Fiona Lander
Born in Hexham, Fiona learned to play the piano and clarinet whilst at primary school then joined choirs and took up the saxophone at high school. Fiona's first public solo performance was at the age of ten where she played the jazz standard 'Night Train' on clarinet at a school concert. Jazz has always been a major influence in her life with both her father and music teacher being jazz pianists. Fiona went on to study music at Colchester Institute and gained an Honours degree. It was here that she found a real love for composition and arrangement.!!!! During this time at college, Fiona composed a range of instrumental and vocal pieces including an arrangement of '3 Northumbrian Songs' for Saxophone Choir (which has since been published). Fiona went on to teach music in 2 High Schools and became Head of Department in one for 5 years. Following her move back to the North East, Fiona has found herself teaching woodwind for Northumberland Creative & Performing Arts in the school where she went as pupil! She is highly respected in the region for her skills as a teacher, composer and performer.
When it comes to live performance, if the opportunity arises, Fiona loves to jam with other musicians and has performed several times on stage with Johnny Dickinson, Eddie Walker and Kirsty McGee & Mat Martin and Gareth Davies-Jones.
Paul Mason
Music, in all its forms, has always been a strong influence in Paul Mason's adult life and he has been fortunate throughout his life to have been encouraged by some gifted musicians.
Born in Sunderland, Paul was given his first guitar at the age of 12 and taught himself to play. At the age of 13, Paul has his first lessons and was lucky enough to have fellow Wearsider Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics fame) as his first guitar teacher.
From these early beginnings, Paul gained invaluable experience over the next few years playing lead guitarist in variety of rock bands throughout the North East of England. This was followed by a move to London in the early '80s to seek fame and fortune with a rock band known as The Dumb Blondes. Moderate success followed - the Dumb Blondes released a single on Fresh Records, played a number of major London venues and went on tour in the UK supporting bigger name rock bands.
However, following a serious accident with a circular saw which badly damaged his left hand, Paul gave up music for about 4 years. Then one day he came to realise that although the accident was serious, he was lucky still to have all his fingers. So he went out and bought a nylon string guitar because it was still too painful to play steel string, due to the sensitive scar tissue on his fingers. Paul never looked backed. He found he really enjoyed playing classical music and also started composing pieces for classical guitar. Following a chance meeting with Russian classical guitarist Alex Vlassenkov, Paul was able to work on his playing technique with Alex's help.
Born in Hexham, Fiona learned to play the piano and clarinet whilst at primary school then joined choirs and took up the saxophone at high school. Fiona's first public solo performance was at the age of ten where she played the jazz standard 'Night Train' on clarinet at a school concert. Jazz has always been a major influence in her life with both her father and music teacher being jazz pianists. Fiona went on to study music at Colchester Institute and gained an Honours degree. It was here that she found a real love for composition and arrangement.!!!! During this time at college, Fiona composed a range of instrumental and vocal pieces including an arrangement of '3 Northumbrian Songs' for Saxophone Choir (which has since been published). Fiona went on to teach music in 2 High Schools and became Head of Department in one for 5 years. Following her move back to the North East, Fiona has found herself teaching woodwind for Northumberland Creative & Performing Arts in the school where she went as pupil! She is highly respected in the region for her skills as a teacher, composer and performer.
When it comes to live performance, if the opportunity arises, Fiona loves to jam with other musicians and has performed several times on stage with Johnny Dickinson, Eddie Walker and Kirsty McGee & Mat Martin and Gareth Davies-Jones.
Paul Mason
Music, in all its forms, has always been a strong influence in Paul Mason's adult life and he has been fortunate throughout his life to have been encouraged by some gifted musicians.
Born in Sunderland, Paul was given his first guitar at the age of 12 and taught himself to play. At the age of 13, Paul has his first lessons and was lucky enough to have fellow Wearsider Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics fame) as his first guitar teacher.
From these early beginnings, Paul gained invaluable experience over the next few years playing lead guitarist in variety of rock bands throughout the North East of England. This was followed by a move to London in the early '80s to seek fame and fortune with a rock band known as The Dumb Blondes. Moderate success followed - the Dumb Blondes released a single on Fresh Records, played a number of major London venues and went on tour in the UK supporting bigger name rock bands.
However, following a serious accident with a circular saw which badly damaged his left hand, Paul gave up music for about 4 years. Then one day he came to realise that although the accident was serious, he was lucky still to have all his fingers. So he went out and bought a nylon string guitar because it was still too painful to play steel string, due to the sensitive scar tissue on his fingers. Paul never looked backed. He found he really enjoyed playing classical music and also started composing pieces for classical guitar. Following a chance meeting with Russian classical guitarist Alex Vlassenkov, Paul was able to work on his playing technique with Alex's help.
