Instrumental and Vocal Teaching Staff

We are very lucky that our students receive lessons from musicians with extensive performance and teaching experience.

Drums – Declan Sanderson

Accrington born and bred, Mr. Sanderson has been a professional and semi-professional musician for the last 40 years. He has toured Britain, Ireland and Europe with various bands playing Rock, Pop, Blues, Soul, Funk, Country and Celtic music. He has been a fully qualified teacher for the last 25 years and is currently in his 20th  year of teaching Drums and Percussion at The Hollins. He has helped literally hundreds of our students learn to play, and to pass G.C.S.E. Music and internationally recognised Grade exams. Mr. Sanderson also runs the loud and lively, fun and free to all, Samba Band which has featured in many School events.

Guitar – John Norton

Mr Norton is full time musician a part time session guitarist based in the North West of England. He has worked with various record labels and performed within high-end musical theatre pit bands. He is a PGCE Certified teacher with a background in high school education and studied at Bristol Institute of Modern Music where he achieved his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance.

Mr Norton regularly performs corporate functions and weddings. Mr Norton’s areas of expertise range from Jazz and Country to Fusion and Rock. He is a music theory teacher and experienced with ABRSM, RGT and Rock School exam boards.

Piano – Craig Smith

Mr Smith started taking piano lessons at the age of 12, and was playing professionally by the time he was 17.

He trained as a session musician and musical director at Sir Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), going on to MD various theatre tours and share stages with several platinum-selling and UK chart-topping artists. He even found himself recording for Bryan Adams one freezing Manchester morning after a concert at the M.E.N.!

Now a dad of 3 boys, the majority of his work is slightly tamer, as a specialist wedding and event solo pianist playing over 100 events a year across the country and teaching at The Hollins and another school. He still tours, currently as the musical director for The Vintage Boys Rock ‘n’ Roll Show UK tours, playing keyboards and guitars; pianist for international classical crossover performer Gemma Louise Doyle; and keys player for band Jessicas Ghost.

Woodwind – Mr Dawkins

Mr Dawkon’s career as a musician started in 1979 when he studied as an Army musician at Kneller Hall. Then he joined his regiment in Cyprus and travelled to many countries in Europe, playing at prestigious events, including Royal occasions. After leaving the Army he started teaching at Blackburn School of Music and Bolton School Boys’ Division. He teach clarinet, saxophone and flute. He regularly prepare students for ABRSM and Trinity grade examinations, and also for GCSE and A level practical exams. Mr Dawkin has an excellent record of results, and his pupils often achieve Merits and Distinctions.

Singing – Rachel Toner

Ms Toner has undergone many years of both classical and modern vocal training, and now seeks to incorporate “the best of both worlds” into her approach to teaching. Along with her teaching qualifications, she holds an Advanced Diploma in Contemporary Popular Music, which includes modern vocal training and techniques, as well as Studio Engineering, Music Technology and Music Business. She has extensive experience in the world of musical theatre, on both sides of the curtain! Credits include “Calamity Jane”, “Anything Goes”, “Guys and Dolls” (nominated for best Musical Director), “Little Shop Of Horrors” and “The Addams Family”.

In addition, Ms Toner directs all three of the Junior Boys’ Choirs at Park Road, and has a long-standing attachment to Derian House Children’s Hospice, where she provides music sessions and directs the staff choir.

Her students receive a thorough grounding in correct and safe vocal technique, underpinned by her years of classical training, together with a more modern outlook in the context of today’s ever-evolving music industry.

Examination opportunities atr offered through ABRSM, Rockschool (RSL), Trinity and LAMDA. Many of her students are actively involved in musical ensembles such as Chamber Choir, Halle Youth Choir and Manchester Musical Youth (MMY). She has coached many students for entry to prestigious performing arts institutions including Laine Theatre Arts, Italia Conti, The Hammond, Emil Dale, and Junior RNCM. She enjoys an extremely high success rate with examinations and auditions and os extremely proud of what her students achieve!

Anyone who is keen to learn is welcome in  lessons – all ages, all genres and all levels of ability!

Music is Ms Toner’s passion and her life, and through teaching, she is able to share her love of music with others.