Welcome to the String Department
About Us
Our string department, formerly Royal Arsenal School of Strings, consists of students learning violin, cello and guitar. We welcome students of all abilities, and enjoy tutoring both children and adults.
Lessons take place in one of our five beautiful studios and we have gathered a team of highly esteemed string teachers, all passionate educators and acclaimed musicians in their own right.
We know that every child learns differently so we tailor all of our lessons to individual needs so everyone can thrive under our tutorship here at the school.
Sally Wragg
Head of Strings
Sally was awarded her music degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance where she was awarded a scholarship, giving her an outstanding standard of classical training. She has performed alongside artists such as Sam Smith, Jess Glynne and Olly Murs and has made television appearances on shows such as Sunday Brunch and Loose Women. She performs regularly in theatre shows and with orchestras in the UK and overseas.
Sally is committed to passing on her love of music to younger generations and enjoys seeing students progress under her tuition. She has been teaching both adults and children for over a decade and is dedicated to seeing the musical community in the Woolwich area thrive.
Elona Laurie
Associate Violin Teacher
Elona is a graduate of Trinity College of Music where she was awarded the Mehroo and Byram Jeejeebhoy Prize for Violin and a Leverhulme Orchestral Mentorship Scholarship to continue her studies with Gina McCormack and Walter Reiter (baroque violin) and to complete a mentorship scheme with the City of London Sinfonia.Elona now enjoys a varied musical career, performing with orchstras, on shows and as part of a string duo that regularly takes to the sea. Based in London but the violin taking her all over the world; Australia, Alaska, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan & South Africa are just some of the places that she has had the privilege of working most recently.
An avid chamber musician, Elona loves playing with the Blackheath String Quartet. She also plays in some slightly more obscure ensembles, some involve both dancing and playing the can-can simultaneously, others groups require wearing many, many sequins. Recent interesting venues that she has performed at include the Tower of London, under the blue whale in the Natural History Museum and in a muddy field for the National Eisteddfod.
Elona is a passionate music teacher with over 15 years of experience teaching young beginners to adults of all abilities. With a focus on joy and meaningful interaction through music, Elona will happily help you reach your goals.
Marie Anne Bruccheri
Associate Violin Teacher
Born into a musical family in France, Marie Anne started playing violin at
an early age. She studied at the Conservatoire de Nancy, France, graduating with the prestigious Premier Prix de Violon, Chamber music and Music Theory.
She has performed with many artists such as Emeli Sande, Lana Del Rey, Rod Stewart, Florence and the Machine, Eminem as well as tours with Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds and Elvis Presley's Las Vegas band in some of the most prestigious venues in the world.
As an accomplished classical player she is also involved with many strings quartets on a freelance basis and also has a deep love of improvisation and jazz.
Qualified violin player, violin teacher and chamber musician, Marie Anne is a self-directed enthusiastic educator with a passionate commitment to creating positive learning environments and making a difference in students’ lives.
Victoria Harrild
Cello Teacher
Former Solo Cellist of the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra, Victoria has guest led cello sections throughout the UK including the BBC Concert Orchestra, Ulster, Scottish Opera, and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras. She has recorded extensively for Film, TV and Gaming including Star Wars, Poldark, Zero Dark Thirty, Death on the Nile, amongst many others and has toured worldwide giving live broadcasts on radio and TV both with the Eschenburg Piano Trio that she founded in 2015 and as a freelancer with the Mahler Chamber and London Symphony Orchestras.
Victoria has a passion for sharing music with musicians of all abilities and has taught from absolute beginner to postgraduate level.
Stefan Melovski
Guitar Teacher
Stefan Melovski is a dedicated guitar teacher living in London. He finished his masters in classical guitar studies at the prestigious Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and was a featured solo recitalist in venues including King’s Place, Cheltenham Town Hall, and St. James Piccadilly to name a few. Stefan has been featured as performer at the Ronnie Scott’s 'Late Show’, the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank, and has been lucky to have performed with, amongst others, Ari Roland, Chris Byars, Rivka Golani, and the Carducci Quartet.
Well-versed in teaching acoustic fingerstyle, classical guitar technique and electric guitar, Stefan uses a variety of teaching materials such as ABRSM, Trinity Guildhall as well as Rockschool (electric/acoustic), as well as creating his own exercises and explanations personalised for each and every student. His main passion is to inspire his students to make their own arrangements of their favourite songs.
Ashley Blasse
Guitar Teacher
Ashley Blasse is a freelance Contemporary guitarist, composer and arranger based in London, UK.
Formerly trained in classical guitar at Trinity Laban, Ashley has garnered recognition for his performances of solo classical guitar repertoire from the Bromley Music Society (Guitar Department Award 2008) and Lennox Berkeley Society (2014 Guitar Award).
Since graduating, Ashley has explored music and composition with the electric guitar alongside classical, working in partnership with musicians and artists in London creating new music and innovative arrangements.
Ashley also works as an educator, teaching privately since 2010 and has held positions as an instrumental and music theory teacher at renowned establishments such as Centre for Young Musicians (CYM), Surbiton High School and Tomorrow’s Warriors.
David Black
Guitar Teacher
David comes originally from Bangor in North Wales and began playing the guitar at the age of 10. In 2000 he graduated with first Class Honours from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and in 2004 he completed an MMus at the Royal College of Music, London.
David now lives in South East London and is busy performing solo, as one half of the Albach Guitar Duo and with contemporary music group rarescale. David also plays the lute and, in addition to the classical guitar, has taught electric and steel-string guitars for over 20 years.
Recent performances have taken him to San Francisco, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Lima (Peru), Aarhus (Denmark), Long Island Guitar Festival (USA), Greenman Festival (Wales) and recordings for BBC Radio.
David currently teaches guitar at Dulwich College, Eltham College, Blackheath High and St Olave's School and has also written a study book for Quercus publications.
David plays a guitar by luthier Kenny Hill.
Ed Bruggemeyer
Violin Teacher
Ed’s 20 years of professional performance experience has been varied. Trained at Trinity College of Music, London - where he was awarded the Mehroo and Byram Jeejeebhoy prize for violin - classical music has been the foundation for other styles of performance.
Alongside the more familiar classical worlds of orchestras, quartets and recording sessions, Ed’s work with groups such as Bebeto, Bowjangles and Pluck– all originating from street performance, has taken him into the cabaret circuit and on to tours in many places around the world. It has also created opportunities to learn and develop a career as an actor.
Ed’s experience of teaching violin has been in a variety of London schools. In addition, he has been found leading and assisting performance workshops in countries such as Ireland and Norway, as well as locations closer to home.
Picture - Tom Bowles
