Mark Wallis
Graduating from the Academy of Contemporary Music with a distinction, Mark has achieved a high level of technical ability and live experience well in advance of his age.
With his own band Solstar, he has been writing, recording and playing live since the age of 13. Now at 20, he is a regular session player specialising in R & B and Funk.
Mark has written and recorded songs with top producer Ian Little (Duran Duran, Roxy Music, OMD), and has worked and toured with Alice Cooper’s guitarist, Pete Friesen.
Mark’s vast live experience includes, Streatham Jazz Festival and the Carling Academy, London. He has also toured extensively throughout the U.K with blues and soul band ‘Jaded’.
Now a popular local tutor, Mark is involved with youth music projects throughout Surrey, and is now a regular tutor for the Realistic Rock Academy.
Rob Paterson
Rob took up the electric bass at the age of 15 and soon begun to play in rock and funk bands. As his interest in music grew he started taking lessons from London session ace Phil Mulford (Dirty Dancing, X Factor) and soon took up guitar and double bass and fell in love with jazz and Rock music.
He studied jazz at university, taking lessons in composition from Malcom Edmonstone (Strictly Come Dancing, Jacqui Dankworth) and for bass, Mark Hodgson (Bill Bruford’s Earthworks), achieving Grade 8 Trinity and Guildhall Board and a BA Jazz Degree. Since graduating Rob has been lucky enough to tour over Europe with various bands and involve himself in projects as diverse as a pop band and a Symphony Orchestra.
A diverse and adaptable musician and a good sight reader, Rob enjoys playing all styles of music from classical to jazz to metal. He has been gigging, composing and recording professionally since the age of seventeen and has a wide range of experience and skills to hand down to pupils.
Rob has 3 years teaching experience working in London schools and has played professionally in numerous recording sessions and countles different bands in many contexts ranging from intimate jazz clubs to festivals. He has played behind singers in soul pop and rock bands; Baby Charles, Euphonica Productions (Dance X, Pop Idol),Miss Bee Music and in big bands, ‘National Youth Jazz Orchestra’, and ‘Brighton Youth Orchestra’ (as a teacher).
Rob has toured Poland and Ukraine with Jazz outfits ; ‘FBI jazz project’ and the Canaries with Luis Merino Quintet and also played in the local Epsom Symphony Orchestra. Rob has played in various shows, both for schools and performing arts societies. (Little Shop Of Horrors, Hot Mikado, High School Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, Archie And Mehitabel).
