Extended Diploma in Performing Arts

Rachel is an actor, director and theatre tutor. As well as working in the mainstream as an actor Rachel developed her interest in more experimental work as an actor with physical theatre company Spit and Polish and Apocryphal Theatre, a theatre company set up to explore further techniques in the creation of experimental theatre, using both contemporary and classical texts as a starting point.

Before beginning at CSVPA as the Head of Drama Rachel worked as a freelance tutor and taught and directed for a number of companies on their performance courses including the Cambridge Junction, Clean Break Theatre and Definitely Theatre. Rachel has been an associate of the National Youth Theatre since 2005, auditioning young performers each year and directing on the NYT summer courses as well as other projects. She is also an associate of the Shakespeare Schools Festival where she delivered the director training for teachers participating in the festival each year.

Rachel has her own theatre company called Faculty of Wonder, the most recent performance was called ‘Middle of the Bed’, performed at the Cambridge Junction as part of Troopfest in July 2016.

A native of Canada, Liz has spent many years as Associate Conductor and Vocal Coach with major musical productions including US National and World Tours of Fosse, European Tour of Hair – the Love and Rock Musical, US National Tour of Sweet Charity, and Hairspray at the Charlottetown Festival of Canada. She also has also been a musical director and/or vocal coach on over 40 regional productions in three different countries.

Liz holds a Bachelor of Music Degree (Honours) from the University of Windsor (Canada) as well as two Masters of Music degrees, one from Arizona State University (Music Direction/Conducting, 2002) and the other from New York University (Piano Performance – Collaborative, 2009). Currently the Head of Music at the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts, Liz has taught at universities, colleges, and led workshops in Canada, the US, and the UK.

Eian trained in Musical Theatre at 'Performers College' in Essex. After graduating he has worked professionally in TV, Film and Theatre across UK & Europe. He now uses all his skills learned working in the industry to coach, train and mentor students to master their audition technique. 

Emma holds a ballet teaching qualification from the Royal Academy of Dance (DDTS) and tap and modern theatre teaching qualifications from the International School of Teachers of Dancing (DDE). Her dancing career began as a child and she achieved advanced 1 in ballet, and advanced 2 in tap and modern theatre. She first began teaching while at Durham university, where she gained a Natural Sciences degree, and later went on to complete her dance teaching qualifications in Cambridge.

She also holds a Trinity Guildhall  performance diploma on the flute. Emma currently teaches a variety of ages and levels at different locations in and around Cambridge, and also choreographs musicals when she has the time. Recent musicals include Sister Act at the Cambridge Arts Theatre (2015), and Spamalot at the ADC (2016).

Vicky Harrison is a music professional with expertise in singing, recording, producing, composition and live performance. Vicky is a teacher of Vocal Technique, Pop Music History, Recording and Sequencing, here at CSVPA. 

Working in the music industry, Vicky writes songs and vocals for advertising, television and film, and has released a number of records on labels (Hospital Records, Boka) and publishing companies (Sony, EMI). Vicky has worked with clients such as Mercedes, Vogue and Ellesse, and she has had her music featured on TV shows such as The X Factor, Big Brother and Top Gear, to name a few.

Vicky has a passion for performance technologies and has toured the UK, supporting artists such as Katy B and The Mystery Jets. She has extensive experience motivating and inspiring young people through music and performing arts.

Christopher McKay is an Actor and a workshop facilitator. Before training in Professional Acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School he was a Distinction level student on the CSVPA RADA foundation course.

Chris is an accomplished singer and dancer, and has certification in advanced Stage Combat. He runs a Youth Theatre Company for which he writes and directs plays. He has over eight years of teaching experience.

Vijay studied at Chetham's School of Music and went onto Cambridge University to study music where he was heavily involved in the Cambridge Jazz Scene. After Moving to London and graduating from the Guildhall School of Music's Masters' Course, Vijay was offered a Jazz Fellowship. Through his own musical projects, he has performed at many prestigious venues and festivals around the world, including: The Ortex Jazz Club, Budapest Jazz Club, Havana Jazz Club, Montreux Jazz Festival and Glastonbury.

As a trombonist, Vijay has worked with big bands such as All Saints, The Chemical Brothers, Yolanda Brown, as well as, The London Jazz Orchestra, The Brass Funkeys, Cleo Laine and many other artists. Vijay has also run courses for the Barbican, London Music Masters, Cambridge Jazz Festival, Share Music Southwest, Durham Brass festival and Bath Carnival.

Marcos is an active composer and cultural event organiser. His music has been performed by renowned soloists and ensembles around the world. Marcos holds a Batchelor in Composition Degree, from Universidad de Chile and a Master of Music, PhD in Music, from Kings College London.

Marcos loves inspiring students to explore unfamiliar music. He thrives on explaining the contextual information, which gave rise to different musical idioms during the 20th century.