ROBIN HENDERSON
Guitar/Bass/Music Production
Director and guitar tutor, Robin, has extensive teaching experience in guitar, songwriting, band coaching and music production.
His students have received many awards including XFM Rockshool: Winner, Vodafone Live Music Awards: Best Unsigned Live Band & Kerrademy Awards: Best Unsigned Band.
Robin has also written articles for Total Guitar and Playmusic Magazine.
Emily Sowell
Guitar/Bass
Emily Sowell's music career so far has taken her from the Academy of Contemporary Music Guildford- where she is studied for her degree- to UK touring with "alt-pop" artist "Lozeak", Blue Peter performance with pop singer "Bellah Mae" as well as playing at festivals such as Latitude, Great Escape and Liverpool Sound City.
She also frequently plays with local Guildford up and coming artists such as George Alfie.
Sonny Waite
Bass/guitar/vocals
Sonny joined RMA as a student aged 10, and played with several of our coached bands including MaTeS and Less Than Three.
He has recently completed a music degree at the ACM in Guildford, and continues to play at numerous venues in the local area while he continues his studies in London.
Harley McKinley
GUITAR/BASS/VOCALS
Former student Harley has been with Realistic since 2013, through multiple coached bands as a vocalist and later private guitar lessons.
He now gigs with his band, FERB, who regularly headline the Half Moon in Putney, Fighting Cocks and Ram Jam in Kingston, and Good Mixer in Camden. Their currently released singles were self-produced and engineered by Harley between his him and his bandmates’ bedrooms.
Harley has also performed in multiple school musicals, in the band and onstage, as well as completing a BTEC in both Music Performance and Technology at Distinction level in sixth form in 2024 (where he also ran his own festival in the summer of year 12!)
Tommy Bisson
Drums
Tommy recently obtained a First Class BA (Hons) Degree from ACM in Guildford.
Over the last 5 years, The has worked professionally at various venues and festivals around the UK working with several acts .
A highlight of Tommy’s live experience includes performing at The Railway Inn with Alice Milburn and her band. He has also performed at venues such as The Boileroom and The Camden Club, The Bedford and The Horn, along with performing at functions and private events.
RICHARD HENDERSON
DRUMS/KEYS
RMA co-founder, Richard Henderson, is an experienced tutor and drummer who has been playing for over 20 years. He currently plays for several local functions bands along with his brother, Robin Henderson.
Archie summers
Drums
Archie has been playing drums for over a decade having just completed a Bachelors of Arts in Music Performance and Production from LCCM.
As well as depping in for function bands, tribute bands and local artists, He’s proficient in many styles of music, including Rock, Pop, Reggae, Soul, Funk, Blues and Latin as well as Marching Snare.
He has recorded for independent artists and is focused on building his music career and providing a good, fun and professional educational experience to his students.
Toy Valentine
Vocals/keys/bass/songwriting
Gigs including Hammersmith Apollo and Manchester MEN, TV including Top of the Pops, CD:UK and Popworld, two top 40 hits, a studio album and numerous radio appearances.
Toy was part of pop-rock trio, The Faders, signed to Polydor records!
STEPH WALTON
VOCALS
STUDENT TUTOR:
MYA VALENTYNE NAG
Vocals
Mya is a professionally trained vocalist in Commercial Pop and Musical Theatre (Trinity College London, grade 8), attends Laine Theatre Arts and has been a student at Realistic Music Academy for over 4 years.
She has earned many awards and accreditations in singing and performance, and has been on stage from a young age, her recent credits include Grease the Musical and Motown’s The Wizz.
STUDENT TUTOR:
OLLIE HOLMES
KEYS
Ollie is has been a keen Piano player from a young age. He has been trained to ABRSM grade 6 and is currently planning to take his grade 7.
Ollie has performed in many school performances and showcases for Realistic music Academy and has 2 years experience teaching private lessons for children.
ASSISTANT TUTOR
HEIDI RUSH
GUITARS/DRUMS
ASSISTANT TUTOR
BEN SMITH
GUITAR
Ben has been a student at RMA for many years, tutored by RMA Founder & Director Robin Henderson. He has recently passed his grade 7 Trinity Rock & Pop exam and has been tutoring on our Beginners to band members and Step up on stage classes for several terms.
Ben is a regular at our open mic nights and showcases.
ASSISTANT TUTOR
DOUGIE MOON
DRUMS
Dougie has been a student at RMA for many years, tutored by RMA co-founder Richard Henderson. He has recently passed his grade 7 Trinity Rock & Pop exam and has been tutoring on our Beginners to band members and Step up on stage classes
