Staff Team

Brian Parsonage Kelly

English

Brian has worked in show business for most of his life, including a number of years at the BBC and as manager of the original London Academy of Performing Arts. When not teaching, he works with actors, developing their careers. Recently, Brian provided the subtitles for a short film which will be premiered at Cannes this year.

He has a BA in English Language and Linguistics and is just completing an MA in Applied Linguistics. He is very interested in language in general and is fascinated by etymology. He has studied Chaucer and Shakespeare in some depth and has an excellent understanding of History and the Arts in general. He has a PGCE from the University of Portsmouth.

Aside from MEPA, Brian regularly works at Maidstone Girls' Grammar School, and prior to that, was at the Michael Hall Steiner School in West Sussex.

Tilly Cook

Dance, Drama and PE

Tilly has worked her way up through MEPA, starting at the studios at a young age. Joining the kids agency and achieving a music video with Robbie Williams and her west end debut in Matilda the Musical at the age of 11. She then went onto touring around the UK in billy Elliot the musical and finished her tour in Hamburg, Germany. She has also trained with Unity UK and has been European champions and UK champions.

At the age of 16 she went to MEPA College and studied the musical theatre course. During her time at college, she gained her teachers qualification with a specialist in street dance, alongside an diploma in anatomy and physiology. Once graduating college, she went onto working with the Academy and College teaching all styles of dance and musical theatre.

Tilly has started to develop a passion for choreography and has choreographed pieces for MEPA studios which has won silver and bronze at the Dance World Cup, as well as placing at numerous competitions around the UK, along with winning choreography awards for her pieces. Tilly currently teaches and choreographs for all branches at MEPA, as well as sport and PE lessons for the Academy. Alongside this, Tilly is currently studying at the Open University doing an open degree.

Sandra Hills

Humanities

Sandra graduated from Kings College London in 1997 with a BA Hons. History degree and then converted this to a teaching qualification (PGCE Secondary) from Canterbury Christ Church University in 1999. Sandra's first teaching job was at Astor Secondary School in Dover where she remained until 2013 and taught Humanities, French and Life Skills.

During this time, she was promoted to Head of Year and then Head of House - a role she fulfilled for 10 years. Sandra then took a career break to raise her children and during this time she also a worked as a GCSE History Examiner.

When Sandra joined MEPA in September, she described it as the dream role of being able to combine her passion for teaching with an environment fueled by the performing arts - something that she has a keen interest in having been a dancer when she was younger.

Silvia Jackson

Foreign Modern Languages

Silvia is a Modern Foreign Languages Specialist QTS Spanish to A levels and French as a subsidiary subject.

She holds a BSc in Management with Spanish and French as a subsidiary subject. She has wide experience teaching in different schools alongside the UK for public and independent sectors at primary and secondary levels. She also holds a Masters in Translation. In her free times she enjoys reading, walking in the countryside and spend time with her family!

Victoria Grant

Science

Teaching qualifications
BSc Molecular Biology with Honours from Queens University Belfast
Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Biology with Science from Queens University Belfast.
QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)

Teaching Experience
1 year teaching at Nendrum College (Maternity cover) KS3 and GCSE Science
8 years teaching at Valley Park School including experience as Head of Biology Department. Taught KS3, GCSE Combined and Triple Science Biology, Chemistry and Physics. AS and A2 Level Biology.
7 years tutoring for GCSE Combined and Triple Science and A level Biology.
6 years marking as an Assistant Examiner for Cambridge iGCSE Biology.

Daniel Greenway

Ballet and Contemporary Teacher

Training: Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.

Daniel is currently a creative and the Media & Marketing producer for Beyond Repair Entertainment (2014 - 2020)

Theatre: Swing ‘Wicked’ (UK Tour), AssociateChoreographer / Swing 'Legally Blonde' (The Gatehouse), Assistant Choreographer 'Dracula' (London College of Music), Swing / 1st Cover Flynn 'Closer to Heaven' (The Union), Juan / Dance Captain 'In the Dead of Night' (Landor), Jack Frost 'The Snowman' (Peacock Theatre, UK Tour), Youth & Beauty Death in Venice (Opera North, UK Tour), Soloist in ‘Bread of Life’ (UK Tour), Dancer ‘Glastonbury Festival’ (Summerhouse, Theatre and Circus), Dance Artist ‘Hair Looks Fierce’ (Wella, Salon International)

Other Credits: Choreographer and Assistant Choreographer for ‘Stages Festival at Sea’ & ‘Throwback’ (Floating Festivals, R.C.I), Assistant Choreographer ‘You in the Middle’ (TUI UK Commercial), Choreographer ‘Tui Idents’ (UK Commercials) Dance Captain for Jean Ann Ryan (Oceania Cruises) Principal Dancer (Carnival cruise Lines) David Bowie 'Heroes’ (Fantastic Hairdresser Awards 2019) David Bowie 'Heroes’ (Fantastic Hairdresser Awards 20) Choreographer / Assistant Choreographer for; Sheridan Smith, John Newman, Durrells Wildlife Conservation, Ferrari Owners Club, Best Parties Ever, Hogan Lovells, Microgaming, Glastonbury Festival, Annabels and the UK Chinese Business Association.

Music Videos: Tsunami (Tinie Tempah) Thankyou (Will Young)

Phil Snowden

Acting

Phil Snowden is a professional theatre and screen performer appearing in the latest production of Hello, Dolly! He has worked extensively in theatre both in the West End and others.

Theatre: His West End credits include Classical Brits at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium, Children’s Royal Variety Performance at the Dominion Theatre, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs at the Strand Theatre, Radio Times at Queen’s Theatre, Me And My Girl at the Adelphi Theatre, 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Crazy For You at the Novello Theatre, Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre, My Fair Lady and Anything Goes at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace.

Other than the West End, Phil’s theatre credits include Releevo at the MAP Studio, Les Miserables in the Scandinavian Arena Tour, Jesus Christ Superstar in the UK and Ireland Arena Tour, Don Giovanni, Falstaff and Eugene Onegin at the London Coliseum, The Winter’s Tale for the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Comus at Shakespeare’s Globe.

Film and TV: His extensive screen credits include Beautiful South – Manchester (Music Video Flynn Productions), The Complete Guide To Parenting (ITV Talk Back Thames), After You’ve Gone (BBC), Curry’s Advert (Various), Big Dance Shorts (Channel 4), Random Acts-Sofa (Channel 4), The Musketeers (BBC), and Les Miserables (Working Title/Cameron Mackintosh).

Recordings: Phil was in the recordings of Jesus Christ Superstar (DVD), Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert (DVD), Billy Elliot and Radio Times.

Mike Fellows

Jazz and Commercial

Mike has danced from a very young age, trained at the Urdang Academy, and graduated in 2016. Since then he has worked in all areas of the performance industry such as the Spice Girls stadium tour, The X Factor, The X Factor: Celebrity, The Voice, the feature film Rocketman, danced on Strictly Come Dancing, MTV and for Disney and Will.i.am.

He has also danced or modelled in commercial advertisements for clients as big as Google, Huawei, Skoda, TUI and M&S.

Jane Rebecca Marshall

Singing and Musical Theatre

Whilst studying for her Degree in Music at the London College of Music, Jane Rebecca Marshall gained her LLCM (TD) and ALCM in teaching and performing, graduating in 1990 with Honours. Her tutors included Janice Chapman, Pamela Bowden and Mary Hammond.

After a post-graduate year, concentrating on Advanced Singing Studies, Jane-Rebecca started her career as a soprano soloist and singing teacher. Working predominantly as a concert performer Jane-Rebecca has performed at many major venues including St. Georges Hanover Square London (as Soprano Soloist in Messiah on Handel’s birthday in his tercentenary year), St. Paul’s Cathedral London, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Central Hall, London and other Cathedrals including Rochester, Guildford and Newcastle, and at various prominent theatres and concert halls in the UK.

Her roles include Queen of the Night (Magic Flute), Mrs Ford (Merry Wives of Windsor), Despina (Cosi fan Tutti) Constanza (Seraglio), Rosina (Barbere of Seville), Countess, (The Marriage of Figaro) and many Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, to name but a few.

Jane-Rebecca’s interest in the voice prompted her to explore the more “modern” Musical Theatre/Belt style of singing with Mark Meylan. Although Jane-Rebecca still sings as a classical soprano, she now predominantly performs as a music theatre artist, specialising in concert and cabaret work: and like many performers finds the 'cross-over' style helpful and liberating, especially when applied to teaching.

Paul Monaghan

Singing and Musical Theatre

Training: Royal Academy of Music, College of Music and Brendan Smith Academy, Dublin.

Theatre includes: The Bridges of Madison County (Menier Chocolate Factory), Man of La Mancha (London Coliseum), La Cage Aux Folles (UK tour), Cats (International tour/London Palladium), A Man of No Importance (Union/Arts Theatre), Fame (Irish National tour), Aspects of Love (Olympia Theatre, Dublin/Cork Opera House), Les Misérables (Palace Theatre, London/UK tour, 10th Anniversary Concert), Sweeney Todd (NCH Dublin), The Phantom of The Opera (Manchester Opera House/Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh, 25th Anniversary Concert), Jesus Christ Superstar (Olympia Theatre, Dublin), 1916: The Musical, (London Irish Centre), Zorba! and The Hired Man (Theatre Royal Waterford), Chess and Follies (National Opera House, Wexford), The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (NCH Dublin), Cameron Mackintosh: A Tribute (Summer Proms RTE), Les Misérables In Concert (Belfast/Cardiff/Chelmsford/Scandinavian tour).

Television includes: Rough and Ready, The Late Late Show, Live At 3, Kenny Live and Make Mine Music.

Film includes: Les Misérables, The Mummy and Mary Queen of Scots.

Recordings include: Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert, The Phantom Of The Opera 25th Anniversary Concert, Balor: The Musical, Rodgers And Hammerstein A Celebration, 1916: The Musical.

Chris Connor

Jazz and Commercial

Chris completed his professional training at Performers College, Essex, under the direction of the late great Brian Rogers & Sue Stephens. Throughout his training, he worked for the College’s own Dance Company at various prestigious events and ultimately gained a National Diploma in Dance & Musical Theatre. He’s been lucky enough to travel and perform across the world and brings all the experience he has gained directly from the professional industry straight to the classroom.

Alongside his performing career, Chris is an experienced teacher of 13 years and currently teaches at several performing arts schools in Kent. In addition, he has taught around the country for Elite programmes as well as providing guest choreography & Musical Workshops of the productions he has performed in.

Chris’ professional credits include ‘MISS SAIGON’ – Swing (Vienna, Austria); ‘GHOST’ – Swing (Stuttgart, Germany); ‘WE WILL ROCK YOU' – Ensemble (Royal Caribbean); ‘STARLIGHT EXPRESS– Swing, Cover Hoppers 1,2 & 3 (Bochum, Germany); ‘PIPE DREAM’ – Eddie/Ensemble (The Union Theatre, London); ‘SPECTRA’ – Dancer/Aerialist (Royal Caribbean); ‘THE ROLLERBOYS’ – Featured Singer (UK Tour); P&O AUSTRALIA – Singer/Dancer; CINDERELLA ft. Torvill & Dean – Ensemble/Skater (Bristol Hippodrome, UK); ROBINSON CRUSOE & THE CARIBBEAN PIRATES ft. Brian Conley & Lesley Joseph – Ensemble (Mayflower Theatre, Southampton); ALADDIN ft. Shane Ritchie – Ensemble (Cliffs Pavilion Theatre – Southend)

TV and film credits include ‘THE KING’S MAN’ – German Soldier; ‘THE BEE KEEPER’– US Marine; ‘BOSS TEA’ Commercial – Guard Dancer; ‘BBC EASTENDERS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED‘– Dancer; ‘LIKE A DRUG’ Music Video for American artist, Adam Tyler – Dancer.