Open Ears - Open Minds

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Advanced Programme

People playing instruments in a Bristol Pre-Con session

Location and Time

Our advanced students meet in St Monica’s Trust in Westbury-on-Trym every Wednesday evening during term-time from 6:30pm – 9:30pm.

Fees

The cost is £41 a week for advanced students to include all chamber tuition and general musicianship training.

Fees are paid mid-term on invoice.

Bursaries are available – please email bristolpreconservatoire@gmail.com to find out more.

Opportunities

  • Intensive small-group ensemble training delivered by inspirational performing musicians
  • Interactive workshops
  • Prize-winning guest performers
  • Workshop leaders from conservatoires and universities
  • Aural skills and singing
  • Improvisation training for all instruments
  • Professional skills development incl. performance opportunities & recording / sound engineering

 

In addition we also offer audition preparation, performance classes, lessons on how to practice effectively as a soloist and in a group, stagecraft, and opportunities to attend concerts as a group.

Advanced programme – a typical evening

6:30 – 7:15pm:

Workshop (“Opening Session”) on music appreciation, theory and ear training, with regular visiting artists.

Find out more about our opening sessions here. 

7:15 – 7:30pm:

Break and refreshments.

7:30 – 9:30pm:

Session with ensemble tutor working on repertoire, theory and technique.

All our tutors are highly experienced and successful performing musicians, with most holding teaching positions at UK conservatoires and music schools. Meet our tutors here.

Click here to view our safeguarding policy 

Advanced programme requirements:

›Aged 11 – 18

›Grade 7+ standard or equivalent on your instrument or voice

›Open-minded and ready to be challenged

›Keen to learn as part of a small ensemble

›Able to commit to once-weekly evening classes on Wednesdays during term-time. Find next year´s dates here. 

We welcome talented young musicians who are serious about their music.

We audition annually in May. This year´s auditions are on 17 May 2026. Find out more and apply here.

We will also audition applicants throughout the year where space and groupings allow.

Any questions? Email bristolpreconservatoire@gmail.com

Bristol Pre-Con concert image

“I really love coming here! I have learnt so much and it is super useful for my musicianship skills – you get taught so many things here that aren´t taught at other places, like improvisation. It is a great opportunity to make musical friends, play collaboratively and share a love for music!” (Student, Spring 2026)

Read more testimonials here!

Intermediate programme

Location and Time

Our intermediate students meet in St Monica’s Trust in Westbury-on-Trym every Wednesday evening during term-time from 5:15pm-7:30pm.

Fees

The cost is £27 a week for intermediate students to include all chamber tuition and general musicianship training.

Fees are paid half-termly on invoice.

Bursaries are available – please email bristolpreconservatoire@gmail.com to find out more.

Opportunities

  • Intensive small-group ensemble training delivered by inspirational performing musicians
  • Interactive workshops
  • Prize-winning guest performers
  • Workshop leaders from conservatoires and universities
  • Aural skills and singing
  • Improvisation training for all instruments
  • Professional skills development incl. performance opportunities & recording / sound engineering

 

In addition we also offer audition preparation, performance classes, lessons on how to practice effectively as a soloist and in a group, stagecraft, and opportunities to attend concerts as a group.

A typical evening

Intermediate programme

5:15-6:15pm

Session with ensemble tutor working on repertoire, theory and technique.

All our tutors are highly experienced and successful performing musicians, with most teaching positions at UK conservatoires and music schools. Meet our tutors here.

6:30-7:15pm

Workshop (“Opening Session”) on music appreciation, understanding theory through improvisation and ear training, with regular visiting artists.

Find out more about our opening sessions here. 

7:15 – 7:30pm

Refreshments.

Click here to view our safeguarding policy 

Intermediate programme requirements:

›Aged 11-18

›Grade 6+ standard or equivalent on your instrument or voice

›Open-minded and ready to be challenged

›Keen to learn as part of a small ensemble

›Able to commit to once-weekly evening classes on Wednesdays during term-time. Find next year´s dates here. 

We welcome talented young musicians who are serious about their music.

We audition annually in May. This year´s auditions are on 17 May 2026. Find out more and apply here.

We will also audition applicants throughout the year where space and groupings allow.

Any questions? Email bristolpreconservatoire@gmail.com

Opening Sessions

Image of someone playing the piano at a Bristol Pre-Con session

All Pre-Con students attend weekly workshops and recitals (“Opening Sessions”, Wednesdays 6:30-7:15) dedicated to multi-genre musical exploration and improvisation.

The 2025-2026 year has seen workshops on breathing, rhythmic “pocket”, song-writing, silence, harmonic modes, synaesthesia, Cuban music, and Classical improvisation, amongst many others. Classes are led by Artistic Director Jonathan Rees and Assistant Artistic Director Alex Goodyear, and by exceptional external workshop leaders. The 2025-2026 year has seen workshops led by jazz singer Fini Bearman, Helen Reid (Guildhall, Bristol University, Bath Spa University), Andrew Bain (Head of Jazz at RWCMD), Emma Hornby (Head of Music at Bristol University),  Jenna Brown (vocal health, breathing and posture specialist), and drummers Asaf Sirkis and Pete “The Beat” Vilk.

We have run conservatoire-style performance classes, a vocal health and posture drop-in-clinic, and also made an opera in an evening, led by composer Richard Barnard.

We´ve also hosted in-house concerts by Pre-Con founder Jon James and his Dovetail Orchestra for refugees and asylum-seekers, guitar virtuoso Jack Hancher, Bristol Ensemble, jazz bassist (and Pre-Con alumnus) Toby Yapp, and international-award-winning Fibonacci Quartet.

Pre-Con Term and Concert Dates

All tuition and concerts at St Monica Trust, Cote Ln, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS9 3UN, unless otherwise indicated.

Summer Term 2026

  • April 22 – May 20
  • May 27 – Half term (no session)
  • June 3 – June 24
  • End-of-Year Concert Sunday 28 June (7-8:30pm)

Additional events in summer term 2026:

  • 29/4/2026 – Apollo Session, St George´s Bristol
  • 6/5/2026 (6:30-7:15pm) – Joe Herbert Trio featuring Toby Yapp (Pre-Con alumnus), St Monica Trust
  • 9/5/2026 – Music For Miniatures, Henleaze
  • 10/6/2026 (evening) – “Future Promoters”, Glass Studio, St George’s, Bristol
  • 13/6/2026 –  Music For Miniatures, Southville
  • 13/6/2026 – Centenary Charity Concert, St Peter´s, Henleaze

 

Academic Year 2026-2027

Autumn Term 2026

9/9/26 – 2/12/26 (no session on 28/11/26) with concert at 7pm on Sunday 6/12/26

Spring Term 2027

6/1/27 – 17/3/27 (no session on 17/2/26) with concert at 7pm on Sunday 21/3/27

Summer Term 2027

14/4/27 – 30/6/27 (no session on 2/6/27) with concert at 7pm on Sunday 4/7/27

Jonathan Rees Artistic Director Bristol Pre-Conservatoire

Jonathan ReesArtistic Director

A highly versatile musician, Bristol-born Jonathan Rees has performed across the globe with the UK's leading chamber and historical performance ensembles and orchestras.​As a chamber musician he has appeared at the Wigmore Hall, Edinburgh International Festival, Carnegie Hall, Amsterdam Musiekgebouw, Innsbrucker Festwochen, St George´s Bristol and on BBC Radio 3. ​A member of the renowned viol consort Fretwork, he has also performed as continuo / principal cellist and gamba soloist with the Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Arcangelo, Florilegium, Dunedin Consort, The Sixteen, ENO, Britten Sinfonia, RLPO, Manchester Camerata, Hugh Cutting / Morpheus Ensemble and the Wigmore Hall resident ensemble Solomon's Knot. With acclaimed pianist Helen Reid, Jonathan is one half of a piano-cello duo focussing on 20th- and 21st-century repertoire, in particular the music and influence of Nadia Boulanger.An Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, Jonathan has taught undergraduate and postgraduate historical cello students at the Royal College of Music, given historical performance classes at the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music, Juilliard School, Birmingham Conservatoire, Cambridge University and the Royal Northern College of Music. He is Artistic Director of Bristol Pre-Conservatoire and teaches privately in the Bristol area. He has given improvisation classes at the Royal Academy and runs an improvisation club in Bristol. He has devised and led music workshops and children's concerts for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Brighton Early Music Festival and others. From 2013 to 2018 he directed and performed at Bristol's acclaimed annual festival, Really Classical Relay.Outside of the world of music, he spends a lot of his time making compost and growing vegetables for his family and other local wildlife.https://www.jonathanreescello.co.uk

Alex Goodyear
Assistant Artistic Director / Drums

Alex Goodyear is a Reading based Drummer, Bandleader and Composer. Since graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2019, he has become a regular of the UK and International Jazz scenes, working with artists including Joss Stone, Seamus Blake, John Law, Simon Spillett, Iain Ballamy, Joe Webb, Sam Crockatt, Alex Merritt, Steve Fishwick, Greg Abate, Jake McMurchie, Denny Ilett, Alan Barnes, Huw Warren, Rebecca Nash, Libor Smoldas, and Henrik Jensen."Alex Goodyear is one of the finest young drummers to emerge for many years..." - The Bebop Club"Swinging, tasteful, and his contribution is sublime. He’s a musician's drummer. There are drummers with the chops flying everywhere but getting in the way of the music... here we have a player who could do all of this but chooses to play the music. Enhancing those around him. Adding colours and being a voice in the perfect conversation." - Jazz in South WalesAlex’s current projects include: • John Law’s “Re-Creations” Quartet • “Yetii”, a Classical-Jazz fusion project co-led by Alex Veitch and Ashley John Long • “Energizer” Trio, co-led by Alex Merritt on sax and Ashley John Long on bass. • “Bluprint”, a funk trio led by Daniel Newberry, featuring Guy Shotton on Organ.Other regular collaborators include Dave Jones, Jonny Bruce, Dave Cottle, Greg Sterland, Craig Crofton, Victoria Klewin, Adam Stokes, Jack Mac, Gareth Roberts, Nick Kacal, Guy Shotton and Sarah Meek.https://www.alexgoodyear.co.uk

Imogen Triner portrait

Imogen Triner
Oboe

Imogen Triner studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London where she won many of the major prizes, including the Paddy Purcell Prize for all wind instruments.  She was awarded a Countess of Munster Scholarship and then a Winston Churchill Fellowship to continue her studies with the Berlin Philharmonic’s solo oboist, Lothar Koch.
 
Imogen’s performances have included major concertos with the Tivoli Festival Symphony Orchestra in Denmark, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra,  the Turku Philharmonic and Kuopio Symphony Orchestras – both in Finland, the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra in Norway,   the Kansas Chamber Orchestra,  the National Italian Symphony Orchestra,  the Belgian National Radio and Television Orchestra,  the Norkoping Chamber Orchestra in Sweden  and many chamber orchestras in the UK, with whom she has played numerous concertos and recorded many of them for  CD.   Many of these performances have been recorded for the radio. 
 
As a chamber musician Imogen has performed highly acclaimed recitals in major London venues and in festivals throughout the UK.  She has toured all over Scandinavia, America and Japan both as a recitalist, giving master classes and with her Oboe Quartet – oboeworks. Various composers have written quartets especially for Imogen, notably Peter McGarr,  and some of these are included on the 2 CDs oboeworks has  recorded.
 
Imogen has plays with the Bristol Ensemble for many years and has enjoyed many wonderful and varied performances. From Bach concerti through large orchestral works to more recently  – Pink Floyd and The Beatles! She  now lives in Bristol and loves the city. Imogen continues her busy playing career, coaching and teaching here.
 
When Imogen is not playing she is most likely to be walking in the hills and mountains with her husband, gardening, or training on Bristol Downs with Clifton Bootcamp!
Nick Malcolm Jazz trumpet

Nick Malcolm
Jazz (Trumpet)

Nick Malcolm is an original and heartfelt improviser, known for his rich sound and sense of improvisational and compositional daring. He led the acclaimed Nick Malcolm Quartet, releasing three albums, touring nationally several times and performing at the London Jazz Festival and on BBC Radio 3’s Jazz On 3. Their final album 'Real Isn't Real', added a quartet of four female vocalists. He also co-led the trio 'Alphabets' (with Hannah Marshall and Lauren Kinsella), the electro-acoustic quartet jade and, in 2021, released 'Chat’ an album of improvised duets with Corey Mwamba.Currently, Nick leads the quintet Out Front, with Jason Yarde, Jake McMurchie, Olie Brice and Dave Smith. They play original music inspired by years of playing music by masters Andrew Hill and Booker Little. Their debut album,‘Buried Web’s, will be released in October 2025. He also heads Knotted Kernel, a multimedia collaboration blending music, spoken word and taste.A member of Dee Byrne's Outlines and Rebecca Nash's Redefining Element 78, he's also played with George Cooper’s Jazz Defenders and Eliza Carthy's 'Wayward Daughter'. Nick has collaborated with a wide range of musicians and is a sought-after session artist, chosen for Take Five Edition IX in 2014. He teaches jazz trumpet privately and at Wells Cathedral School.

photo of John Bacon

John Bacon
Voice

John is a professional tenor and voice teacher, and is recognised as a singer of exceptional musicianship, warmth, style and character. Having performed throughout Europe and North America, he has also been praised for his dramatic intensity, vocal beauty, clarity and agility.John’s singing career has taken him as far as New Zealand, Japan, Mexico and Canada on both the operatic stage and concert platform. He has sung leading roles in works ranging from Monteverdi to Jonathan Dove and major oratorio and recital works from Bach to Britten. Throughout his career he has also been fortunate to work with such distinguished artists as Graham Johnson, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Sian Edwards and Ronald Corp.Through the generous support of the Koerner Foundation Artist Award, and the COB Foundation of Canada, he completed a Master Degree on the postgraduate Opera course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under the tutelage of Rudolf Piernay. While at the Guildhall, Mr. Bacon was a prize winner in the English Song Competition, represented the college in an LSO Discovery Lunchtime Concert, and worked with the likes of Philip Langridge, Martin Katz, and Malcolm Martineau.Prior to this, John sang with the Juno award-nominated vocal ensemble musica intima, was a winner of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio Two Début Series for Young Performers, and completed a Bachelor of Music at the University British Columbia.Having grown up in Vancouver, Canada then spent seven years based in London, John moved to Bristol to take singing teaching positions at both Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital School and Taunton School. John is currently a resident artist of Yehudi Menuhin’s Live Music Now performing regularly with pianist Helen Mills.

Laura Senior violin and improviser

Laura Senior
Violin / Classical improvisation

Born in Beverley, Laura began playing the violin once she realised the recorder was not the one. First studying with Helga Penny and a few years later with Peter Maslin (Opera North) they encouraged her to become a passionate orchestral and chamber musician. Laura became leader of the City of Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra, leader of Yorkshire Youth Orchestra, and the youngest ever member of the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra. By the age of 15 she began teaching the violin and performing in musical theatre productions, for folk bands, and was even trusted to play at weddings!

Laura studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where she completed her Bachelor of Music Degree and Master’s Degree in solo performance. During her studies at the RNCM she was awarded places on the competitive BBC Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata, and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s Professional Experience Schemes. Laura gained a Distinction in her final recital after having received tuition from Levon Chilingirian and Malcolm Layfield.

Since then, Laura has performed and trialed for jobs with professional orchestras across the world including performances at The Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House. As a soloist Laura performed the European première of Evan Solot’s jazz violin concerto Glacier Blue, and has worked with well-known jazz artists such as Jacqui Dankworth, Julian Arguelles, and Alfa Mist. Laura was solo violinist on tour across the UK with the production High Society, the world and West End productions of Chicago, West Side Story, and Come From Away.

Most recently Laura can be found travelling the world racing her road and gravel bikes. She’s hoping to show that you can balance both music and sport at high levels and there are huge benefits to this physically and mentally. With passion and energy for high performance Laura wants this to reflect in her teaching and is always on a mission to help students fulfil their potential and enjoy the process too.

Neve HumphreysIntern

Neve Humphreys is a third year music student at the University of Bristol.

At UOB, Neve is a passionate cellist leading multiple orchestras including the University of Bristol Symphony Orchestra. She has also taken a keen interested in student society committee’s, being the welfare officer for the Bristol University Music Society (BUMS) and she is also the president of Symphonia, a student orchestral society.

Previously, Neve was a member of the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, conducted the BUMS string orchestra and was an intern at the Buxton International Festival over the summer.

Outside of music, Neve enjoys sewing, knitting as well as changing her hair every 6 months.

Chris Green

Chris Green
Programme Manager

Chris is an experienced Production Manager with a strong background in local and national event planning, particularly within the Education and Creative Sectors. Her work has focused on supporting and enabling children and young people to access high-quality musical experiences, and she is passionate about widening participation in music-making and ensemble playing for young musicians.

As Planning & Production Director for the National Children’s Orchestras, Chris led the Operations Team to facilitate exceptional performances in some of the UK’s most renowned venues, including the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Lighthouse in Poole, Portsmouth Guildhall, and The Anvil in Basingstoke, creating unforgettable musical experiences for young performers.

Previously, as Education Manager at Bristol Music Hub, Chris played a pivotal role in coordinating music education initiatives across the city. From organising individual music lessons in schools to producing large-scale concerts at Bristol Beacon, she was instrumental in creating opportunities for young people to engage with music and develop their talents.

A dedicated pianist, Chris finds joy in accompanying musicians of all ages. Whether supporting young performers in music exams, playing for Rangeworthy Community Choir, or celebrating the fun and passion of lifelong singers at The Filtones Choir, she values the power of music to bring people together and enrich lives.

Neve Humphreys Intern at Bristol Pre-Con

Neve HumphreysIntern

Neve Humphreys is a third year music student at the University of Bristol.

At UOB, Neve is a passionate cellist leading multiple orchestras including the University of Bristol Symphony Orchestra. She has also taken a keen interested in student society committee’s, being the welfare officer for the Bristol University Music Society (BUMS) and she is also the president of Symphonia, a student orchestral society.

Previously, Neve was a member of the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, conducted the BUMS string orchestra and was an intern at the Buxton International Festival over the summer.

Outside of music, Neve enjoys sewing, knitting as well as changing her hair every 6 months.