The Panel of Experts 2026

Luis Parés is Director of Music at Alleyn’s School in London, having held Head of Keyboard and Director of Music positions across the independent sector over the past two decades. As an examiner, presenter, and regular adjudicator in festivals and competitions, he has worked with countless pianists at every stage of their development, from first-time performers to emerging professionals. Alongside his teaching career, Luis maintains an international career as a pianist, performing as both soloist and chamber musician.

 Luis is driven by a belief that the best piano education happens when tradition meets innovation. He seeks out resources that reveal new dimensions in familiar masterpieces and bring exciting contemporary compositions into the hands of teachers and students, ensuring the piano repertoire remains vital, relevant, and inspiring. As both teacher and performer, he champions scores that remain faithful to the composer’s intentions whilst empowering the interpreter to make musical and scholarly judgements, allowing individual artistry to emerge naturally.

Sought-after pianist and chamber musician, Eleanor Hodgkinson is the Keyboard Coordinator at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music, where she teaches piano and chamber music. She is also the Specialist Keyboard Tutor for the LRAM pedagogy course and a Principal Lecturer in Piano at Leeds Conservatoire.

Many of her students have gone on to have performing careers in music, while others have achieved success in national competitions, most recently winning the Keyboard Category of the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2020. Eleanor is regularly invited to adjudicate at conservatoires and competitions and has been an examiner and grade trainer for the ABRSM for over 20 years.

Eleanor regularly leads workshops and educational projects designed to nurture creativity. Passionate about giving musical opportunities to children from birth, she is the director of BabyGigs CIC in Leicestershire which creates interactive concerts for families alongside bespoke community events for local arts organisations. 

With more than three decades of teaching experience, Jill Morton has witnessed the growing number and diversity of people drawn to learning the piano. This has deepened her commitment to fostering an environment that embraces the varied needs and aspirations of her pupils, recognising that no single approach suits everyone. Her passion for the piano, and for inspiring the next generation to discover the joy of making music, lies at the core of her teaching approach.