Kyria Cardy | Andrew Taylor | Jo Levi | Hazel Davies

Kyria Cardy BMus (Hons) – Violin

I have been a violin teacher for Surrey Arts since 1996.  I have enjoyed a wide variety of roles in that time including orchestral coaching, accompanying orchestra tours, whole class violin tuition, running workshops and theory teaching.  It is a privilege to be a part of a child’s life from their first violin lesson, sometimes until they leave school, and see all the progression and developments they have made throughout those formative years.

I began playing the violin aged 5, and I gained my music degree from the University of Surrey.  I also play piano, viola, recorder, and enjoyed playing percussion at university. I am happy to teach all ages and abilities, and enjoy keeping my teaching current and fresh, so take as many opportunities as I can to go on training courses.  I have an active performing life, playing with local symphony orchestras, and in pit bands for many shows.  I am also a member of a string quartet.  In my spare time I enjoy running, and have completed 3 marathons. I like to go to concerts and shows and love most styles of music.  My favourite violinist is Itzhak Perlman, who is inspirational (especially his performance of Schindler’s List).

Andrew Taylor

Andrew has worked for Surrey Arts as a cello teacher and ensemble coach since 2002, teaching students of all ages and standards. These have included a number of adult students who now enjoy playing chamber music, and with orchestras and cello ensembles in the community; and many of his students who learned right through school have gone on to continue their music-making in university or college and beyond. He has participated in numerous SA events – workshops, ‘try an instrument’ days, the Easter Course, and directed a Surrey Arts senior student string group for a number of years, covering a large and diverse amount of repertoire for strings, on regular occasions showcasing students’ skills as soloists. He has tutored at the county youth orchestra since 2008, working with them on tour and taking part in the premiere of the SA-commissioned community opera, ‘The Freedom Game’, at the RAH in 2015, which featured a thousand performers.

 Andrew holds a first-class degree and a doctorate from a British university and additionally studied cello as a postgrad at the GSMD. He has worked under the direction of conductors including Pierre Boulez, Colin Davis and Kurt Masur; has taken part in masterclasses with musicians including Steven Isserlis and Raphael Wallfisch; and has performed many of the major cello concertos with ensembles across the UK. Recently he has worked regularly with several small string groups and chamber ensembles with established musicians, including a number of experienced orchestral principals; and widely over more than twenty-five years at corporate and wedding events with various ensembles. Prior to joining Surrey Arts, he began teaching privately, in several independent schools, and at a community music centre, in 1995.

Andrew believes strongly that the opportunity for students to access instrumental tuition through Surrey Arts’ provision for them to learn in local schools is of the highest value”.

Jo Levi

 Jo studied music at London University, specialising in performance, and recital work. Cello studies were with Antonia Butler (RCM) Boris Heller (RNCM) and briefly with Raphael Wallfisch. Performing alongside teaching is important and she regularly does recitals which feature unusual repertoire, most recently a programme of Russian Music. Alongside teaching Jo has been a music journalist, interviewing major cellists on issues on interpretation and technique for the international string magazine, The Strad. She has covered the International Rostropovich Competition, and interviewed the late master three times, including  his collaboration with Shostakovich on seminal cello works.  In addition she covered the Manchester International Cello Festival for The Strad, and attended masterclasses from the major cellists today. Jo was also invited to judge the chamber music competition at Trinity College of Music.   Apart from helping students achieve good exam results, she has been successful in coaching pupils for scholarships, at for example Royal Grammar School Guildford, and Duke of Kent School. Most recently a student gained an orchestral scholarship at Royal Holloway London University.  Jo’s main ambition however with teaching is to inspire, and to that end she has arranged a wide range of music from classical, baroque and jazz to pop standards, and designed her own cello teaching system.  Music is both a vocation and hobby, and Jo is currently embracing arrangements of Mozart Violin Sonatas for Cello.

Hazel Davies

Hazel has been teaching violin since 1996. She holds a CTABRSM and has worked for Surrey Arts since 2002 as a violin and viola teacher. She has gained many years of experience leading Wider Opportunities class instrumental lessons, and is the Upper strings Tutor for the South West Surrey Youth Orchestra and Conductor of Prima Strings. She has enjoyed many happy years tutoring at the Easter music course at Gatton, and also teaches privately. As a performing musician, she enjoys playing with Symphony Orchestras, String Quartets, and for shows. She also performs regular jazz with Gypsy Swing band ‘Douce Ambience’. She has been playing and performing with the Guildford Symphony Orchestra since 1996, and has recorded at the University of Surrey. 

Hazel’s inspiration to play the violin cam at a very early age. She found she was able to play the recorder and the piano by ear. By the age of 8 Hazel was given the chance to play the violin, and found that she had a natural aptitude for it. She was excited by the magic of being able to take a tune from my head, and play it on the violin. Hazel was soon playing in a children’s orchestra, string quartets, and this lead into the Surrey County Youth Orchestra. 

Hazel enjoys sharing her practical tips on technique and sharing her general enthusiasm for music of all genres. Every pupil is different, and Hazel enjoys finding a teaching/learning strategy to suit the individual. ‘To see a child having fun with their music making is a joy – especially if a technical challenge has been met and overcome!’ Hazel finds it rewarding to watch a child’s musical and personal progress, and to encourage them in becoming independent and self-confident.  With the Surrey Arts Prima Strings ensemble Hazel enjoys selecting and arranging fun pieces for all to play. Progress quickly speeds up as they discover new skills and friendships. Music has the ability to connect and bond.  

Hazel’s favourite piece of music can can vary, depending upon my mood. Her taste is eclectic, from classical, folk, jazz, blues, to pop. ‘Why limit yourself?’ Hazel has a soft spot for Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony. Mostly she would listen to Gypsy Swing – the Quintette du Hot Club de France, Stephane Grappelli, and Tcha Limberger are particular favourites but she is always discovering more!