Hi. I’ve always wanted to be a musician, from before I even started the piano at the age of 5, and later in life the famous Yossi Zivoni described me as a “born violinist”! I’ve studied at several of Europe’s music schools & conservatoires, including the RNCM, GSMD and the Utrecht School of the Arts, and played with many orchestras and other groups, including tours with Glyndebourne Opera, 2 years with Phantom of the Opera in Holland, and a year with the Dutch Radio Chamber Orchestra. I’ve also performed for the late Queen, (then) Prince Charles, Neil Kinnock and others!

I play violins & violas made by my father, Robert Vale, who died in 1996.

In 1998, for health reasons, I decided to take a break from music and gained a degree in Chinese from Oxford University. Then a few years later I returned to music, teaching violin, viola, piano, theory and running ensembles. With fresh eyes I began to write materials for my pupils – and the Hey Presto! series was born, followed some years later by Top Ten. I’ve loved writing these series and particularly enjoy creating the audio tracks for the tutor books, as well as arranging music for various combinations of instruments.

Other things I love? Gadgets, languages – I have a degree in Chinese and a smattering of several other languages – dogs, (I have a gorgeous border collie, Bonnie), walks in the Shropshire hills where I live now, jigsaw puzzles, the colour turquoise, dark chocolate..!

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Initially inspired by African a capella singing, this piece came into being through a competition I held with my own string…