cambridge where he read history. 

During a postgraduate year of advanced organ study with Dr John Birch at the Royal College of Music he became an Associate of the Royal College of Organists, gained the RCO Choirmaster diploma, and took diplomas in organ performance through the Royal College and organ teaching through the Royal Academy of Music. He was Director of Music at All Saints Ascot for many years and is now at St Andrew’s Sonning-on-Thames. In addition to church music, Chris has long experience as musical director for musicals and light opera, especially Gilbert & Sullivan, and assists with school productions. 

Linda Hannah-Andersson, Violin and Viola

Linda studied the violin at Lulea University in Sweden, before further studies with Ken Aiso at the Birmingham Conservatoire. In addition she studied baroque violin with Nicolette Moonen. She became a member of the European Union Baroque Orchestra when completing her studies and toured with Margaret Faultless, Ton Koopman, Alfredo Bernardini, Riccardo Minasi and Andrew Manze to name a few. She has worked as a freelance musician with diverse groups such as The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Hannover Band, Ex Cathedra, Charivari Agreable and English Touring Opera. She is also a founding member of the ensemble Harmony of Nations, with which she has released several recordings.  

Jon Spanyol, Brass & Piano.

Jon had a huge passion for music from an early age, gaining Grade 8 distinction on both trombone and piano by the age of 15, the latter gaining him the prestigious ABRSM Sheila Mossman prize for the highest mark in the country. A few years later, he was awarded a scholarship to the Royal College of Music to study orchestral trombone and graduated with a BMus(Hons) degree in 2006.

Over the past 15 years as a professional musician, Jon has performed extensively on piano and trombone at venues and events such as The Royal Albert Hall, Glastonbury Festival, The MOBO Awards, BBC Sports Personality of the Year, the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham and many more. He is also resident pianist at Claridge's Hotel.

Alongside his live work, he is also in demand as a composer and session musician for TV and other media, his music being used on BBC, ITV, Sky Sports and hundreds of other channels across the world.

 James Young, Piano

Leading a wide-ranging musical career as pianist, composer and musical director, James began formal musical study in piano and percussion at the Purcell School and then as a scholar at the Royal College of Music where he won prizes for piano and composition and later the Serena Nevill prize from the Concordia Foundation. A new-music enthusiast from a young age, James has performed with such luminaries as Jane Manning OBE, Roger Heaton, Peter O'Hagan and Andrew Ball and made the premiere recording of Introduction and Arabesques by Edwin Roxburgh for NMC. A former Park Lane Group Young Artist, he has made multiple appearances at Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room and St Martin-in-the-Fields as both duo and song pianist and performed live on BBC R3. Since 2009 James has been a member of six-piano ensemble Piano Circus, fostering a specialism in rhythmic and minimalist music which has led to recent tours of the music of Steve Reich with the London Sinfonietta and his joining the renowned Colin Currie Group.

An abiding love of theatre has drawn James to work as musical director for Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival where he has premiered over 50 new works, Charles Court Opera, Third Hand and Grim's Dyke Opera. As composer he has been commissioned by European Union Chamber Orchestra, Phoenix Piano Trio, Park Lane Group and harpist Keziah Thomas. His first chamber opera Njogel was well received in 2014 (“Young's music has great depth and breadth ... a magical, unsettling evening.” Bachtrack).

As an educator James has devised and led workshops for pianists and composers at Edinburgh, Brunel and Edge Hill Universities, Birmingham Conservatoire and RWCMD, lectured and coached ensembles at Brunel and Goldsmith's Universities, taught musicianship at the Yehudi Menuhin School and currently teaches piano and musicianship at Junior Trinity Laban Conservatoire.

Lucy Rundle, Double Bass

Lucy studied the Double Bass at the Royal College of Music, where her teacher was with Enno Senft (Principal Bassist of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and London Sinfonietta). She was awarded the Eugene Cruft Double Bass Prize as well as an award from the Sir John Ackroyd Trust. As part of her postgraduate course, Lucy studied in Berlin with Klaus Stoll (then Principal Bassist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra).

Lucy now works as a freelance double bass player, having performed with orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Halle and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also worked with the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra in Norway and travelled the USA for three months with a production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” She started playing with Orchestra of the Swan in 2012, and she performs regularly with the English Symphony Orchestra.

Lucy is also in demand as a double bass teacher, having taught at the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and various private and state schools in Berkshire alongside a successful private teaching practice.

 Ana Borzone, Cello

Cellist Ana Borzone studied at some of the most renowned music institutions in Europe, such as “The International Menuhin Music Academy - Gstaad, Switzerland(IMMA)” and the “Royal College of Music” in London, graduating with a PGDip in performance in 2010. She has has had master classes with Pieter Wispelwey, Eduardo Vassallo, Martin Lovett, and Sigfried Palm.
In 2003 she was lent a cello from the “Rostropovich Fundation”, at the Krongberg Permanent Cello Festival in Frankfurt am Main. Ana has toured Europe as a member of the Camerata Lysy and the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie as well as having worked closely with a number of string ensembles at Oxford University in Jesus College, St Peter's College and Magdalen College.

From an early age Ana developed a strong passion for teaching and since 2008 she has been teaching cello and conducting string orchestras at different independent schools and institutions in Berkshire. Ana's pupils have performed and won prizes at music festivals in the UK and have successfully joined the junior department programmes at different music institutions in the country.

Rebecca Heathcote, Oboe

Rebecca graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1998. She went on to complete a PGCE at Reading University and work for Berkshire Maestros where, apart from teaching the oboe, she tutored on reed making courses and ran several ensembles. Rebecca now mainly teaches the oboe in schools alongside orchestral and solo playing. 

Rachel Gooding-Hurst, Bassoon and Vocal Studies

Bassoonist and contrabassoonist Rachel Hurst attended the Junior Royal Academy of Music from age 14, whilst also holding a position in a number of National Youth Orchestras. She went on to graduate from the Royal College of Music with honours in July 2017, having studied with Martin Gatt, Sarah Burnett and Martin Field. Whilst at the Royal College of Music, she sung with the RCM Chorus, and played bassoon in the RCM Symphony Orchestra under world-renowned conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy and Jac van Steen, and also held the post of Woodwind Representative. Whilst still studying her undergraduate degree, she made her professional debut with the Spanish Symphony Orchestra under Gregorz Nowak. Rachel has enjoyed performing at some of the most prestigious concert halls in the world, including the Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Centre, Cadogan Hall, and the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre.

Rachel was awarded a coveted Leverhulme Scholarship to study on the Orchestral Artistry Masters Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in association with the London Symphony Orchestra, where she commenced her studies in September 2018. With her quintet, the Klei Quintet, Rachel has performed in the BBC Symphony Orchestra Total Immersion concert series, showcasing Ligeti’s Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

 George Jones, Percussion

Originally from South Wales, George graduated from the University of Bristol in 2014 with a BA(Hons) degree in Music. He then moved to London to embark on further studies in percussion and drum kit performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, gaining a master's in music (MMus) and a postgraduate artist diploma (PGAD). He was pleased to be supported in his studies as a Trinity College London Scholar and to receive the annual percussion prize in 2015.

As a professional musician, George works with a range of ensembles from symphony orchestras to chamber groups, brass bands to big bands. He has a particular interest in music for the theatre and has performed as a deputy on well-known shows in the West End and on national tours.

George also teaches Music at St John’s Beaumont School and holds 1-1 peripatetic positions at other schools in London and Guildford.

Edward Williams, Drums

Ed’s story is a tale of two halves: initially self-taught for many years Ed gained a lot of gigging experience with countless bands from a very young age. Moving from rural Wales to metropolitan London saw Ed embrace education achieving a First with Honours and a distinction at Masters level, subsequently gaining a PGCert in education as well. His playing has seen him travel the world playing in such places as San Francisco, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and Singapore. 

He continues to be a high demand session player running his own studio and performing at some of the UK’s most renowned recording and live venues regularly. His extensive experience has seen him working with many top artists and producers, including Scott James (Manic Street Preachers), Pete Cunnah (D:Ream) and Steve Lyon (Paul McCartney, Depeche Mode), among many others. Ed is as passionate now as he was as a young teenager although this has broadened to include fostering the enthusiasm of all of his students and he is now in as much demand for his teaching skills as his playing and loves both in equal measure.

Jessica Ortony, French Horn and Brass

Jessica started learning the French horn aged 8 and went on to join Birmingham Conservatoire Junior School. Jessica received a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland studying under David McCleneghan and John Logan. She graduated with a BMus, PGDip and a Distinction for her Masters in Music Performance.

During Jessica’s time at the RCS she won the Governors Brass Recital Prize and began to work as a freelance horn player. As part of her Masters she performed as a soloist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and at the end of her time studying, she was awarded the Peter Morrison Prize.  In 2008 Jessica successfully auditioned to attend the London Symphony Orchestra brass academy course tutored by David Pyatt and was a finalist for their solo recital competition.

Jessica worked in Scotland playing with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and also trialled for a position with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Orchestra of Scottish Ballet.

Patrick Avery, Guitar

Patrick Avery has a background in playing popular music and went on to study jazz guitar at the London college of music, graduating in 2005. During this time, he performed with many leading musicians in the London jazz scene.

Patrick Avery graduated from the London College of Music in 2005 having studied jazz guitar under Mike Outram and Nigel Price. During this time, he was regularly found playing in London’s jazz scene. After graduating, Patrick discovered the classical guitar. Initially studying under Graham Devine and Gilbert Biberian before graduating from the Royal College of Music where he studied with Charles Ramirez. Patrick has performed in many of the major UK music festivals including the Cheltenham festival and regularly at the Brighton and Hove festival. Patrick has always been passionate about improvisation and has been awarded a scholarship to undertake a PhD investigating improvisatory practice at the Centre for Performance Science at the Royal College of Music.

 Rosie Reed, Flute

Rosie is a flute player and teacher based in London, where she has performed at top venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Barbican Centre, and the Dorchester Hotel. She gained a first class degree in Music from Southampton University and went on to study for a PGDip in Flute at Trinity College of Music, graduating with distinction. After Trinity, Rosie toured with theatrical pop orchestra The Irrepressibles, in concert halls and music festivals in the UK and across Europe. She loves playing a variety of music including classical, pop and musical theatre. Recording work includes music for TV, theatre and adverts, at studios such as BBC Maida Vale and Air Studios. Rosie has also been lucky to travel around the world as a guest recitalist on cruise ships including the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and QM2 cruise liners.

Rosie is passionate about music education, and has taught at schools across London, as well as coaching on holiday courses.

Justin Swadling, Saxophone, Clarinet and Music Technology

Justin graduated from the London College of Music in 2007 and has since worked with some of the biggest names in the music business which include; Candi Staton, The Temptations, Tony Hadley, Holly Johnson, ABC, Rick Wakeman, Jason Donovan, Bonnie Tyler, Jocelyn Brown, Odyssey, Archie Bell and the Drells, Tiffany, T’Pau, Martha Wash, Pixie Lott, Louisa Johnson, Roland Gift, Light of the World, Dr and the Medics and Nick Heyward. On tour Justin has performed at many of the most prestigious music venues and festivals in the UK and around the world in over 30 countries.

Justin has also released several award winning albums of his own music, distributed internationally, by the highly acclaimed record label 33Jazz.

In addition to providing instrumental tuition to all students studying woodwind at Papplewick Justin also teaches individual and group music technology lessons.

Paul Darrah, Piano and Theory

Paul has been playing the piano since the age of 7 and completed his Grade 8 at the age of 15. He graduated in 2000 from the University of Keele having studied Music and Philosophy. In addition, he achieved the Dip ABRSM diploma and Associate diploma of Trinity College London. Paul has been teaching piano, keyboard and theory for the past 20 years, much of that time at The Marist Schools in Sunninghill. Paul enjoys performing in orchestra pits, but has also been Musical Director for many award winning shows for the Starburst Foundation. He has a passion for composition and hopes to publish some of his work in the near future.