The Full Story
Our Team
Director
Philip Aird
MBA FRSA
Philip enjoys a career in music with roles in senior management, performance and education. He is Chief Executive of ESTA (UK), Director of Young Grittleton Chamber Music Courses, Joint Managing Director of Part Play LTD and a member of the 1st violin section of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.
His playing career includes performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Opera House, Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Philip loves musicals and has played frequently in London’s West End for shows such as Chicago, Phantom of the Opera, Carousel, Showboat, West Side Story. He has also performed on the soundtracks for numerous TV dramas and films, such as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
As an educator Philip has held teaching posts at several independent schools and presented at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Philip is an education consultant for the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and has recently in partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music become the Chief Operating Officer for the Peak Sinfonia of Hong Kong.
In his role as CEO of ESTA UK Philip is responsible for the implementation of a range of professional development training courses for instrumental teachers including a fully accredited master’s degree in instrumental pedagogy. These courses have become highly valued in teacher development receiving excellent feedback from both students and independent examiners.
Founder
Madeline Kam
MA FRSM
Madeline Kam is a Hong Kong based pianist, teacher, translator and researcher. Madeline mentors post-graduate pianists at the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Madeline is a collaborative pianist and frequently performs with instrumentalists from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. For her Fellowship dissertation Madeline researched piano teaching and learning styles in mainland China in a comparative study with Western influenced methodologies in Hong Kong. Madeline has worked for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, variously as a simultaneous Interpreter from English to Cantonese and to Mandarin at more than 150 teacher seminars, the HR manager for the ABRSM Hong Kong youth orchestra for gifted and talented players, ‘The Celebration Symphony orchestra’ and as an Interpreter in the examination room for music examiners and candidates.
Madeline currently serves as the Asia Consultant to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, The Development Director for China and South-east Asia for the European String Teacher Association and, along with Bill Thomson, has travelled throughout mainland China as a co-presenter for Faber Music’s Paul Harris piano publications. Madeline has performed and presented at ABRSM Asia Conferences in Singapore, Chiang Mai (in Northern Thailand) and performed the Goldberg Variations on a European harpsichord, procured from a Royal Palace, in Bangkok. Madeline’s Master’s degree, from the University of Sheffield, is in music education.
