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About Us

NESMS exists to provide tuition at an advanced level for musically talented individuals of all ages. 

To do this we bring internationally recognized teachers to our centre in Aberdeen on a regular basis; typically monthly visits allow nine lessons during the academic year, September - June.

More occasional Workshops and Masterclasses are also scheduled throughout the year.

We have four teaching studios, one of which is large enough to hold small concerts or recitals, and an extensive library.  Each studio has a piano (either a Boston grand or Essex upright purchased from Steinway in 2014), desk, chairs and music stands.

We also have large movable sneeze-guard screens available and hand sanitiser provided throughout the building; a remnant of the covid pandemic. The building is enabled with free WIFI that can be accessed by students and visitors.

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Why NESMS?

A Centre for Excellence

Acknowledged experts come on a regular basis from all over the British Isles to give one-to-one coaching and advice on technique and performance – and to provide occasional workshops and master-classes.

A Scottish Charity 

Through fundraising, generous donations and occasional local authority grants NESMS is able not only to subsidize student lesson fees, but also to offer competitive scholarships and hardship funding.

    A Family Atmosphere

At NESMS we believe that small is beautiful – that what matters is the quality of the teaching and the friendliness of the staff, not the size of the building.  But we do have excellent, well-equipped studios and a fine music library.

Open to All

Talented individuals of all ages can gain access to teaching of the highest calibre. As a charity we offer competitive scholarships, and a hardship fund for the disadvantaged.

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We are very much part of the North East Community.

Patrons Fiona Kennedy and Evelyn Glennie talk about the importance of NESMS to the North East of Scotland.

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VISIT
US

During term time, the Huntly Street office is normally staffed:

Monday - Friday 10:00 - 16:00

Saturday 10:00 - 14:00

 

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Our Building

We moved into our city centre building, located at 21 Huntly Street in 1998. Since then the building furnishings, layout and pianos have gradually been updated when funds allowed.

 

We now have four fully equipped music studios, featuring either an Essex Steinway upright or a Boston Steinway Grand, an extensive Library, toilets and small kitchen facilities.

 

All studios are available for hire at the same price of only £8.50 per hour. An increased corporate fee, for exams and auditions, applies to all studios at £12 per hour.

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Disabled entry access to our large ground floor main studio can be found via the rear carpark.

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Take a closer look at our building by clicking the front door.

NESMS

Meet The Team

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Colin Brockie

Manager

Originally from Ellon, Colin first started singing and acting at Haddo House, being involved both on and off stage with the Children's Theatre, Youth Theatre and the Choral and Operatic Society.

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Whilst gaining a BA Hons in Design and Craft from Gray's School of Art, Colin continued to receive his singing lessons here at NESMS, being taught by Ruth Black, Alan Watt and Dr Raimund Herincx.

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He completed a Masters in Solo Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music, appearing in productions of La Belle Hélène, La Clemenza di Tito, Carmen, and Albert Herring.

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Since leaving RNCM Colin has performed in the choruses of Buxton Festival Opera, Wexford Festival and Glyndebourne and remains a regular soloist for oratorio and recital opportunities.

In addition to his role at NESMS Colin also teaches as a local private singing tutor.

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Reg Pringle

Librarian

Born in Edinburgh and an alumnus of George Heriot's High School, Reg studied Hispanic Languages and Literature at Edinburgh University (MA 1964, MLitt 1966) before moving to St Andrews University and a career in academic librarianship.

In 1988 he moved to Aberdeen to take up the post of University Librarian and during his time there was Project Director of Grampian Information, a member of the Scottish Library and Infomation Council, Chairman of the United Kingdom Advisory Panel on Library and Information Planning, and a member of the Grampian Region's Children's Panel.

Following early retirement in 1996 he worked first in Adult and Community Education for Aberdeenshire Council, and then from 2000 to 2004 as a Lecturer in Software Engineering and Office Technology at Aberdeen College (Dip. Comp. 1999). He joined NESMS in March 2004 but continued in-house and outreach teaching of computing and IT skills at the College on an occasional basis until 2014. From 1997 until 2019 he was a Director and Treasurer of the Stonehaven-based mental health charity Pillar Kincardine.

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Shannon Stevenson

Assistant Manager

Shannon began her musical journey learning violin through the Suzuki method. Since then she has participated in a variety of orchestras including the National Children’s Orchestra for Scotland. After spending her final year at the Music School of Douglas Academy, she went to the Isle of Benbecula to learn traditional music before moving to Aberdeen to complete her Community Music degree with first-class honours in 2019. 

 

At university, she participated in the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras and the Elphinstone Fiddlers. In her 3rd year, she was leader of the Chamber Orchestra on their tour to the Czech Republic. Additionally, she studied the North East Fiddle Style under the bow of Raemond Jappy which gave her the opportunities to compete at fiddle festivals around Scotland and play for the then Prince Charles for his Birkhall Ball in 2018.

 

Since leaving university, Shannon has toured Scotland with Scottish Opera’s Amadeus and the Bard production, supported and narrated for Scottish Opera’s Tiny Chef, and completed her PGDE Primary Teaching qualification. She enjoys joining Aberdeen City Orchestra for their concerts.

Our Gnomes

When in and around the building you may spot some of our lucky NESMS Gnomes. 

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Our Gnomes made their debut at the 2021 Keynotes Lunch and proved to be very popular prizes during our raffle. Since then, word spread throughout the Gnome world and more Gnomes arrived and settled into the NESMS building, helping with the running of the day to day life here at 21 Huntly Street. 

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They may help run the building during the day, but at night they are a mischievous bunch! Have a look at the gallery on the right to see some of the things NESMS Gnome G'Norm and his friends were up to on the run up to Christmas. 

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Next time you are here, see how many of our Gnomes you can see around the building and around the website and may they bring you some luck!

When G'Norm met G'Norma

When G'Norm met G'Norma

G'Norm the Lucky NESMS Gnome

G'Norm the Lucky NESMS Gnome

G'Norm and friends at choir rehearsal

G'Norm and friends at choir rehearsal

G'norm enjoying some milk and cookies

G'norm enjoying some milk and cookies

G'norm's Christmas Zoom Party

G'norm's Christmas Zoom Party

G'norm online shopping

G'norm online shopping

G'norm modelling one of our NESMS facemasks

G'norm modelling one of our NESMS facemasks

G'norm in bed on Christmas Eve

G'norm in bed on Christmas Eve

G'norm and friends watching a movie

G'norm and friends watching a movie

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