19/06/2026
As many of you know, the last few months have been incredibly difficult for my family as we have cared for my Dad who had lung and liver cancer.
Last Thursday, my dad passed away peacefully at home.
Many of you will have noticed that our social media has been much quieter than usual recently, and I wanted to explain why. Over the past few months, my focus has been on spending as much time as possible with my dad and supporting my family through an incredibly hard period. I can’t really explain how difficult and heart wrenching this has been.
During this time, Mandy has been still posting here on our socials and Tom has been doing an absolutely phenomenal job behind the scenes too. He has been trying to manage the school phone, answer emails, keep on top of enquiries, run the day-to-day administration of the music school, continue with his own work commitments, and effectively solo parent our kids whilst also driving me up and down to Sheffield so I can help care for Dad. It has been a huge amount for one person to carry, and I am incredibly grateful to him.
I want to thank every single one of our students, parents, choir members and supporters for your patience, understanding and kindness. Whether you’ve waited a little longer for a reply, been flexible when things haven’t run quite as smoothly as normal, or simply continued supporting the school, it has meant more than you know. We are so fortunate to be part of such a wonderful community.
As I begin to process and grieve the loss of my dad, I will be taking some time away from teaching. My one-to-one lessons and Maestros classes may therefore be paused for a few weeks and will return once I feel able to give them the time, energy and enthusiasm they deserve. I will keep everyone affected updated directly regarding return dates/transfers etc next week.
Our two choirs will continue as normal, and the rest of our amazing teaching team remain committed to providing the high-quality lessons and support that our students receive every week.
Music was such a huge part of my childhood because of my Dad. It was woven through family life and remained a huge part of his life right until the very end. As a family we sang to him round his bedside once he had passed. So much of who I am, both as a musician and as a person, exists because of him. Although he is no longer physically with us, he will continue to live on through every lesson I teach, every arrangement I write, every choir rehearsal, every performance and every song. His love of music shaped my life, and that legacy will continue for many years to come.
Right now, my family and I are taking things one day at a time. Losing a parent is something you can never truly prepare for, and we appreciate your continued patience as we navigate the weeks ahead. I honestly could never have imagined how hard this would be.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support, your understanding and your kindness. It has helped carry me through some of the hardest days of my life.
Mimi
Saltburn School of Music
