Information About Bernice - Chesham teacher

Personal Description:

Bernice Lee recently graduated with a distinction in oboe performance (Art Dip.) at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was a pupil of Gordon Hunt, Nicholas Daniel and Alison Teale. She was a Guildhall Scholar during her time at the Conservatory and also a Drake Calleja Trust Scholar for the 2018/19 academic year. Most recently in 2020, Bernice won a place in the London Sinfonietta Academy and London Philharmonic Orchestra's Foyle Future Firsts.

In 2016, shortly after graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore, Bernice won the President’s Young Performers’ Competition, providing her with the opportunity to give her concerto debut with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, performing Richard Strauss’ oboe concerto. In that same year, she toured Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Les Misérables in Singapore and Dubai, playing the oboe and cor anglais.

An avid orchestral musician, she was the principal oboist of the Young Musicians’ Symphony Orchestra from 2017 to 2019. In addition, she has performed as principal oboist with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, the highlight being Sibelius’ Second Symphony under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle in July 2017. Later that year in December, Bernice performed live on Radio 3, Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Second Meeting for oboe and piano as part of BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Total Immersion Series.

In June 2019, Bernice performed at the Wigmore Hall as part of a 10-oboe ensemble for two pieces composed by David Bruce and John Woolrich respectively. From mid 2018 Bernice performed extensively as Guest Co-Principal Oboe with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and in November performed with the Trondheim Soloists on tour in Hong Kong.

Throughout her student years Bernice has participated actively in competitions, most recently winning first prize in the Rising Stars Grand Prix competition in Berlin in May 2018. She was also a finalist in the Royal Over-Seas League Mixed Ensembles Competition in 2020 with Pacific Winds Quintet.

Having a passion for chamber music, she performed with the Cobbett Quartet at the Torroella Music Festival in Spain in July 2017. There, they performed the oboe quartets by Benjamin Britten, W.A. Mozart, Malcolm Arnold and Ernest Moeran. She has also performed Edgard Varese’s Octandre and György Ligeti’s Kammerkonzert with the Guildhall Ubu Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Tutoring Experience:

I have over seven years of experience teaching students from over 5 different countries and ranging from 7 to 60 years old. Whether you're preparing for an exam, learning the oboe as a hobby, or just want some additional guidance, please be rest assured that I will tailor the lessons to best suit you and cater to your needs. I'm passionate about teaching and am fully invested in my students' learning and progress.

Tutoring Approach:

For complete beginners on the oboe, I usually start with long tones to build up stamina, improve on breath control and help develop correct embouchure. Scales and arpeggios are also a common feature of my lessons as these are the fundamental building blocks of music and oboe playing. Scales are very important help the student to remember the fingerings of different notes and help improve sound and finger technique as well.

For intermediate and advanced students, I do all the above but focus more on the repertoire that they are currently working on for an upcoming assessment or performance. I usually spend more time on musicality - developing the student's stylistic ideas on different periods of music and also other aspects of technique such as articulation and dynamics.

I have a great passion for teaching. To date I have over eight years of experience teaching both privately and in schools. All of my students who have taken ABRSM examinations have attained either a Distinction or a Merit and a couple of them are also seriously considering pursuing music in Conservatory. I currently also teach the oboe at Havering Music Centre on Saturday mornings. I build rapport with my students and take great pride in watching them make progress and grow as a musician.
My students range from 7 to 60 years old, with some learning the oboe to take graded examinations and others learning the instrument as a hobby. Over time, I have gained significant experience in helping students of different ages and standards overcome technical difficulties, thereby significantly improving their playing. Whatever your goals are, rest assured I will tailor the lessons to suit you best.