27/12/2025
On 15th December, we were so proud to welcome friends, family, and our wonderful community to our End of Year Concert, featuring 39 performers across piano, guitar, and voice. From first performances to confident, polished musicianship, the evening beautifully captured the dedication, courage, and joy our students bring to music.
This concert was especially meaningful, as it marked 10 years of Surbiton Music School. A decade of lessons, practice, exams, performances, friendships—and so many musical milestones.
As a special treat, our fantastic teachers also took to the stage:
🎹 George – our resident rock star, who brings contemporary music to life for our piano students. One of my favourite parent quotes this year came straight from an 8-year-old: “He’s so cool and so much fun.” I think that says it all.
🎤 Marianthe – someone I’ve known since she was two years old, singing Happy Birthday to her twin brother in our grandparents’ kitchen. Her journey led her to London, where she trained at Arts Educational Schools London, and this evening she stunned us with a song from Starlight Express, a West End musical in which she has held the lead role. Her voice still stops me in my tracks every time I hear it.
🎸 Nick – our guitar teacher and co-founder – is someone who truly embodies the joy of live music. Nick doesn’t just teach guitar; he passes on his love of performing, encouraging students to step onto the stage with confidence, personality, and pride in their sound. Seeing his students grow into performers, not just players, is one of the most special parts of what we do.
🌍 In the closing performances, we were honoured to hear from two exceptional professional musicians:
Ying Shan, from South Africa, visiting the UK following successful auditions at Trinity College of Music and Royal College of Music
Yang Yang, who completed her Artist Diploma at the Royal College of Music and will soon become a familiar face to our pianists as she covers some of my lessons in 2026
🌟 Outstanding achievements
A huge congratulations to Anna and Ashruta, who both successfully passed their Grade 8 ABRSM Piano Exams—an extraordinary accomplishment 🎓
Anna’s success is especially close to my heart, as she was my very first student in Surbiton and the first I’ve taken all the way from Grade 1 to Grade 8. A full-circle moment 💛
(ABRSM)
Thank you to every student who performed so bravely, every family who supported them, and every teacher who pours so much heart into their work. Ten years on, the future of Surbiton Music School feels brighter than ever.
Here’s to the next chapter 🎼✨ And a Happy New Year!
