JONATHAN KERSHAW - BA (Oxon.), PG Dip. (RNCM), LTCL

Hayle, Cornwall

Telephone: 01736 759 999 • Mobile: 07798 837 942

PERSONAL PROFILE

I graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, UK) in July 1998, where I studied the Bassoon and Contrabassoon on a two year Postgraduate Course.
My teachers were Alan Pendlebury (Principal - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra) and Nick Lander (Contrabassoonist with the RLPO).

I passed through the RNCM's system of assessed recitals, and upon graduating from college I was a successful freelance player in the North West of England and further afield. Highlights included playing with the BBC Philharmonic as part of the "Proms" season at the Royal Albert Hall in 1999, as well as regularly playing and recording with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

In June 1995 I graduated from Merton College, Oxford (with 1st Class Honours in the Recital and Orchestration disciplines). Throughout my time at Oxford I was Principal Bassoon with the Oxford University Orchestra and the Oxford Sinfonietta. I have played on the Q.E.II. (and in New York) as a member of Oxford Early Opera. I organised a number of solo and chamber recitals in Oxford, notably with the Ad Hoc Camerata (the Wind Octet which I formed) and the Grove Ensemble (a Wind Quintet).

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

June 2007 - Present

Managing Director - Kershaw Music

Kershaw Music is a shop and mail order business, selling Sheet Music, Accessories, CDs and gifts from our shop and head office in Connor Downs (near Hayle), Cornwall. Having worked for 10 years in the printed music industry, I didn't want to let all my knowledge go to waste, so it was the natural choice to open a music shop of my own. I run all the operations myself, ably assisted by my wife Jacqueline, when she is not teaching!

Aug 2006 - June 2007

Freelance Musician

Professional Bassoonist, Piano/Bassoon Teacher and freelance composer/arranger.
A number of my arrangements are published by Spartan Press Ltd.

April 2006 - Aug 2006

Shop Manager - Cardiff Music

Shop in central Cardiff selling Sheet Music and classical CDs.
Main responsibilities: Stock control (ordering from a range of sheet music suppliers) and customer service.

Reason for leaving: Shop Closed August 2006.

May 2000 - March 2006

Sales Representative for several music publishers.

Spartan Press, Cramer Music, Stainer & Bell and Goodmusic.

I was responsible for building a good working relationship and sales with Sheet Music Retailers in the UK and Eire. Most of my time was devoted to Sales trips, which I backed up with some Telesales. I also attended several trade fairs each year.
Five visits to key accounts per annum, down to a minimum of two visits for smaller retailers.

Sept 1998 - April 2000

Sales Co-ordinator - Spartan Press Ltd.

An office based position first in Monmouth and (after Dec 99) the Highlands. I was responsible for running various aspects of the office. My main duties were invoicing, packing orders and customer service. Where necessary I liased with suppliers and our other sub-publishers, monitored stock levels and did some Telesales. Other duties included print finishing, proofreading, stitching and collating. I learnt (and still use) both the Score and Sibelius Music Type-setting programs. I also attended three to four trade fairs a year.

From September to December 1999 I ran the office single-handedly while my boss and his family made arrangements for the move up in Scotland.

EDUCATION

1996-1998 Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester

1992-1995 Merton College, Oxford

1987-1992 Music Scholar at Sherborne School for Boys, Sherborne

1985-1987 Foster's Grammar School, Sherborne.

QUALIFICATIONS

1997 - Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Studies in Musical Performance (awarded by Manchester University, while I was studying at the RNCM)

1995 - BA in Music, from Oxford University

1992 - A-Levels - Music, French and Latin

1991 - Obtained LTCL - Licentiate of Trinity College of Music, London for performance (Bassoon)

1990 - GCSEs Music, Maths, English, English Literature, Latin, French, Spanish and Chemistry

OTHER INFORMATION

  • Whilst an employee of Spartan Press, it was my responsibility to maintain part of the Spartan Press Company Database with dealer and syllabus information. I continue to do similar work for Spartan Press on a freelance basis.
  • Playing work: I regularly get work playing Bassoon in Cornwall and the South West.
  • September 2005 Solo Bassoon Recital in Sherborne.
  • Semi-finalist at the 2nd International Bassoon Quartet Competition (in Potsdam, Germany) with the Siegfried Bassoons, a group from the RNCM.
  • I prepared an edition of William Hurlstone's Quintet for Piano and Wind which has been published by Emerson Edition in Ampleforth.
  • February 1996 Recital with Wind Quintet - The Grove Ensemble - at the Crucible in Sheffield, by invitation of The Lindsay String Quartet.
  • November 1995 played with the Allegri String Quartet in a performance of the Schubert Octet at the Holywell Music Room.
  • 1991-1992 Member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
  • As well as performing music, I am often called upon to write program notes, arrange music and compose music for special occasions.

    REFEREES

    Mark Goddard (Managing Director)
    Spartan Press Music Publishers Ltd., Strathmashie House, Laggan, Scottish Highlands PH20 1BU
    Tel: 01528 544 770 Fax: 01528 544 771

    Peter Maxwell (Managing Director)
    Cramer Music Ltd., 23 Garrick Street, London WC2E 9AX
    Tel: 0207 240 1619 Fax: 0207 240 2639

    • CV updated 21st July, 2010