Prifathro - Craig Ryder
Prifathro - Craig Ryder
"Byddwch yn pwy rydych chi am fod ..."
Prifathro - Craig Ryder
Our teachers are fully-trained, industry-standard, thinking practitioners.
We continue to work in the industry and we encourage our students to be the best versions of themselves.
Craig Ryder - Performing Arts
Craig graduated from the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts in the year 2000.
Alongside a career in acting, directing and producing, he has taught in many of the top drama schools all over the UK.
Craig is passionate about the Arts and believes that all children should be given the opportunity to explore the world of performance - be it singing, dancing or acting.
Craig enjoys 'freeing the voice' and instilling confidence in young people. His philosophy is to share his experience of the industry with his students. With his foot 'still in the door' he can give honest, up to date advice to any students wishing to achieve a career in the Arts.
Craig is also an agent at Ryder Management. The agency will be offering Ryder Academi students to be represented by the agency to be able to be submitted for professional work. Coaching will be provided throughout the year.
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Anna-Marie Munro - Singing & Acting
Anna-Marie Munro trained at The Royal Academy of Music in London achieving the qualification L.R.A.M. Anna-Marie has performed professionally in the industry since she was a child in both Theatre & Television and continues to perform on a regular basis, be it in a Play or concert, a Supporting Artist on a film set or singing at weddings and funerals. She has performed in the Theatre Royal, Windsor, together with The Playhouse Theatre in London's West End along with numerous other venues throughout the UK and in several touring productions.
Anna-Marie also studied a variety of dance styles but her favourite has always been Tap in which she is trained to teaching level. She is a regular Presenter and Voice-over Artist for various multi media platforms, including www.tvconwy.net and enjoys the diverse and varied range of events and activities that takes her to.
Over the last 4 years, Anna has provided regular group singing sessions for a local Parkinson’s Society Group and during the pandemic she has been working with Parkinson’s Wales UK to provide weekly zoom sessions for singing and vocal health.
Anna-Marie holds an enhanced DBS and is a full Equity & Spotlight member together with being a qualified first aider and an enthusiastic welsh learner. She is a seasoned performer and teacher in many genres of music from Musical Theatre to Pop and most styles in between. Anna-Marie has worked alongside Craig Ryder at The Academy/Yr Academi since its inception 11 years ago. She has taught for several other Performing Arts schools and for companies such as Vocaltutor and Stagecoach, bringing with her a wealth of diverse experience and expertise.
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Jenny Jones - Dance
Jenny Marie Jones trained at Laines Theatre Arts School London where she graduated with Honours.
Her TV credits include the Bafta Awards, Single Girls - Sky One, The Last Detective. During her career she has performed at a number of prestigious theatres including Drury Lane Theatre, Epsom Playhouse, Aldwych Theatre to name but a few.
In her career she has had the opportunity to tour America with the Osmonds and also work in other countries such as Abu Dhabi. It was during her time in the Middle East at Ferrari World she was given the responsibility of managing a diverse team of performers from all over the world. These were hi-tempo shows with short turnarounds and although demanding she learnt much from her time here.
Jenny has been just at home when she has been back in the UK regularly preforming in QDOS pantomimes under the headship of choreographer Barbara Evans. In other work she also company managed and performed on P&O cruises on vessels such as the Ventura and Ocean Village.
Jenny has always attributed her opportunities and success to putting the hard work in. Something she feels she learnt from her parents at a young age. The town where she grew up is a mining town in Derbyshire where she used to watch her hard working father work an arduous job underground for 40 years without ever a day off or a grumble. Both her parents instilled in her to be hardworking and conscientious and to crucially lead by example.
Elen Gibbins - Acro
Elen has run Dyffryn Conwy Gymnastics Club for the fifteen years, with great success! She holds British Gymnastics level 2 qualifications in trampolining and general gymnastics. Elen's experience, positivity and energy in coaching, truly reflects in the children's talents and faces.
Elen has organised fundraisers, competitions and amazing showcases for the parents. She has helped many local primary and high school teams compete in the Urdd gymnastics annual competitions, coaching gymnasts to win 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals.
Elen's true passion is teaching gymnastics to all, to open their eyes to whole new dreams; giving people the opportunity to reach their own highest potential. Her sessions are fun, safe and encouraging, where respect and rapport sits strongly at the foundations.
Grace Charles - Drama
Grace Charles trained at Canolfan Berfformio Cymru in Cardiff where she graduated with a first class Honours.
During her time in Cardiff she performed in many theatre shows such as Rent, Sweeny Todd and Into the Woods. She has attended many theatre workshops with successful actors and singers such as Lucy Jones and Rachel Tucker and also worked on a production as an actor with Steven Hill as the director.
Her TV credits include, Meinir on Rownd a Rownd, Staff on Gwesty Aduniad, Model on Steil, Criw ffon on Stwnsh Sadwrn and recently appeared on Gogglebox Cymru.
During her career she has performed on the main stage in Disneyland Paris and as Elizabeth in Sioe y Degwm. Since then she has used her experience to train children and young adults for theatre productions and dance competitions across Wales.
Grace has learnt the meaning of hard work from her mother, as a single parent her mother worked long hours as a nurse in Liverpool while living in North Wales with her two young children. Grace lives by example of her mother with hard work and determination and continues to challenge herself and push herself out of her comfort zone. Since her first degree Grace has completed a Teachers Training degree and has taught in Primary and Secondary schools in North Wales, with the hope of helping and inspiring young children and adults to follow their dreams.
Mathew Pritchard - Musical Director
Mathew graduated from the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts in the year 2000, with a BA hons in Performing Arts. Mathew has had a varied career to date, as a composer, orchestrator, Musical director and director. Mathew is an established name in London’s West End and he has been involved with Musical Theatre productions all over the world.
As a Musical Director Mathew’s credits include – Cats; Blondel; Kisses on a Postcard; Ripper the Musical; Carousel; The Pierglass; The Diary of Anne Frank; Chicago Guildford School of Acting; NewsRevue.
As a composer Mathew’s credits include - Nectar (Work in Progress – Music & Lyrics);
Blondel (Work in Progress – Additional Music); Ripper the Musical (Additional music); Everybody Loves Jason (Workshop) ) - Finalist for the 2004 Cardiff International Festival of Musical Theatre Global Search for New Musicals.
As an Arranger / Orchestrator, Mathew’s credits include – Blondel (Union Theatre, London); Tim Rice: A Life in Song - BBC Concert Orchestra. (Filmed at the Royal Festival Hall and Broadcast on BBC 2, Christmas Day 2014.) Blondel (University of Texas, El Paso.) Ripper the Musical. (Silverlight Productions) Blondel (Pleasance Theatre, London) Aladdin (Pleasance Theatre, London)
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Mathew has taught at drama schools all over the UK, including -
The Brighton Academy, East 15 Acting School, Urdang and Guildford School of Acting; where he also frequently auditioned first-round prospective students there.
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Over the past 15 years, Mathew has also taught as a peripatetic in primary schools across London before returning to North Wales.
Mathew is available for 1-2-1 coaching for Musical Theatre drama school auditions.