Dr Sasha Valeri Millwood

Additional Info:

Répétiteur (staff pianist), Edge Hill University; pianist, London New Wind Festival. Confident sight-reader accustomed to short-notice engagements, who studied at Cambridge (incl. Advanced Keyboard Skills) and GSMD (incl. Interpretation through Improvisation with Prof. David Dolan for two years). Experienced soloist, chamber musician, improviser, accompanist, pit-band player, and répétiteur who has worked with musicians of various abilities (from the complete beginner to Andrew Kennedy) and in various contexts (including examinations, professional recitals, competitions, auditions, and functions that require background music). In many cases, I have had to sight-read a part, so I know how to deliver good results in situations with limited/no rehearsal time (such as when I am hired to accompany an audition or examination with only a 10-minute warm-up to familiarise myself with the repertoire and the candidate's interpretation).

I can improvise elaborations and interludes in various styles, either as a soloist or in collaboration with other performers. I can also realise figured bass (including on harpsichord or chamber organ), and, given sufficient preparation time, even transpose works of a reasonably tonal character. That said, I hasten to add that (unsurprisingly, seeing as I am a composer myself) I am also delighted to play more modern repertoire.

Over the years, I have been engaged by some of the UK's most distinguished ensembles and institutions, such as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (as harpsichordist for a chamber concert in which I gave three world premières), the London New Wind Festival (as pianist in this contemporary-music ensemble), and the University of Glasgow (as its accompanist for BMus auditions).

Dr Millwood is currently the répétiteur (staff pianist) at Edge Hill University, in which capacity he coaches and rehearses student singers on the Musical Theatre course, notably for the annual production of a new musical, harnessing his experience and insight as a performer and researcher of new music in the service of guiding students through the process of learning a role that does not yet have a performance history. He gives timely and constructive feedback in one‑to‑one coaching sessions, leads sectional rehearsals, and assists the academic staff in practical classes and rehearsals they direct.

Dr Millwood combines his part-time university role with a freelance portfolio career in Brentwood/London.

I have experience accompanying a range of instruments, voices, and repertoire, including atonal and serial music. A sympathetic chamber musician, I prioritise listening and maintaining good ensemble over burying one’s head in the notes: a good accompanist covers up the other player’s slips and mistakes (including any missed/early/late entries!) in performance.

Conversely, when working as a répétiteur on operatic or musical-theatre productions, I harness my listening and ensemble skills in a different context, where the priority is to follow the conductor and furnish clear cues for the singers, drawing conspicuous attention to mistakes in rehearsals (so that they are rectified before the show!).

For more information, you can consult my website: http://sashamillwood.com/pianist

Fees

£ 36.00 Pounds Per Hour
The aforementioned hourly rate pertains specifically to rehearsing and coaching (i.e.: providing guidance to singers and instrumentalists while acting in the capacity of accompanist/répétiteur), as opposed to instrumental/vocal/musicianship/academic tuition (see https://sashamillwood.com/fees for more details).

Minimum £36 fee (excluding travel surcharge) for accompanying at examinations, competitions, auditions, amateur performances, and amateur recordings. Chargeable time includes warm-ups, sound checks, &c.

Minimum £18 fee per rehearsal (excluding travel surcharge).

Professional engagements are subject to negotiation -- in such cases, the fee will typically be related to what you are being paid (assuming it is not unreasonably little) for the performance, as opposed to the number of hours' rehearsal. For a duo recital, I would typically expect a 50% share of the fee after promoter's commission.

Fees are levied on a per-booking or a per-hour basis, not on a per-person basis. This means that considerable savings may be available to individuals who combine their bookings. Discounts may be offered, at my discretion, for regular/large/shared bookings.

Typical travel surcharges (strictly without prejudice):
*£3 -- within the town of Brentwood (including Shenfield and Pilgrim’s Hatch);
*£8 -- Blackmore, Harlow, Ongar, Romford, Upminster, Hornchurch, Ingatestone, Billericay;
*£13 -- central London (assuming no travel required during morning peak), Southend, Chelmsford, Bishop's Stortford;
*£18 -- Cambridge.

Instruments

Piano, Harpsichord

Specialisms

Contemporary Music, Improvisation, Instrumental Accompaniment, Vocal Accompaniment, Vocal Repetiteur, Musical Theatre