Apollo was built on a simple belief: that musicians and artists thrive when the whole person is supported, not just the performer. Named after the Greek god of music and healing, Apollo represents exactly what this work stands for, an all-encompassing approach to holistic learning that brings together instrumental teaching, music education, well-being coaching, and well-being practices under one roof. Now led by Ray Box, violinist, teacher, and doctoral researcher, trained at the Royal Academy of Music, Apollo continues to grow as a space where students, performers, and artists of all kinds can find the support they need to flourish.
ABOUT RAY
Ray began playing the violin at an early age and went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music, completing both a Masters degree and the Licentiate Diploma in performance teaching. It was there, studying the Enhanced Performance Techniques Pathway, that his interest in well-being and musical performance first took root. Following an accident that left him unable to play for several months, Ray turned to visualisation, mindfulness, and holistic practice to maintain his development, passing his performance exams with significantly limited practice time. That experience changed the course of his career. Ray has since built a reputation as a violin and viola teacher based in Chichester and London, working with students of all ages and levels, and has pursued doctoral research into well-being and mindfulness for conservatoire musicians. He is also a qualified Reiki practitioner, and everything he offers through Apollo is shaped by the conviction that lasting musical progress comes from supporting the whole person, not just the technique.
HOW IT STARTED
Apollo began as a collaboration between Ray and Emily, an HR professional, brought together by a shared belief that musicians needed more than technical instruction to truly thrive. What started as a music-focused coaching practice gradually evolved into something broader, as it became clear that the challenges musicians face, performance anxiety, creative blocks, career uncertainty, and physical and emotional pressures, called for a genuinely holistic response. Over time, Apollo grew to encompass not just coaching but instrumental teaching, well-being practice, Reiki, and research-backed approaches to musician health and performance. Today, Apollo is led solely by Ray, whose doctoral research into well-being and mindfulness for musicians gives everything offered here a grounding in evidence as well as experience.