Emma Minchin - Flute
Emma Minchin is a chamber and orchestral flautist, piccolo player and teacher.
Born in England in 1982, Emma is a postgraduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London.
As a young musician Emma enjoyed success in competitions, including first place in; Cheshire Young Musician of the Year 2000, North London Chamber Music Prize, Sutton Music Festival Concerto Prize, and Principal flute of the European Academies Symphony Orchestra - a highlight - performing under the baton of Sir Colin Davis in the Musikverein Vienna and in the Proms at The Royal Albert Hall as youngest member of the National Youth Wind Orchestra of G.B.
Professionally Emma taught and freelanced in London. Her wind quintet Scarlet Winds performed frequently for the Royal Masonic Society, The Freemasons, and The Mayor of London and for Hospitality and Corporate events. In 2012 Emma moved to New Zealand where she performed at weddings and social functions and played for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
Since arriving to Dubai in 2012, Emma teaches and gigs, giving numerous chamber recitals, including a presentation and performance for BoldTalks at DUCTAC and orchestral performances with the U.A.E. National Symphony Orchestra.
Emma loves to teach the flute and strives for her pupils to reach their full potential. Emma encourages an energetic approach to learning with an emphasis on fun! Many of her students receive distinctions in their exams. Emma has led workshops for London Symphony Orchestra Discovery, Christchurch Music Service, the University of Canterbury New Zealand, and CMA Dubai, and has taught at JESS, DESC, ASD and for the Arabian Youth Orchestra since 2014.
Jonathan Armes - Head of Woodwind
Jonathan studied bassoon at Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music under the tuition of John Schroder and Martin Gatt. Following his studies Jonathan played bassoon and contra-bassoon with the Royal Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestras, as well as touring with Mid-Wales Opera. In 1999 Jonathan returned to his roots in Suffolk, England as a woodwind teacher for the County Music Service. In 2006 Jonathan moved to the UAE, where he continued to teach woodwind and piano. Throughout his career Jonathan has continued to lead a busy performing schedule, notably as principle bassoon with the NSO Symphony Orchestra and saxophonist with Abu Dhabi Big Band. Jonathan also regularly appears as a piano accompanist and orchestral conductor. Jonathan is currently living and working in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where he has his hands full teaching music at Jeddah Prep and Grammar School.
Jerome Broun - Oboe
Jerome was born in London in 1976 and is one of the UK’s top oboists of his generation. At the age of 23, he was the only British finalist of the 1999 Isle of Wight International Oboe Competition and he has been finalists of the Royal Overseas League Competition, Shell LSO Competition and winner of the AIYF Chamber Music Competition.
Jerome was brought up in a musical home. His father drummed for Cat Stevens, Paul McCartney and Fairport Convention. He was keen that his son also picked up a pair of drumsticks. However, Jerome followed the classical route and began having music lessons with a sheep farmer on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. In 1994, Jerome attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where he learnt with eminent oboists such as Hugh McKenna, Jonathan Small, Douglas Boyd, John Anderson, Michael Winfield and the late Lady Barbirolli. He left the RNCM with a BMus Hons, a Master of Music and two Postgraduate diplomas’that specialises in solo performance and chamber music.
Since leaving the RNCM, Jerome has been successful both as a solo and orchestral oboist. He played principle oboe with Orchestra do Algarve and has also played with the Hallé Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Opera North and Northern Chamber Orchestra in the UK and he is currently the principal oboist of the NSO Symphony Orchestra in Abu Dhabi. Jerome is the woodwind tutor for the British School Al Khubairat.
Brian Cunningham - Clarinet
Brian has been teaching at Centre for Musical Arts since 2008. He started playing the clarinet at the age of 11. During his musical youth in Scotland, he was given the opportunity to perform with various ensembles throughout the UK, Europe and the USA. He studied at the Ian Tomlin School of Music at Napier University in Edinburgh and had clarinet lessons under Alison Waller. As part of his degree he was given the opportunity to study abroad at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, at which time he was given the opportunity to perform recitals, conduct ensembles as well as take part in various ensembles. Brian graduated from Napier University with an BMus Honours Degree in 2006.
Brian’s work at CMA has seen him help to develop the Woodwind programme by teaching in schools across Dubai and at the music centre and organising woodwind workshops as well as lead in-house ensembles. He is currently the conductor of the CMA Wind Ensemble; a wind band for young musicians up to grade 5 level. Throughout his time in Dubai, Brian has performed with several orchestras, bands and chamber ensembles. He has been the clarinet tutor for both the Youth Orchestra of the Middle East and latterly the Arabian Youth Orchestra since its inception.