Michael Parkinson

Michael was born in 1952 in Yorkshire, England, and studied the bassoon with Roger Birnstingl from 1970-73 at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He had his first experience of Alexander Technique lessons there with Elizabeth Langford and Paul Collins. Subsequently he played with the Orchestra of the English National Ballet in London for 12 years, as well as freelancing with numerous other orchestras and ensembles in the UK.

Michael trained to be an Alexander teacher from 1974-79 with Walter and Dilys Carrington at the Constructive Teaching Centre in London, and has been teaching the Alexander Technique in Vienna since 1985. From 1991 to 1996 he was a Guest Professor for the Alexander Technique at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria, and he gave private lessons for some years at the United Nations Health Club in Vienna.

Michael has a special interest in working with musicians, and teaches every summer at the international Mikulov Guitar Festival in the Czech Republic. He was a regular guest lecturer at the IES Vienna (Institute for the International Education of Students, performance workshop program) and at AIMS (American Institute of Musical Studies) in Graz. Michael plays the bassoon with a number of amateur symphony orchestras in Vienna and with various chamber music ensembles. His leisure activities include ballroom dancing, hiking and cycling. More recently he has spent his free time creating lamps out of old musical instruments.

Theodora Kapellou-Parkinson

Theodora was born in Athens, Greece, and studied French language and literature at the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. She continued her studies at the University of Vienna.

During her studies in Vienna she suffered repetitive strain injuries in her arms and was recommended to take Alexander Technique lessons. The change she experienced through this work inspired her to become an Alexander Technique teacher. She trained at the Alexander Technique Centre Vienna with Michael Parkinson from 2009 to 2012. Since graduating, she has been a regular teacher at the ATCV and in 2023 she was appointed as first assistant. She also teaches one-to-one private lessons and group workshops (e.g. at the Wiener Volkshochschulen).

From 2013-2015 she served as vice-chair of the Gesellschaft für F.M. Alexander-Technik Österreich (GATOE), of which she is a member. She is also a member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT), UK.

Due to her personal experiences, her main interest lies in the psychophysical unity and how our emotions have a direct influence on our musculoskeletal system. She places great importance on creating a safe environment for her pupils where learning can happen.

Having played both classical guitar and saxophone, she is very aware of the challenges involved in playing a musical instrument. She has also had singing lessons and has a continuous interest in vocal work. Alongside her work with instrumentalists and singers, her pupils come from all walks of life and professions.

Theodora also teaches Greek to individuals and groups and offers Alexander Technique lessons in German, English, Greek, French and Spanish.

 

Anyone insured with the Austrian SVS health system is entitled to €100 towards the cost of Alexander Technique lessons (“Gesundheitshunderter”). For more information, please visit: https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.817071&portal=svsportal