TEAM
Andrea Kuypers
Course Leader
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"Andrea's attitude to teaching is infectious... her enthusiasm for performance and nurturing talent, alongside her good humour, really makes its mark on each student... they leave with a real determination to keep improving "
Andrea is a freelance performer and educator with a wealth of experience spanning three decades. She has performed and recorded with all the major Scottish Orchestras and also further afield with, amongst others, the BBC Concert Orchestra the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
Andrea has been responsible for the flute teaching at Edinburgh Napier University now for over 20 years. During this time, as well as one to one teaching, she has delivered masterclasses, chamber music coaching, art of teaching workshops, orchestral coaching, examining and auditioning. She is also in demand internationally for her teaching and ensemble coaching. In 2009, Andrea formed an amateur flute choir, Flutes Unlimited, for experienced flautists of any age. Under her direction, the choir has gone from strength to strength and has gained first place in their category at the Glasgow Music Festival in multiple years. Andrea has been fortunate enough to work with such renowned soloists as Mel Torme, George Shearing, Jack Jones, James Galway, Nicola Benedetti and The Priests, and has also worked extensively in the pop world, performing as a backing musician for Scottish band Belle and Sebastian. She appears on many of their recordings including the single “Waking Up To Us”. She undertook a world tour with the band and travelled to such places as the USA, Canada, Japan and Brazil. "She is a skilled musician and teacher with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Her approach to teaching is engaging and challenging... I always looked forward to my lessons with Andrea "
Andrea has also worked alongside some of the world’s leading jazz artists whilst performing with Tommy Smith’s Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, notably an Edinburgh Festival performance with Gunther Schuller and Joe Lovano. TV appearances range from “Songs of Praise” to “Later” with Jools Holland.
Andrea has been practising yoga for many years and is becoming increasingly interested in its benefits to the posture and breathing techniques used in flute playing. Andrea is a long-standing Union activist and was involved in setting up the Teachers’ Section of the Musicians’ Union. |
Kirsty Ball
Tutor
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Kirsty is a flute and piano teacher with over 25 years' experience of working with aspiring musicians of all levels and abilities. She is flute tutor at Fettes College in Edinburgh, and runs a thriving private practice in Linlithgow.
She studied music at Lancaster University, and followed her degree with academic research while lecturing and tutoring in music, and playing flute semi-professionally. Kirsty has worked as an editor and writer in the development of educational resources, and in the world of commercial journalism, print and digital. She is currently the musical director of an 80-strong community choir in her home town, and is a passionate believer in the ability of singing together to promote a healthy and happy outlook. |
Chris Cowie
Course Coordinator
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Chris is a freelance Culture and Property Projects Manager, leading on projects primarily in music and graphic design, and also in the capital development of neglected spaces into thriving artistic communities.
Chris holds a first-class Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Music from Edinburgh Napier University, where he was awarded the University Medal, and an MA in Entrepreneurship from Goldsmiths College in London, specialising in cultural venue development. Chris has been working with Andrea on education projects for over 10 years, and is in his 6th year being involved with Flutes du Soleil. |
All of our team hold recent PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) / DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) checks.