Our Teacher

Both piano and vocal lessons are taken by Stuart Forster DipHE.

Stuart has always been involved in music from the age of 6 when he started piano lessons with his next door neighbour.

At the age of 7 Stuart joined his local church choir and his passion for singing blossomed.

Since the early days Stuart has progressed his musical career in many ways. Stuart was appointed as ‘Musical Scholar’ at St Peter’s Church, Harrogate where he would lead the service in playing the organ, lead junior choir practise, conduct the adult choir during services and take many of the solo parts. After three years at St Peter’s Stuart moved to the Cathedral Church of St Anne’s, Leeds where he held the position of organ scholar during his first year at university. At St Anne’s Stuart would perform with the cathedral choir, accompany the Boys Choir and play for the Saturday evening Mass.

Stuart studied for a Diploma in Higher Education in Music at the University of Huddersfield studying composition with Prof Christopher Fox and music performance with Dr Graham Cummings. Stuart is currently completing his Bachelor of Arts with Honours Degree through the Open University and hopes to be awarded the qualification in October 2010.

After completing his DipHE at Huddersfield Stuart became a peripatetic music teacher for North Yorkshire County Council teaching piano and keyboard in many of the schools in and around Skipton.

In May 2007 Stuart decided to set up SAF Music Tuition to allow pupils of all ages and abilities the opportunity to play the piano or sing. 

Stuart has performed in many major venues around the UK and also in Europe:

  • Harrogate International Centre
  • Harrogate Royal Hall
  • Leeds Town Hall
  • Huddersfield Town Hall
  • Birmingham Symphony Hall
  • The Royal Albert Hall, London 
  • The National Festival Hall, London
  • The Academy of Ancient Music, Brno, Czech Republic

Stuart has also had the pleasure of being the Music director for many events including celebration evenings at York Minster and Leeds Cathedral with the St John Fisher Community Choir. He also had great pleasure in taking up the role of Musical Director for the ‘Christmas at Castle Howard’ celebrations for 5 years running.