Roy trained as a performer at the Royal College of Music and was a major prize winner, winning the Leslie Alexander award, the highest award available on the viola. A dual first study viola pupil of Frederick Riddle and piano pupil of Angus Morrison, he holds a complete suite of performing and teaching diplomas on piano and viola, plus performing diploma on violin and an MA in music. He also has a background as an organist and vast experience as a choir trainer and conductor.
Roy has spent most of his career combining teaching, performing, examining and adjudicating. He has taught academic music to A Level, the piano, violin and viola to diploma level, and the violin to RAM Exhibitioners; he currently delivers termly piano diploma masterclasses in Brighton. He has organised and coached numerous orchestral and singing courses and festivals for children, some under the umbrella of SATIPS, and has coached and conducted many adult choral societies. He has arranged and composed countless pieces for choirs and instrumental combinations with several works published by Subject Publications. Following appointments in various independent schools, mostly as Director of Music, he has now returned to freelance life.
He has extensive experience as a performer, including playing viola and piano in orchestras and ensembles and as a solo recitalist, most recently playing 2 piano recitals. He has particularly enjoyed several long-lasting piano duet partnerships, largely playing to music club audiences across the south. A previous official accompanist to Cheltenham Bach Choir under Brian Kay, he performed on TV and broadcast on radio; he was also frequent concert accompanist (and occasional conductor) to Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir, as well as other choirs across the south.
As a busy ABRSM grade, diploma and jazz examiner, he has worked all over the world (including examining in German). He has also engaged in other work for ABRSM, including viola consultant, viola syllabus selector and presenter of teacher meetings.
As an longstanding adjudicator member of the British Federation of Music Festivals, Roy brings wide experience of performing and teaching to encourage, support and inspire progress and development. He not only enjoys adjudicating his many specialist areas, including piano and strings, but also the complete range of classes as a generalist: he is listed as GEN which means he is qualified to adjudicate all classes.
Away from music, he can usually be found driving one of his classic cars.