Jessica Parsons

Cello Teacher

Starting the 'cello just before her 8th birthday, Jessica was fortunate enough to have Melanie Cortese as her first 'cello teacher. After a little over 6 years under her wing Jessica, won a place at The Purcell School of Music in Hertfordshire and studied with Pal Banda and Michal Kaznowski. After graduating from Purcell, she continued on to Music College to study with Jennifer Curtis and Gillian Thoday at the Royal Northern College of Music. Afterwards she moved to Norway, where she studied with Kari Ravnan, Anne-Britt Sævig Årdal and Emery Cardas, and her Erasmus year in Sweden with Andreas Brantelid. Since graduating she has enjoyed freelancing as a performer and more recently as a teacher, teaching a broad range of ages and abilities.

Rita Moutinho

Cello Teacher

Cellist Rita Moutinho, born in Porto, Portugal, began her musical studies at the age of ten at a local music academy. In 2015, she continued her education at ARTAVE - Escola Profissional Artística do Vale do Ave, under the tutelage of Pétia Samardjieva. This institution provided her with a professional-level certification, focusing on all areas of musicianship.

After completing her professional course in 2018, Rita was awarded a private scholarship to attend the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, studying with Stefan Popov. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree with merit in 2021. Continuing her education, Rita enrolled at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels to pursue her master’s degree in the class of Jeroen Reuling while still based in London.

Rita's studies took her to various countries, allowing her to perform and record in prestigious venues in Porto, Lisbon, London, Brussels, and Amsterdam. She has participated in masterclasses with esteemed mentors such as Stéphanie Huang, Paulo Gaio Lima, Jaroslav Mikus, Filipe Quaresma, Maria Macedo, among others, and has received guidance from distinguished artists like Denis Severin, Erkki Lahesmaa, and Ophélie Gaillard.

As a member of several orchestras, including the Conservamus Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra APROARTE, Orquestra JOF, and Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, Rita has worked with renowned conductors such as Glass Marcano, José Eduardo Gomes, David Bruchez, Peter Askim, Rafa Agulló Albors, Maxime Tortelier, Jessica Cottis, Carlos Garcés Fuentelsaz, and James Blair.

In chamber music, Rita has collaborated in various formations, including string quartet and piano trio, under the guidance of performers such as Krzysztof Smietana, Oscar Perks (Dante Quartet), Andrew Watkinson, Ralph de Souza (Endellion Quartet), Jacqueline Ross, Roberto González-Monjas, Ursula Smith, Tim Lowe, Richard Lester, Oliver Heath (Heath Quartet), Thomas Dieltjens, Eric Robberecht, and Evan Rothstein.

Additionally, Rita has developed a passion for teaching, gaining experience and interest in educating students of all ages and backgrounds, primarily through private lessons.

Lisa Sumner

Cello and Piano teacher

Lisa grew up in a musical family. Her mother was a piano teacher and she and her siblings all learnt instruments. She started the piano when she was 6 and cello when she was 10. Playing music together helped to foster a real love of chamber music. During these early years she discovered how much fun it can be to play music with family, friends and other musicians.

She joined the Merseyside Youth Orchestra at 15. After leaving school she went to the Royal Academy of Music in London to study cello with Derek Simpson and piano with Graeme Humphrey. As a student she took part in masterclasses with the renowned cellist Lynn Harrell - both as a cellist and also as an accompanist. She was awarded LRAM teaching Diplomas on both instruments, an Honours Degree and a Certificate of Advanced Studies for a 4th year on the cello. She was also awarded the John Booth Prize.

After leaving the RAM Lisa embarked on an extensive teaching career, initially in West London. She coached chamber groups and orchestras and taught in various schools -  Bute House Preparatory School, St Paul’s Girls’ School, Putney High and Lady Eleanor Holles in Hampton.

It was always her passion to get children to play music together from an early age. She directed her own Orchestral Courses primarily for juniors. She formed a Saturday Music School and these both became very popular.  During this period she was also asked to coach on the Oxford Cello School and in time became Junior Course Director from 1997 - 2002.

Her first son was born in London in 2003.  Two years later she relocated with her family to the North West and her second son was born soon after. In 2009 she was employed by St Mary’s College, Crosby to teach cello and piano and she combined this with a private teaching practice at home.

Lisa and her family moved back to London in April 2017 and began working for Pelican in September 2017.