Clare Cocks: Piano, Violin

BMus (Hons), GRNCM, PMEPTA

Playing both the piano and violin from a young age, Clare was awarded a full scholarship to study the piano and violin at the Junior Royal College of Music. Following this, she studied with Carole Presland at the RNCM and graduated with a BMus (Hons) and GRNCM. During her studies at the RNCM, she performed as a soloist, accompanist and a chamber musician as part of several quartets, trios and duos. She won the Hilda Anderson Dean Prize for Performance and the Peter Frankl Piano Prize. 

Over the last twenty years she has continued to perform, mostly as an accompanist for masterclasses, choral concerts and ABRSM and LCM exams, but has become increasingly focused on her passion for teaching, dedicating time to developing programmes and opportunities for her students. She has also attended an online course about Performance Anxiety with Xenia Pestova Bennett to be able to better help her students to build confidence as performers.

Clare has taught in some of the leading music departments in the country including the Junior RNCM (for 12 years), Manchester High School for Girls, Repton School, Oakham School and currently at Moreton Hall and Oswestry School. Her interests lie in the psychology of teaching, developing students’ performance skills and delivering a nurturing but high-level programme of study tailored to each individual student. Her students have had great successes in exams, festivals, competitions and auditions with students gaining places at the Junior RNCM and Junior Birmingham Conservatoire as well as gaining scholarships to study at several UK Conservatoires. She teaches all levels from beginner to Diploma level, focusing on classical and repertoire and technical development. Clare is also the Music Development Coordinator at Moreton Hall, running the Lady Barbirolli society - organising masterclasses, Prep and Senior recitals, arranging concert trips and helping with scholarships - as well as overseeing the music MA provision. Clare is also a Professional member of the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA).