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Summer Strings has been fortunate in attracting a group of enthusiastic young tutors, all of whom are talented players as well as being expert teachers. They share the view that making music is fun and they transfer this sense of enthusiasm and enjoyment to the students, who often continue long into the night with impromptu sessions. The tutors are aided by teaching assistants – generally music students, many of whom have come through the ranks of Summer Strings.

Nikki started playing violin at the City of Belfast School of Music, initially under the guidance of Stanley Foreman and later with Chad Koelmeyer. Whilst there, her enduring passion for chamber music was sparked by Heinz Hammerschlag. She became joint leader of the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra and leader of the Methodist College Orchestra and went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London where she was fortunate to have Clarence Myerscough as her violin tutor. This was followed by postgraduate studies at RAM where she specialised in chamber music under the guidance of the legendary Amadeus Quartet and Howard Davies of the Alberni Quartet. After a period of freelance work and teaching in London, she returned to Belfast in 1990 when she worked with the Ulster Orchestra, le Concert Spirituel (Paris) and led the Harty Ensemble. She also toured Great Britain and Ireland with the Dennison String Quartet. TV and recording work also featured at this time including work with Cliff Richard, Brian Kennedy and Phil Coulter. In addition to teaching privately, she has taught in CBSM, where she conducted the String Orchestra for 8 years and St Malachy’s College where she coached a number of string ensembles and conducted the Senior Chamber Orchestra. She is currently teaching in Assumption Grammar School.  Nikki founded Summer Strings in 1990.

After leaving St. Malachy’s College Shane attended Queen’s University Belfast where he studied Music and English. Since graduating in 1998 he has been working as a freelance violin tutor, teaching in various schools in the Greater Belfast area. At present he teaches violin and viola in Dominican College and St. Dominic’s Grammar School where in both schools he conducts and directs various orchestras and ensembles. Shane is also a part time violin tutor employed by the City of Belfast School of Music where he conducts the Junior String Orchestra. He has directed the Spike People Cello Choir, the Q.U.B. Chamber Orchestra and the Open Arts Choir and has performed regularly as a freelance orchestral and chamber music player. He is a member of the Dennison String Quartet which performs extensively and has recorded with a number of bands and singers.   Having attended a chamber music course regularly as a St. Malachy’s student Shane was delighted to join the Summer Strings staff in 1999 being aware of the unique experience that such a course provides. The benefits can be seen long after the concert draws to a close and the highly intense week of music-making is extremely rewarding for both students and staff.

After leaving school Aisling studied Music at Q.U.B and violin with Nikki Johnston with whom she completed her ATCL (1997) and LTCL (1998). After graduation she began teaching as a freelance tutor in various schools in the greater Belfast area including Victoria College, St. Dominic’s Grammar School and Dominican College, Fortwilliam. Despite a busy teaching schedule she managed to find time to continue performing as a member of the Harty String Quartet and as a freelance orchestral player. She has worked with different groups including the Belfast Baroque Consort, St. George’s Sinfonia, City of Derry Orchestra and various amateur dramatic companies. She has been a member of Castleward Opera Orchestra since 1995 and has done some television and recording work. Since December 2003 she has been employed as a full-time peripatetic Upper Strings Tutor with the SEELB Music Service.  Aisling first became involved with Summer Strings in 1994 and it has remained one of the most rewarding and challenging areas of her work.

Coleen studied Music at QUB graduating with a 2:1 BMus degree in 1996. Having studied violin with Nikki Johnston since1991 in Assumption Grammar and throughout university, she completed her LTCL in 1996. She has been teaching violin full time since then in several grammar and primary schools in the Belfast area, including Victoria College, Dominican College Fortwilliam, Assumption Grammar and more recently, St.Joseph's Primary School Carryduff. Coleen continues to play as a freelance musician with groups such as Castleward Opera,St. George's Sinfonia and plays regularly with amateur dramatic groups such as St. Agnes Choral Society, Bangor Choral Society and Ulster Operatic. She has also done some television and recording work, playing with Sir Cliff Richard, The Corrs and Paddy Casey.  Coleen started working with Summer Strings in 1995 and still finds it one of the most rewarding (and exhausting!) areas of her career.

Having attended Assumption Grammar School from 1990-1997 Cathy continued her music studies at Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music. Whilst there she studied violin with Julia Hanson and The Lindsay String Quartet. After completing her BMus she returned home and began teaching as a freelance tutor in various schools throughout Belfast and Co. Down including St.Dominic’s Grammar School, Assumption Grammar School and Rathmore Grammar School.  In addition to teaching she also love performing and while still at school was a member of The Ulster Youth Orchestra, and leader of the Classic FM Youth Orchestra. Although she has a busy teaching schedule she manages to find time to continue performing as a freelance orchestral player and has worked with Castleward Opera Orchestra, St George’s Sinfonia, Down Cathedral Orchestra and the Belfast Baroque Consort. Cathy has also played in various amateur dramatic productions and has done television and recording work. She also plays regularly with The Ireland String Quartet at various formal functions throughout the province.  Cathy joined Summer Strings in 2005 and has found it to be a very worthwhile and extremely rewarding experience.

Kerry Bryson BMus(Hons)  PGDipMus
 
After leaving school, Kerry continued her musical studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where she studied with Mark Bailey and Robert Irvine.  Following her studies, she returned to Northern Ireland and began freelance teaching in grammar and primary schools in Belfast and the surrounding area, including Dominican College Fortwilliam, Assumption Grammar School, St Malachy's College and St Dominic's Grammar School.  In addition to teaching, she is also a busy performer, and plays with groups such as the Ireland and Arco string quartets and the McAuley Piano trio.  Orchestral work has included Castleward Opera, St Georges Sinfonia and various amateur dramatic society productions, and she has also played with Phil Coulter, Russell Watson and Peter Corry.  This is Kerry's first year as a member of the Summer Strings staff and she is looking forward to the challenge, but also seeing the results of a week of music making.