Fiona Pacquette

My name is Fiona Pacquette, and I’m the youngest of three children, born and raised in East London. My earliest musical memories are of my late mother, Leone, teaching me to play hymns by ear. I didn’t begin formal piano lessons until I was about 14 or 15 at Central Foundation Girls’ School, but music had already taken root in my life long before that.

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At fifteen, I joined both the London Schools Concert Orchestra and the London Schools Strings Orchestra as a cellist, performing with them for two years. On my 19th birthday, my father gave me my first upright grand piano—a gift that affirmed my commitment to music and helped shape the direction I would take in life.

I studied music at Colchester Institute, earning a BA in Music and later completing an MA in Liturgical Music and a Special Honours Study in Composition under Professor William Tamblyn. It was there I deepened my understanding of music as both a craft and a calling.

My journey as a teacher began more than 25 years ago when I started as an apprentice under Mr John Prince at Hampstead Seventh-day Adventist Church. I eventually went on to manage the John N Prince Music School there for over two decades. 

In 2015, I took on the role of Music Director at the East London School of Music (ELSOM)—a Centre of Influence committed to offering affordable, high-quality music education to learners of all ages, starting from age five. At ELSOM, I work with a dedicated team to create a welcoming and structured environment where music is both taught and lived.

I’m also the Director of the HACS Philharmonia Chorus and the HACS Philharmonic Orchestra, and I continue to be inspired by the potential of every person who walks into a rehearsal or lesson.

Above all, I love giving others the opportunities I was once given. Whether it's playing an instrument, singing in a group, or writing music, I believe these are life-enhancing skills that should be open to all. Music is a language we all deserve to speak.