Bev Wickham (Phillip), Assistant Director

Bev has been teaching steel pans for about 21 years. She took redundancy from her job as a PA and went to work for Diana who, at the time, was recruiting for a new team to teach pans in schools for the Authority. Bev has been a member of Phase One Steel Orchestra since she was around 13. Her dad, Victor Phillip, founded the band in 1978 and he also makes and tunes steel pans; steel pans have been a big part of Bev’s life since the beginning.

Steel pans are something that Bev was born into and she is very proud to be able to share a little bit of her culture with her students. When the Steel Pan Academy dream came to fruition, it was only natural that Bev should join the team.

But it’s not just about the music!  Bev believes, as do the rest of the Steel Pan Academy, that it’s about being part of a team, building long-lasting friendships and supporting each other at all times. Anyone that joins the Steel Pan Academy for lessons becomes part of the pan family, that’s just how we roll (pun intended)!

Bev also teaches for the Music Service in Birmingham in 11 schools, plus various after-school ensembles, for half of the week. The other half of the week is spent teaching at schools for the Academy and she runs the Leamington-based evening groups on Thursdays.

Bev also makes sticks/beaters for pans. If you want to buy your own pair, please visit our shop page, or speak to Bev the next time you see her!

Bev has been part of a team that piloted the examinations for the PRSSV steel pan grades and she is proud to say that all her students who have taken their graded exams with the Steel Pan Academy, have passed with flying colours! If graded exams are something that you are interested in, please contact us for more information. 

We like to think that we are an enthusiastic bunch here at the Academy and it’s because we love what we do. 

As Bev says, it’s not work when your hobby is your job!