Recent alumni successes at Guildhall School (July 2025)

Photo of Ruby Collins

We're delighted to celebrate the ongoing achievements of our alumni and fellows. From high-profile premieres to international award nominations, Guildhall graduates continue to shine on stage, screen and beyond.

 Music 

  • Ruby Collins (Bassoon 2021) has been appointed Sub-Principal Bassoon of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
  • Mark Taylor (Flute 2015), an alumnus and Flute Teacher for Junior Guildhall, has been appointed Section Leader Flute (Principal) in the Ulster Orchestra.
  • Katie Smith (Trumpet 2016) has been appointed third trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra.
  • Darren Moore (Trumpet 2008-2012) has been appointed first trumpet of the RTÉ Orchestra.
  • Stefani Trendafilova (Oboe 2024) has been appointed Second Oboe of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.
  • Andrew Hamilton (Vocal 2018) and Erika Baikoff (Vocal 2018) have been announced as BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists for 2025–27. Juliette Roos (Violin 2018) performs as first violin with the Kleio Quartet, who are also currently BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists for 2024–26, as well as the resident quartet of the RNCM’s String Quartet Studio.
  • Twm Brunton (Vocal 2024) and Erin Gwyn Rossington (Opera 2021) were joint first prize winners of the Dunraven Welsh Singer of the Year.
  • Jamie Reid (Trombone 2024) won First Prize in the British Trombone Society’s Alto Trombone Competition.
  • Heather Brooks (Harp 2024) won First Prize at the 2025 UK Harp Competition, receiving prize money and three recital opportunities around the UK.
  • George Robarts (Vocal 2023) won First Prize in the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music’s Lotte Lenya Competition.
  • Frederick Winterson (Cello 2019) participated in the Wigmore Hall Quartet Competition as a member of the Velvet Quartet.
  • Congratulations to tenor Nicky Spence OBE FGS (Opera 2009) on the release of his new album Fauré: La bonne chanson & other songs, which has received brilliant reviews.
  • Alison Balsom OBE FGS (Trumpet 2001) returned to the School to lead a Trumpet Masterclass at Milton Court on 12 June. You can find out more here.
  • Debbie Wiseman OBE FGS (Composition 1984) has been announced as a guest of honour at the 25th World Soundtrack Awards, taking place on 15 October 2025 at Film Fest Gent.
  • Cambridge International Piano Festival & Academy celebrated its second edition with alumna MinJung Baek (Piano 2013) leading the festival as Artistic Director. The Festival included recitals by MinJung and Professor Ronan O'Hora, Head of Advanced Performance Studies & Head of Keyboard Studies.
  • Nils Wanderer (Countertenor 2020) will make his debut at The Metropolitan Opera, New York, next season in the opera El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego. He will also perform for the first time at Glyndebourne as Oberon in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and appear at the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival in Japan and State Opera Hannover.
  • Grange Park Opera’s Summer Season includes David Stout (Baritone 2004) in the title role of Tchaikovsky’s Mazeppa.
  • Brass alumni Jack Sewter (Horn 2017) and Diana Sheach (Horn 2017) were reunited, performing together on the world tour of LES MISÉRABLES: THE ARENA SPECTACULAR in Abu Dhabi.
  • Dominic Miller (Guitar 1979) has been embarking on an exciting European tour, which began on 13 April at Prague’s KC Beseda Klánovice. Dominic’s final stop on the tour was on 8 July at Villa Spalletti Trivelli in Casalgrande, Italy.
  • Congratulations to pianist Gabriele Strata (Piano 2023) on his recent concert at the Instituto Italiano de Cultura in Madrid and his international summer tour.
  • Andrew McCormack (Jazz 2000) is supporting the Frank Gambale ‘All-Star’ Group in concert at Kings Place on 6 October, playing music from his upcoming album Luminosity. 
  • Soprano Jennifer Witton (Vocal Studies 2018) performed with other classical singers and the 60 Minute Orchestra in this year’s Festival of Chichester at The Jeneses Community Centre on 21 June.
  • Fabio Fernandes (Guitar 2018) played music from his upcoming debut album A Guitarist’s Prayer last month. See upcoming concerts here.
  • Jack Jones (Trumpet 2019), Artistic Director of The Listening Project, performed Jeremy Deller’s Acid Brass at Earth Hackney, following a sold-out show in 2024.
  • Ábel MGE (Composition 2019) has produced original music and sound design for The Arms, a new theatre fringe piece that opened in London in June at the Space Theatre and The Lion and the Unicorn and to Bristol in July.
  • Explore Sultan Stevenson’s (Jazz 2023) album El Roi on our Spotify playlist of Guildhall Jazz alumni.
  • Have a listen to Yazz Ahmed’s (Trumpet 2006) fantastic new album A Paradise in the Hold, released in February and again featured on our Spotify Playlist.
  • Listen to Emer Kinsella’s (Violin 2009) debut album Concurrence on our Spotify playlist. Performed with her neoclassical ensemble, the album blends different textures and styles.
  • Pietari Willey (Cello 2020) has been appointed solo cellist–lecturer in Kemi, Finland, where his role includes performing, orchestral work and teaching.
  • Sarah McCabe (Viola 2017) is Head of Education and Curriculum Development at social enterprise Be the Band and Course Director of Pro Corda’s Young String Experience.
  • Maarit Kangron (Cello 2012) is Chief Executive Producer/Artistic Director of Music at Eesti Kontsert and has established a professional development programme for elite artist musicians in Estonia.

Acting

  • Paapa Essiedu FGS (Acting 2012) was nominated for the 2025 Olivier Award for Best Actor for his role in Death of England: Delroy. You can also catch him on Netflix’s series Black Doves alongside fellow alumna Sarah Lancashire CBE FGS (Acting 1986). In more recent news, he will take on the iconic role of Severus Snape in HBO’s new Harry Potter series, joining another alumnus Luke Thallon (Acting 2017) in the star-studded cast!
  • Congratulations too to Andy Nyman (Acting 1987) on his Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Hello, Dolly!
  • A huge well done to Matthew Broome (Acting 2022), who stars in the lead role of Amazon Prime’s new series My Fault: London.
  • Catch Max Beesley (Music 1993) as part of the star-studded ensemble in the Disney+ drama Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes alongside Ebenezer Gyau (Acting 2023), who also appeared in the latest season of Black Mirror.
  • Jodie Whittaker FGS (Acting 2005) returned to screen in the acclaimed Netflix drama Toxic Town.
  • Chloe Pirrie (Acting 2009) stars in Netflix drama Dept. Q.
  • Huge congratulations to Rolf Saxon (Acting 1980) who appears in the latest Mission Impossible film.
  • Catch Orlando Bloom (Acting 1999) in Deep Cover, which premiered exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on 12 June 2025.
  • New cast members of Amazon's epic fantasy series Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power Season 3 include alumnus Zubin Varla (Acting 1992).
  • Alexandra Lubenova (Acting 2009), Nathan Hertz (Acting 2009), Ferdinand Kingsley (Acting 2009), and Gavin Stenhouse (Acting 2008) collaborated on the feature film Thinestra, which premiered at the Raindance Film Festival in June 2025. Music graduates Thomas Walley (Jazz 2024) and Charlie Laffer (Guitar 2010) also composed the score, in a fantastic display of collaboration between Guildhall alumni.
  • Kaya Ulasli (Acting 2024) joined the cast of Animal Farm, a co-production by Leeds Playhouse and Theatre Royal Stratford East, in association with Nottingham Playhouse. The production premiered at Stratford East in February, followed by a UK tour.
  • Susanna Hamnett (Acting 1988) returns to Riverside Studios with her acclaimed production Hotel Elsinore this July, following a previous run in April, as well as performances at the Edinburgh Fringe and a U.S. tour.
  • Congratulations to Sam Thorpe-Spinks (Acting 2021), who wrote and performed in Harmony, a new play which opened at the White Bear Theatre in Kennington in May. The production was directed by fellow alumnus Noah Marullo (Acting 2021) and also featured alumna Isla Lee (Acting 2021).
  • Clive Rowe MBE FGS (Acting 1987) will be starring as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family musical tour, with its first stop in Birmingham 10–12 July. Grab your tickets.
  • Alec Boaden (Acting 2024) starred in Punch at the Young Vic this spring, following a sold-out run in Nottingham. This moving play is based on the true story of James Hodgkinson and is dedicated to him and all victims of one-punch violence. Punch begins a West End run this September.
  • Nia Towle (Acting 2021) takes on the role of Holly in Stereophonic, which opened to rave reviews and runs at the Duke of York’s Theatre until 20 September.
  • Ewan McGregor OBE FGS (Acting 1992) returned to the stage in My Master Builder alongside alumna Mirren Mack (Acting 2019). 
  • Máté Haumann (Acting 2002), part of the cast in the Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer, was recently recognised for his performance as Hamlet at the Hungarian Theatre.
  • Bessie Carter (Acting 2016) has appeared in Mrs. Warren’s Profession at the Garrick Theatre, performing alongside her mother Imelda Staunton. She’s also starring in BritBox’s new historical drama Outrageous.
  • Hannah Barrie (Acting 2003) starred in a powerful two-person production of Macbeth at the Oxford Playhouse this spring.

Production Arts 

  • Congratulations to alumna Gemma Harrison (Technical Theatre 2009) on her recent appointment as Head of Sound at Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre, achieving her biggest goal: becoming Head of Sound on a major West End musical.
  • We were thrilled to see fellow Paul Arditti winning the Tony Award 2025 for Best Sound Design of a Play for Strangers Things: The First Shadow.
  • Emma Peace (Technical Theatre 2022) was recently appointed Assistant Stage Manager (Book Cover) at Cats International Tour (Europe 2025/26) with Crossroads Live.
  • Jonny Reeks (Technical Theatre 2023) is as the new Deputy Head of Automation at The Tina Turner Musical.
  • Ben Mill (Technical Theatre 2023) was recently promoted to Deputy Head of Automation at ABBA Voyage!
  • Josh Cole-Brown (Technical Theatre 2023) joined the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester as Assistant Stage Manager in May.
  • Jack Garner-Greene (Technical Theatre 2023) joined Matilda the Musical as Assistant Stage Manager & Book Cover earlier this year.

Photograph of Ruby Collins © Richard Ion