Alex and Marion are professional musicians who perform regularly all over the world. With over twenty years of experience in education between them, they are passionate about helping children engage with world class music. They believe in the importance of being musically challenged whilst also having fun.
Alex Atty
Alex is a London-based percussionist and educator. She is a fully qualified teacher, having trained through the salaried School Direct programme then awarded a PGCE from Roehampton University. She has been involved in numerous educational projects for the London Symphony Orchestra, University of London, Hackney Music Service and Trestle Theatre Company. She currently teaches percussion peripatetically at Blackheath High School and enjoys corporate training in communication and leadership skills having worked with Novartis, Nokia and Unilever among others, all over the world.
Music for theatre, comedy and improvisation are Alex’s specialities. She has recently collaboratively written and performed the musical comedy show Pippa Evans Grows Up broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Alex has also performed in pop and hip-hop settings supporting Public Enemy in London’s Koko, toured with Hackney Empire New Act of the Year winner Abandoman and accompanying singers at The Pheasantry. She has been the principal percussionist of the Olivier award-winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical for over five years. She performs regularly in London’s West End and has toured worldwide improvising musicals: Norway, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and New York.
Alex studied at the Royal College of Music Junior Department from the age of sixteen. She later graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in Classical Percussion and Timpani during which time she worked with RADA and the RSC, played orchestral music at the Barbican conducted by Sir Mark Elder and studied African drumming in Ghana.
Marion Wyllie
Marion Wyllie is a Scottish mezzo-soprano who has been teaching for over ten years. Her experience to date has given her the opportunity to work with a huge variety of students of all ages and backgrounds; she is an experienced and adaptable music facilitator fully committed to inspiring everyone she collaborates with.
After completing her BMus Marion went on to do an MMus at the same conservatoire, Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Under the baton of conductors such as Sir Mark Elder, Martyn Brabbins, Eammon Duggan she has performed in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Concert Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
In recent years, Marion has turned her focus to vocal tutoring and choir directing. She works at Harrodian School in Barnes as a peripatetic voice and piano teacher and is the director for the children's choir. She is also the director for the adult pop choir 'Some Voices Clapham'.
Marion has always loved choral singing and opera; she believes there is no greater feeling than singing as one with a group of people and being able to express emotion through vocal and physical performance. Opera has allowed Marion to understand and appreciate the world and herself; she can’t wait to share this inspiring and beautiful music with students.
