Apple Tree Music Education was founded in 2021 by music teachers Anna Mullens and Charles Allison. Having met whilst studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Anna and Charles have a shared passion for music education. Apple Tree aims to provide high quality music education to children and young people across the Andover area, encompassing a wide range of styles and instruments.

Anna Mullens BMus

Piano, Violin, Cello, Music Theory

I grew up in Andover, learning piano and violin and playing in a range of local ensembles, including Andover Light Orchestra, with whom I still play now! Alongside classical music, I also developed a passion for folk music and started gigging with a ceilidh band in my teens.

I studied violin at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with senior violin tutor Nathaniel Vallois, who helped me make huge progress with my playing and whose wisdom I draw on regularly in my own teaching. I also had my first opportunities at teaching, both through the pedagogy modules of my degree and with private pupils.  After graduating from Birmingham with a BMus in Music, I moved back to Andover and started my teaching business.

As well as teaching a wonderfully wide range of over 50 students both from my home studio and in several state and private schools, I also perform in a variety of settings, from folk bands to pit bands. Additionally, I lead folk workshops for young people and adults, including being part of the team for the children’s ceilidh band at Sidmouth FolkWeek – the Sidmouth Seaside Stompers.  

Charles Allison BMus(Hons), PGCE

Voice, Guitar, Melodeon, GCSE and A-level tuition

I’ve always been passionate about music and studied for 4 years at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire as a vocal and operatic student. Whilst in Birmingham, I performed in large scale productions of several operas and studied a wide range of classical and contemporary vocal repertoire.

After finishing at Birmingham I started working as a teaching assistant in a secondary school, where my passion for education was founded. Following a year at Reading University studying PGCE in Secondary Music, I started teaching at a special education school in Berkshire where I now teach music to ages 3 – 19.

As an adult, I’ve also started playing melodeon, guitar and bass. I love playing Folk, Blues and Rock music and sharing my passion with students.