Shirley Manuel

Shirley Manuel is a concert pianist and music educator, and has been teaching in Pune for over twenty-five years. She founded SSAMS in 2016.

Her father, the professional guitarist Samson Manuel, introduced her to music early and set her at the piano at five. Her own teaching began at twelve, when a neighbour noticed how she played and asked her for lessons.

In 2014 she won Con Brio, the national piano festival-competition hosted by Furtados and the veteran pianist Parvesh Java — sharing first place after playing to a 300-strong audience at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai. She also holds Trinity College London's Best Candidate award for Grade 5 Electronic Keyboard in her city.

She was one of six candidates selected from across India for In Good Form, the piano mentorship programme led by Parvesh Java and Mark Troop, and has studied under renowned music educators internationally. She is currently reading for a Licentiate of Trinity College London in Piano Performance.

Beyond the piano she specialises in electronic keyboard, classical and plectrum guitar, western voice, theory of music, and music history and appreciation. She has recorded an album, Namahparammangala, a collection of Christian hymns performed on the grand piano. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce and a diploma in Interior Design, Grade 8 in Electronic Keyboard and Theory of Music, and Grade 6 in Classical Guitar.

Before founding SSAMS she worked as Teacher Success Head at WhiteHatJr and as Associate Director at Rebecca Music Academy, her father's school, from 2003.