A music teacher from Durham, County Durham, has been named the best instrumental teacher in the country at a major national awards ceremony. Charlotte Sellers, who works for the Durham Music Service, received the title of Instrumental or Vocal Teacher of the Year 2026. The recognition was announced at the Music & Drama Education Awards held in London on 12 February 2026.
Sellers has spent nearly 30 years teaching violin and viola to students across the East Durham area. Her work reaches a variety of young people, ranging from nursery children to secondary school pupils and those with special educational needs. She has a deep family connection to her work, as she took over the teaching role from her mother and still performs using her grandfather’s violin.
Durham County Council celebrated the achievement on 25 February 2026 to highlight the quality of local arts education. According to Cllr Cathy Hunt, the award is a testament to the positive impact the music service has on the confidence and proficiency of students. This national win confirms that local pupils are receiving some of the best music tuition available in the country.
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