Teachers

Alison Black  (Violin/Viola)

Alison Black studied Violin Performance and Composition at Queens and McGill universities with members of the Vaghy string quartet and Sonia Jelinkova.  Prior to joining The Menuhin Foundation, she spent the prior twenty years in St. John’s Newfoundland where she was the Concertmaster of the Newfoundland Symphony and Sinfonia and First Violin of the Atlantic String Quartet. She has performed with international artists such as James Ehnes, Colin Carr, Andre Laplante and John Mills.  In addition to her performance career, Alison has taught privately for twenty five years, with students ranging between the ages of 5 and 75, several of whom have gone on to professional music careers of their own. She has worked extensively with post secondary students in the context of orchestral training and has conducted a number of student ensembles, including the STEP Junior and Intermediate String Orchestras, the string sections of the Newfoundland Youth Orchestra and an ensemble for adult amateur players.

 

Kerry Haslam (Violin/Viola)

Kerry Haslam is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and has been a teacher for The Menuhin Foundation since moving to Bermuda in 1988.  Kerry has experience teaching at all levels and finds it very rewarding to start students as young as pre-school age on their musical journey and work with them to the ABRSM Grade 8 level and beyond.  Her extensive experience includes teaching violin and viola, theory and aural classes and coaching chamber ensembles.  Kerry has performed in numerous concerts and shows over the years. Notably, performing as a soloist in the concerto for Four Violins by Vivaldi under the baton of Lord Menuhin in the gala concert marking the Bermuda Festival’s 20th Anniversary was a definite highlight. She has led the orchestra for many Bermuda Heritage and Bermuda Philharmonic Society concerts, performed in the Bermuda Festival Orchestra and played for Gilbert and Sullivan Society shows along with playing in the back up band for visiting artists such as James Galway and Josh Groban.  Kerry is a competent pianist and as part of her professional development she gained a distinction in ABRSM Grade 5 cello.

 

Alison Johnstone (Cello/Double Bass)

Originally from the UK, Alison has spent most of her adult life living in Bermuda and working for the Menuhin Foundation.  Alison is a graduate of the London College of Music and taught at the LCM Junior Department prior to coming to Bermuda. Alison was teacher in charge of the Menuhin Foundation for seven years and she loves teaching the cello and bass for the Menuhin Foundation.  Alison founded the Menuhin Foundation Adult Ensemble and she currently conducts the First and Intermediate Orchestras. Alison has performed as soloist in the Elgar and Saint-Saëns cello concertos with the Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra. A special highlight was performing the solo cello part in Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro for Strings, conducted by Lord Menuhin, in the 1995 Bermuda Festival. Alison has also performed on cello in numerous local shows, orchestras and at weddings. Alison has had the pleasure of being in the string section for visiting artists such as Josh Groban, Smokey Robinson and James Galway.  Alison has a passion for teaching both children and adults. She likes to create an atmosphere where learners can grow musically and experience new challenges within a friendly and fun environment.

 

Trustees 

• Laura Davis (Chairperson)
• Verde Brown
• Jennifer Burland Adams
• Monika Burrill
• Fiona Foster
• Lei Jin
• Laura Knox

Executive Administrator 

• Walter Correia