MEET THE TEAM
Biographies and Qualifications
DR SEÁN CAROLAN
Ph.d., M.Ed., BA(Hons)., PGCE.
Piano Tutor and ABRSM Examiner
Dr Seán Carolan is the Director of the Birmingham Piano and Music Studio. He completed his Music degree at the University of Liverpool, studying piano with David Walters, organ with renowned Noel Rawsthorne, composition with Steve Pratt alongside Music Education. He gained the Sue Willis Memorial Prize for Performance whilst there and went on to teach music throughout the Northwest of England. He has taught Key Stage One through to A Level Music and was Music Co-Ordinator for several School Clusters in Birmingham. A year in Mexico City in the mid-1990s allowed him to participate in some collaborative work with schools and orchestras. Upon returning to the UK, he gained a Master's and Ph.D. in Education. In addition to this, he has taught and lectured Composition and Musical Theory for Sandwell and Birmingham Education Authorities.
He has taught piano locally in the Birmingham area, as well as in schools and colleges. He is proud to have had students who had their first piano lesson with him and have gone on to University to study music themselves. He is primarily a Music Practitioner with an emphasis on performance and general Music education.
Throughout 35 years of teaching, he is delighted to say he has a 100% success rate with students being entered for ABRSM examinations. The key to success is regular practice, performance opportunities and relying on the advice of an experienced teacher. He is also an examiner for ABRSM. The ABRSM is the gold standard in music assessment Worldwide and has a rich history and excellent reputation. Examining has allowed him to travel extensively throughout the UK, as well as to Hong Kong and, recently, to examine in China.
Being up to date with current developments and national standards, Seán and indeed all teachers at the Birmingham Piano & Music Studio have an up-to-date and valid DBS, are fully insured, as is the Studio, and have all completed training for Child Safeguarding with the NSPCC.
MYLES MANDERS-YOUNG
B.Mus., ARSM.
Piano Tutor
Myles Manders-Young is a pianist and piano educator whose work encompasses solo performance, chamber music, music education and piano pedagogy. Currently undertaking an MMus in Piano Performance at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he studies with internationally acclaimed pianist Mark Bebbington and Daniel Browell. Myles has developed a broad musical perspective through his studies in the UK and Thailand. He previously studied at Cardiff University School of Music before undertaking an extended period of study at the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music in Bangkok.
As a performer, Myles has appeared at prestigious venues and festivals in the UK and internationally, including Sala Sudasiri Sobha in Bangkok, The Worcester Festival, The Firs: Elgar’s Birthplace, and the ArtePiano Festival in Italy, where he was invited to perform as an international guest artist. He is also a member of IndiviDuo, a piano duo with pianist Claire Vane. His musical interests extend beyond performance to include historical interpretation, piano technique and the relationship between effective practice and artistic development.
Myles has received masterclasses and individual guidance from distinguished pianists and pedagogues, including Pascal Nemirovski, Kenneth Hamilton and Sara Davis Buechner. These experiences have further informed his approach to performance, musicianship and piano technique, alongside his ongoing conservatoire training. His commitment to musical excellence has been recognised through several competition successes, including Third Prize at the 7th International Chopin Piano Competition Thailand and Gold Prize at the 4th International Bangkok Piano Competition. In 2019, he was named Musician of the Year by Birmingham Piano & Music Studio in recognition of his dedication and musical achievements.
Alongside his performing career, Myles is actively involved in the development of piano education and the wider musical profession. He has served on the ABRSM Youth Advisory Board and was invited to the Yehudi Menuhin School to deliver sessions on practice methods and competition preparation for the Overseas Winter Piano Master's Academy. He is also a Student Ambassador for the European Piano Teachers' Association (EPTA), which selected him as its Young Pianist of the Month in January 2026. His professional interests include the development of effective practice strategies, healthy piano technique, performance preparation and the advancement of high-quality instrumental teaching.
As a piano teacher at Birmingham Piano & Music Studio, Myles combines his conservatoire training, international musical experience and detailed understanding of practice methodology to deliver structured, individualised tuition. He places particular emphasis on developing secure technique, musical understanding, effective independent practice and confident performance. His teaching is informed by a commitment to high standards, careful attention to individual needs and the belief that technical proficiency and artistic expression should develop hand in hand. Through a systematic and ambitious approach to musical development, he aims to equip each student with the skills, discipline and independence necessary to achieve their full potential.
Evie Ingles
B.Mus., ARSM.
Piano, Woodwind and Composition Tutor
Evie Ingles is a performer, teacher, composer and multidisciplinary musician whose broad musical experience informs her creative and individualised approach to teaching. She began learning the piano at the age of seven, alongside singing and violin, before exploring the saxophone and later returning to the piano during her teenage years. Since then, she has developed into a versatile multi-instrumentalist, performing on national and international stages, including the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, Bristol Beacon, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Bradshaw Hall, Watford Colosseum and Timashev Hall at Ohio State University. Her experience also extends to collaborative music-making, having served as conductor and accompanist for Cardiff University Healthcare Choir on numerous occasions between 2021 and 2024.
Evie holds a First-Class BMus degree from Cardiff University, where she received the AB Dally Award for Composition. She is currently studying for an MMus in Composition at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, alongside developing a freelance career encompassing performance, composition and music education. Her current roles include serving on the ABRSM Youth Advisory Board and working as a Professional Mentor at RBC’s SoundLab. She has also worked as a Workshop Assistant at the Conservatoire’s Sound Collective Summer School and as a supply teacher across secondary schools in South Wales.
Having grown up surrounded by music, Evie recognises the profound impact that inspiring teachers and opportunities for musical participation can have on a young person’s development. She is passionate about making high-quality music education accessible and nurturing each student’s individual creativity, confidence and musical understanding. Drawing on her experience across performance, composition and multiple instruments, Evie aims to provide engaging, tailored lessons that encourage students to develop both their technical abilities and their wider musicianship. Her commitment to supporting students in achieving their personal goals is reflected in her examination results, with 100% of her students who have entered examinations achieving Distinction.