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About our tutors

Buster Birch

L2PJ Founder and Lead Tutor

7 years visiting Jazz Professor at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music

Multiple award-winning jazz educator

27 books published

Director of the UK's largest adult jazz summer school 

Co-Founder and Lead Tutor for BYMT Jazz School for Children

Prof Simon Purcell

Guest Tutor

International Chair in Improvisation at the Guildhall School of Music in London

Formerly Head of Jazz at Trinity-Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance from 2005-2017

Member of the Pop and Jazz Steering Group for the Association of European Conservatoires from 2009-2018

Prof Nick Smart

Guest Tutor

Head of Jazz Programmes at the Royal Academy of Music

Grammy Nominated Artist

Internationally renowned jazz educator, trumpeter and conductor who has given guest masterclasses and performances around the world

Prof Tori Freestone

Guest Tutor

Professor in Jazz performance and Jazz composition at Leeds Conservatoire of Music

Visiting lecturer at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Visiting Tutor at the Royal Academy of Music

Prof Byron Wallen

Guest Tutor

Visiting Jazz Professor at many UK music conservatoires

Nominated for MOBO Awards and BBC Best Band and Best Album

BBC Innovation in Jazz award


Prof Mark Armstrong

Guest Tutor

Royal College of Music Jazz Professor

Former Artistic Director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra

Chief Examiner for the ABRSM national music exam board

Prof Malcolm Earle Smith

Guest Tutor

Professor of Jazz at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music since 2007

Prof Steve Waterman

Guest Tutor

Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Trinity College of Music in London

Visiting Jazz Trumpet specialist at The Royal Northern College of Music

Visiting Jazz Trumpet specialist at The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

ECM recording artist

Michael Horner

Guest Tutor

Much in demand jazz pianist, accompanist and arranger. 

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