Mark Aitchison

Mark has been teaching and performing music for more than 30 years. With his skill, encouragement and enthusiasm, he has developed thriving music departments in secondary schools across the West Midlands and South West. Mark has a wealth of experience in classroom music, from Early Years to post 16, and has taught violin, viola, cello, piano and voice to diploma level. While working for Gloucestershire Music, he helped to develop and launch their first county youth choir. Mark continues his to develop his passion for music education at the University of Reading training the next generation of music teachers, while still teaching in a high school in the West Midlands. Passionate about learning, Mark is an alumni of the Sing for Pleasure conductor training courses and is currently working on a PhD researching musical knowledge and it's application for children in Y8 in English schools.

As a freelance musician, Mark is frequently found playing viola in orchestras across the region and founded an orchestra, Tewkesbury Camerata in 2012. Now in its 12 year, the orchestra has raised over £12,000 for local and international charities. Mark also directs a community choir in the Cotswolds and is a musical director for theatre companies across the South West, recent productions include Sister Act, School of Rock, Annie, 9-5, Little Shop of Horrors and Beauty and the Beast.