Biographies

	Alistair Parnell GRCM, LRCM Director Soprano, sopranino, piano, EWI Alistair studied saxophone and piano at the Royal College of Music. During his time there he won several performance prizes. He also formed and led the Mistral Saxophone Quartet. He plays with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, the Northern Saxophone Quartet, Equinox Saxophone Ensemble and is guest conductor of the Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra. He also runs a very successful teaching business in Nottingham and is Visiting Scholar of Saxophone for Nottingham University. www.isax.co.uk
	Nicola Pennill DipABRSM LRSM CTABRSM Soprano, alto saxophone Nicola balances a busy teaching diary with regular performances. As an ensemble player she plays with a number of groups and is currently chairman of the award winning Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra. As a principal player with the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain, she performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2005. In 2009 she released her first solo album, a personal collection of chamber pieces for saxophone. As well as her private teaching Nicola has worked with the Nottingham Wind Ensemble, Nottingham Choral Trust's 'Bandwise' programme. She has helped develop and run the popular Nottingham SaxDay which attracts intermediate and advanced players from across the country. www.nicolapennill.co.uk
	Gayle Lond BMus (Hons) MA PGCE (Post Comp Ed) LRSM (Performance) LRSM (Teaching) FRSM Alto, soprano saxophone Gayle studied clarinet at the Royal Northern College of Music. On completion of her degree she joined the RAF, where she was Solo Clarinettist with the College Band at Cranwell for over 10 years. She travelled extensively around Europe, both in the band and as part of smaller ensembles, and featured as a soloist on the Massed Bands tour at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Whilst still in the RAF Gayle took Masters in Music at Nottingham University which she passed with Merit and her FRSM in clarinet performance. In 2004 she decided to focus on the saxophone, with a distinction being awarded for the LRSM in saxophone performance in 2005. Gayle has now left the RAF to spend more time with her baby son and teaches clarinet and saxophone privately and for Lincolnshire Music Support Service. www.gaylelond.co.uk
	Keri Degg DipABRSM (teaching) DipABRSM (performance) Alto, soprano saxophones Multi-instrumentalist Keri plays clarinet, flute and piano as well as the saxophone. Keri has completed her diplomas in saxophone performance and also in teaching (clarinet) in which she achieved a distinction. She is passionate about teaching and learning, always keen to develop new skills and pass them on to others. She teaches privately, and enjoys working on her own compositions. www.keridegg.co.uk
	Sarah Markham Tenor Saxophone Sarah studied at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) gaining a Degree and Professional Performer�s Diploma (with Distinction), and at the University of Massachusetts, USA where she gained a Master in Music Degree. She has enjoyed competition success with the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition and the Park Lane Group. Sarah has performed all over Britain and Europe and has broadcast live on Radio 3 and Classic FM. Sarah also plays baritone saxophone in the Northern Saxophone Quartet, and is a member of the Tribune Saxophone Octet. Sarah is the saxophone teacher at the Junior department of the Royal College of Music, and the Universities of Huddersfield and Sheffield. In 2006, Sarah released her first solo album featuring standard works from the classical saxophone repertoire. www.sarahmarkham.eu
	Lindsey Smith BA (Hons) MSc PgDip Tenor saxophone Lindsey grew up in Stafford, where she played with the Staffordshire Youth Wind Orchestra. She arrived in Nottingham to study at the University, was one of the original members of the Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra and fell in love with the vibrant Nottingham saxophone scene. More recently she spent six years with the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain, appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe and in concerts throughout the UK. Now based in Buckinghamshire, Lindsey combines her musical commitments with a career as an editor.
	Michelle Phillips BA (Hons) MA Baritone saxophone Michelle began her music studies at the University of Nottingham as a flautist, but quickly switched allegiance to the tenor saxophone. She has since played with the Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra, BSQ quartet, National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain and other ensembles in Leeds, Nottingham, and southern Germany. Michelle is currently studying for a PhD at Cambridge in the department for music and science and lectures at the Royal Northern College of Music.
	Matt Lond GCLCM PGCE Baritone saxophone, Tubax Matt studied music focusing on jazz and performance on the saxophone at Leeds College of Music and completed his teacher training at Leeds University. Since 2002 he has worked as a woodwind peripatetic music teacher for Lincolnshire Music Service. As part of his work he has established various jazz and classical ensembles in the schools he works in that are very successful. He is also the saxophone tutor for the Lincolnshire Youth Symphonic Wind Band and The Lincolnshire Jazz & Rock Academy. In 2010 he became the Contemporary Music Coordinator for Lincolnshire Music Service.
	Kirsty Everett BA (Hons) Jazz Studies Bass and baritone saxophones Kirsty studied jazz saxophone at Leeds College of Music, and is currently working towards an MA in Music Performance at LCM. Although she plays all members of the saxophone family together with clarinet and bass clarinet (and despite being vertically challenged!), she particularly enjoys the bass and baritone saxophones and has chosen to specialise on these instruments. Kirsty plays in a number of diverse bands, from the National Saxophone Ensemble to function bands.