For HISS 2026 we are delighted to have two special guest tutors . . .
Emily Saville was guest teacher for historical trombone at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in 2023-4, and was the first student to obtain a Pedagogy Master’s in Historical Trombone at the same institution, under the joint tutelage of Catherine Motuz and Michael Büttler. In June 2025 she was appointed teacher for Baroque Trombone at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis Musikschule (CH). Emily enjoys teaching on numerous courses and workshops, including at the Landesmusikakademie Rheinland-Pfalz (DE), on La Furta’s summer and winter courses (CH), and now at HISS! She has taken an active role in learning and participation projects with such organisations as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stour Early Music Festival, Glyndebourne Opera House, and the English Touring Opera. Emily will be joining us from her return visits in July to Alte Musik Kurs, Landesmusikakademie Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany and La Furta: Sommerkurs Alte Musik, Aarau, Switzerland. See her in performance in Francesca Caccini’s Maria, dolce Maria (Primo Libro delle Musiche Florence, 1618) here.
Eric Thomas is a lutenist based in Edinburgh, and plays with leading ensembles including the Dunedin Consort, Concerto Caledonia, RSNO, New Trinity Baroque, and Dowland Works with Dame Emma Kirkby. He studied jointly at The University of Glasgow and the Royal Conservatiore of Scotland, under the supervision of John Butt and receiving lute tuition from Jamie Akers, then continuing studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, studying lute and theorbo with Fred Jacobs. He has also attended the Urbino Early Music Festival (studying with Paul O’Dette) & Dartington International Summer School (lessons with David Miller). As a Continuo Foundation emerging artist, he has performed through the UK including at the York Early Music Centre, and the Wigmore Hall. You can see him in action at a recent lunchtime comvert at St Andrew’s University in recital with Elizabeth Unsworth-Wilson (mezzo-soprano). They gave a programme of 17th-century songs and lute pieces, ranging from England to Italy. The livestream can be seen here.