About Us
We are a team of music educators, passionate about teaching and learning. Our mentors and contributors come from all walks of music education, to enable us to share a wide ranging skill set.
Our Story
Marie first set up the Certificate of Music Educators course at the Elgar School of Music in Worcester. It was here that one of the first ever courses validated by Trinity started to run and the course saw success not just locally but across the UK by delivering the course both in person and online. Chris was one of the first learners to take the course, and so has experience of the whole journey from learner to mentor. As a team they ran several successful projects including working with Music Hubs such as Telford Music Service to provide Professional Development, and deliver the CME to their staff members.
With the recent rise in online learning, Marie and Chris wanted to deliver a course that was accessible to anyone, combining the convenience of online learning with a personal and direct approach.
Music Educators Online (MEO) was set up to provide not only the CME, but also as a space for other online courses designed to support the profession.
Meet Our Team
Dr Marie McNally LTCL, MPhil, PGCE, FISM, BAHons, MsC
Academic Director and Senior PartnerMarie McNally started her music career as a classical clarinettist, studying with major performers such as David Campbell (BBC clarinettist and the man behind the 1992 Rhapsody in Blue Galaxy advert) and working with orchestras including the English Symphony Orchestra, and the Midland Sinfonia. Marie has performed chamber music with various ensembles, including original work with Quartette Lunoire, and the jazz based Little Rumba (clarinet, saxophone and vocals). As a saxophonist and vocalist, she was a founder member of the successful UK Pink Floyd Experience, and more recently can be found on stage with The George Michael Story. She also plays with the saxophone duo Saximised, freelances on clarinet and saxophone, and is equally happy on a vast theatre stage or in a small intimate concert venue. As a music educator, Marie has been a successful instrumental teacher for 24 years. She has been an examiner for Trinity College London since 2003, and has run professional development sessions for Trinity and for music services since 2013. Marie obtained her Doctorate in the area of motivation in instrumental music teaching in February 2023, from uCL, London. She has additional interests in music education and mental health in adolescents and also teaches Psychology in a 6th form college. Marie initially set up the CME for the Elgar School of Music in 2012, where she successfully ran the course until December 2019, when she left the school to pursue her research interests, and set up this partnership.
Chris Licence BMus, DipABRSM (Performing), CME, MISM
Business Director and Senior PartnerChris graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire in 2014 after being fortunate enough to be able to study as a mature student. His main instrument is Trombone and he has wide experience in the brass band movement, playing at the highest levels. Until recently he was principal Trombone with the A W Parker Drybrook band and has played with local orchestras and many stage shows. His time at the Conservatoire gave him the opportunity to learn from some top brass tutors and this has given him the skills and knowledge to be able to teach brass to a high level. In addition to his work with the Elgar School of music and Kings School in Worcester Chris teaches privately through the West Midlands Brass Academy. In 2017 he successfully completed the Trinity CME course giving him a recognised teaching qualification. In addition to his teaching commitments Chris is musical director of Worcester Concert Brass and Malvern Hills District Brass Band as well as composing and arranging music for ensembles.
Sarah stone
Mentor
Sarah describes herself as a conscientious singing teacher who strives to provide a warm, friendly, encouraging singing space, developing tailor-made singing programmes for students of all ages, working with a wide range of styles.
She has 20 years of experience teaching singing throughout the West Midlands and Worcestershire and for many years before that designed and ran singing–related projects in the community sector as Head of Education at Town Hall and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.
With a degree in Music and a Masters in Music Psychology, she is highly trained and is always striving to continue to learn, attending regular courses at the Voice Study Centre and with Vocal Health Education. She is a member of the International Society of Musicians and the British Voice Association and is always up to date with Safeguarding policies and best practice via regular online training.
She is a singer, an instrumentalist (piano and trumpet), a teacher, an arranger, a Music Director, a choir leader, an accompanist, an exam invigilator, a project manager, Vice-Chair of WCAF and a Vocal Health First Aider.
She currently runs a successful private teaching practice from her home studio and is Music Director for The Theatre Factory and PQA Worcester.
https://sarahstonesinging.co.uk/
Pam Watkins, Singer – Opera and Musical Theatre BSc (Hons), Dip.LCM, CME
Mentor and Musical Theatre AdvisorPamela has had a passion for all things musical theatre since she joined her local theatre at the age of 11. Pamela studied under Claire Prewer-Jenkinson in Worcester mixing classical and musical theatre examinations to diploma level, to compliment her voice tuition and teaching Pamela has taken part in both Levels one and two of the Estill Voice Training, and the Advanced Figures. She has participated in masterclasses with Anne-Marie Speed and Paul Farrington. Over the years she has enjoyed playing a variety of roles from ‘Madam Dubonet’ in The Boyfriend, Carmen in “Curtians’ and ‘Alice Beineke’ in The Addams family. Pam was a founding member of the Musical Theatre Academy based at the Elgar School of Music in Worcester where she was also on the vocal staff, specialising in Musical Theatre and Rock and Pop and helping to run the Special Music Makers. Pamela left the Elgar School to develop Malvern Hills Music and Wymsical Theatre in 2016.
Pam’s initial degree was in psychology, with a particular interest in educational psychology. In 2015, she led a seminar in “Learning Styles and the Psychology of Achievement” for the Elgar School of Music’s annual staff training session. Pamela is a certified chaperone for Worcestershire County Council and is the producer and designated safeguarding lead for her theatre company Wymsical theatre (Worcester Youth Musical Theatre) as well as being part of the costume department! In addition to teaching for Malvern Hills Music, Pamela is a peripatetic voice teacher at Kempsey Primary School and Bowbrook House School.
Gill Shaw MEd PGCE BMus(Hons) DipABRSM MISM
Mentor
Gill graduated as a first-study pianist from the University of Huddersfield in 1997, before completing her PGCE at the University of Leeds. Since then, she has gained over 25 years experience working i n varied roles and settings within music education as a classroom teacher, HOD, and instrumental teacher. In 2022 she completed a Masters in Education (distinction) at the Royal College of Music. She has presented her research at the RiME conference, and served as a peer reviewer for Music Education Research and SEMPRE 2025.
Gill is a full-time piano teacher and accompanist at Nottingham Girls’ High School, working with students aged 4-18 at all levels from beginner to post-Grade 8. She has extensive experience accompanying soloists and ensembles across a wide range of contexts and as a freelance accompanist, she works regularly with Nottingham Hospitals Choir, Cantamus, Music Makers and Nottingham Young Musician.
Gill is a member of ISM and a founding member of The Curious Piano Teachers.
Ed Malpass MEd PGCE BMus(Hons) DipABRSM MISM
MentorEdward is a busy professional freelance trumpet player, musical director and teacher. He studied trumpet performance at Birmingham Conservatoire and graduated with an honours degree in. He has played with many notable ensembles including the CBSO and has performed as a soloist in the UK and abroad. He spends much of his time in the theatre, either playing in pit
orchestras all over the West Midlands, or as musical director, working with numerous societies which have included Worcester Operatic & Dramatic Society, Lollipop Youth Theatre, Pershore Operatic & Dramatic Society, The TAB Operatic Society and Kinver Light Operatic Society.
Edward is professional trainer for the NC Big Band and is also Director of Music at St Thomas’ Church Stourbridge. As a teacher for almost 30 years, he has worked with pupils from pre-school age, right through his most mature pupil who began to learn trumpet at the age of 74. Edward also runs Worcestershire Winds Jazz Band, Wind Band & Concert Band and can regularly be seen playing with the popular function band The Hey Yahs.