Head of World Class Learning Academy, New York
John Charles Philip Taylor
GRNCM (Hons) PGCE ARCM LRAM FRSA
John Taylor’s career in international education spans over thirty years across four continents. Trained as a professional musician and educator, he was Head of Music for more than 10 years before being offered his first headship in 1991. He then spent the next 17 years as the head of five prestigious international schools in Shanghai, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Doha and Dubai. These posts included being Founding Master of Dulwich College in Shanghai, Headmaster at St. George's College North in Buenos Aires and Principal of the British International School in Istanbul. Prior to his work in education, he had careers with the European Space Agency and with the International Daily News in Rome.
Earlier in life, John Taylor won a scholarship to the renowned King’s School Canterbury, where he became Principal Cellist of the School Orchestra, studied piano with the famous concert pianist Ronald Smith, played Rugby for the 1st XV, and became a Prefect alongside former England cricket captain David Gower. John’s passion for sport, and for Rugby in particular, has seen him captain clubs in Rome, Buenos Aires and Dubai.
John’s talent as a musician led him to receive several degrees, diplomas and scholarships from the UK’s top music conservatoires and universities, notably the Royal Northern College of Music, the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and London University’s Institute of Education, where he won the Sir David Hughes Parry Music Scholarship. Under the tutelage of some of the world’s finest musicians, Sir William Glock, Vlado Perlemuter, Cecil Aronowitz, John Wilson, Maurice Clare and Sir John Manduell, John has had extensive international experience of the performing arts as a concert pianist and cellist, and as an orchestral and choral director. At the age of 28, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
John Taylor will bring a significant amount of expertise, international experience and knowledge of the International Primary Curriculum to his role as Head of School for the World Class Learning Academy, New York. His significant credentials and love of the arts and sports will be of tremendous benefit to the World Class Learning Academy, where as Founding Head of School he will work to develop programs for children of all ages and to develop important links with the community.