Meet The Team

Born in Scotland, Diane studied piano under Nigel Clayton of the Royal College of Music and achieved Grade 8 piano with distinction at age 15 whilst also studying clarinet with Allison Waller of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama to the same standard. Following her piano and teaching diplomas, Diane graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a BMus (Performance - Piano/Voice), and developed a career in both choral and Musical Theatre circuits. Whilst at University she studied Composition with Paul Mealor and conducted the award-winning Aberdeen Gaelic Choir for three years at international competitions and on BBC television, being awarded the An Comunn Gaidhealach Centenary Baton for her conducting for each of the three years. In 2009 she moved to Cardiff and has since worked with many local choirs along with founding Affinity in 2012. She currently works with Afante Choir (Aberavon) and Swansea-valley’s based Tawe Voices as MD and regularly works with a variety of local choirs as accompanist. Diane has toured extensively around the UK and internationally, including to Poland, Barbados and New York, where she has performed as soloist, accompanist and conductor. In addition to her conducting and accompanying work, Diane teaches piano, woodwind and voice and works internationally as a Music Examiner for Trinity College, London.

Ryan began his career as a musician at the age of 13 as accompanist to Maesteg Children’s Choir and is currently the Musical Director of Bridgend Male Choir, Noteworthy and Deputy Musical Director of Treorchy Male Choir. He has worked with many acclaimed choirs including Pontarddulais and Morriston Orpheus Male Choirs.  As an accompanist, he regularly works with Classical Brit Award winning vocal ensemble Only Men Aloud, and accompanies them on their national tours.  Currently, he is the accompanist of Tabernacl Choral Society in Bridgend.

Ryan has accompanied many well-known performers including Rebecca Evans, John Owen Jones, Sophie Evans and Aled Jones and accompanied masterclasses delivered by Rebecca Evans, John Fisher and Dennis O’Neill. Ryan has performed on several occasions as an orchestral pianist and made his debut with the orchestra of Welsh National Opera at St. David’s Cathedral.

Ryan has appeared as an accompanist on various television programmes and on BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales.  He has also appeared on recordings with Michael Ball and Luke Evans.  Ryan recently had the honour of performing for HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

Jordan graduated from the BSc (Hons) Sound Engineering course at the University of South Wales in 2018 and is accredited with the JAMES/Richer Sounds Award for Outstanding Student Achievement and a host of other certifications. Jordan runs COBRA Music Studios, a contemporary recording company for traditional styles of music and audiobook production based at the Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre in Newport, South Wales. COBRA Music Studios are specialists in location recording with choirs, orchestras and brass bands, recording across the country, as well as working with smaller ensembles and soloists at their studio base at the Riverfront Theatre in Newport. Stepping away from the musical side of recording, they have a passion for audiobook production, and have had the honour of working with some incredible authors and narrators to bring their books to life!

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