RNCM welcomes renowned tutors in wind, brass, vocal studies, and popular music

The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) announces the appointment of eight eminent tutors ahead of the 2025/26 academic year, with professors and specialists from wind, brass, vocals studies, and popular music joining the College from September.

Professor of Saxophone Naomi Sullivan, photo © Matthew Johnson

Internationally celebrated soloist and educator Naomi Sullivan joins as Professor of Saxophone (Senior Tutor) with a focus on collaboration, new music, chamber music, and teaching. Naomi’s experience includes 18 years as Head of Saxophone at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and an extensive list of performance projects in the UK and abroad. She regularly works with young musicians – including those of NYO, BCMG, and AYM – and is Chair of the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain.

Both Fraser Langton and Oliver Casanovas Nuevo join the School of Wind, Brass and Percussion (SWBP) in two new Professor of Clarinet roles. Fraser brings a decade of service with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra as Sub-Principal Clarinet and Principal E-flat Clarinet, and Oliver boasts an impressive history of performance with leading ensembles across Europe and the world, including the Royal Philharmonic Stockholm Orchestra, Aalborg Symfoniorkester (Denmark), Madrid Symphony Orchestra (Teatro Real), Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hallé, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

International Visiting Professor of Flute Julien Beaudiment, photo © Opéra National de Lyon

Former Principal Flute of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Julien Beaudiment comes to the College as International Visiting Professor of Flute. His extensive career as a soloist includes many acclaimed performances in major venues and festivals worldwide, including at Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris), Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Berlin Konzerthaus, Walt Disney Hall (Los Angeles), and Beijing National Center for the Performing Arts.

Director of Wind and joint Head of SWBP, Kevin Gowland says: ‘I am absolutely delighted that Julien, Naomi, Fraser, and Oliver will be joining us from September, and I look forward to working very closely with them. They are all outstanding musicians and will be a source of excellence and inspiration for our students.’

Tenor and educator Chris Turner, photo courtesy of the artist

The School of Vocal Studies and Opera welcomes the award-winning Christopher Turner as Professor of Singing. An alum of the RNCM, the tenor has performed with many of the UK’s finest opera companies, including Scottish Opera, Opera North, English National Opera, London Chamber Orchestra, and English Touring Opera, as well as appeared internationally with Opera di Firenze.

Versatile Romanian violinist and educator Andra Vornicu will join the RNCM’s Popular Music department as Professor of Pop Violin, having toured internationally with artists Lewis Capaldi, Paloma Faith, James, Tim Burgess, Chicane, and DJ Spoony, and joined major theatre productions including The Book of Mormon and Guys and Dolls. She has also performed with Manchester Camerata, Opera North, and Manchester Collective, and currently holds leadership positions with Novello, NEW Sinfonia, Ignition, Urban Soul, The Untold Orchestra, and Northern Film Orchestras.

Andra says: ‘I look forward to giving my students the tools and inspiration to succeed as young artists across genres – whether in the studio, pit, on stage, or in collaborative creative projects.’

Damian Morgan also joins Popular Music as Artist Development Specialist bringing 30 years of industry experience in artist management and development, networking, and communications, and RNCM Popular Music degree alum Rebecca Lewis returns to the College as Creative Multi-Specialist (Vocals) building on her impressive career as a dynamic vocalist, producer, and songwriter with a focus on music tech and innovation.

Rebecca Lewis aka Le Montais, photo © Max Burnett

14 August 2025