About Us

Anna read music at the University of Manchester, studying conducting and cello with Robert Guy and Jennifer Langridge respectively. She studied with Sian Edwards at the Royal Academy of Music on the first Sorrell Women Conductors Programme. She then gained a place at the Royal Northern College of Music to work for an MMus in Orchestral Conducting with a Choral Conducting specialism, with teachers Mark Heron, Clark Rundell, David Hill and Stuart Overington. Here, she regularly assisted the conductors at the BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras, worked with groups at Chetham’sSchool of Music and rehearsed with the college’s Chamber Choir on a weekly basis. 

In 2022, Anna won the National Youth Brass Band GB Weston Conductors Competition, becoming Associate Conductor with the ensemble and assistant to Guest Conductor, Martyn Brabbins. She is the Cover Conductor for Northern Ballet’s autumn 2022 tour of The Little Mermaid, with a score by Sally Beamish. Having taught for a Stockport County Music Service, as a private teacher and with the National Children’s Orchestra as a student cello tutor, Anna is passionate about music education and amateur music making and she thrives in these environments to create memorable experiences. 

Ceri has been the accompanist for Caerphilly Community Chorus since 2009 having been part of the original team set up under the direction of Nigel Jones. 

Ceri grew up in Croesyceiliog attending the Comprehensive School there where she immersed herself in the musical life of the school, singing in the Junior and Senior Choirs, and starting her career as an accompanist at the age of just 14 for the Junior Choir then age 16 for the Senior Choir. In addition to the piano, Ceri plays the cello and was a member of the school and county youth orchestras. At school, she also enjoyed performing in the annual musical theatre productions, most notably playing the role of Anita in “West Side Story”. 

After A levels, Ceri went on to study for an honours degree in Music at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, after which she completed her Post Graduate Certificate of Education at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.

She then began her secondary teaching career at Caldicot Comprehensive before moving to take up a role in St CenyddComprehensive School in Caerphilly, where she taught Music and Performing Arts for 12 years. During her time there, as well as her subject teacher and pastoral care roles, Ceri was also responsible for coordinating shows, concerts and other performances that being part of a busy secondary school Music department calls for.

Since 2012, Ceri has worked as a freelance musician in a variety of settings. She is currently working for Gwent Music, teaching piano as well as delivering whole school projects. She regularly accompanies instrumentalists for exams, including her own children Noah and Florence. She has also worked to prepare and accompany pupils for Young Musician of the Year competitions, A level performance examinations and music college and university auditions. Ceri has been an adjudicator for the Caerphilly Young Musician of the Year competitions and moderates GCSE Music performances for one of the examination boards.

Ceri is an accomplished accompanist. In addition to her role with Caerphilly Community Chorus, she has been the accompanist for both the Caerphilly Children’s Choir and the Caerphilly Youth Singers. She is also the deputy accompanist for the Croesyceiliog Male Voice Choir.