Our story

House of Isle Puma opened in 2016 when Mara Pellini left a regional orchestra to teach full time. The name references a childhood nickname and a favourite sailing chart — not a mascot, but a reminder that music should feel navigable rather than mythical.

Canal Road was chosen for tram access and evening safety. The shopfront had good ceiling height for sound; Mara spent six months treating reflections before accepting the first student. Word spread through community choirs and office string groups seeking serious instruction without youth-recital culture.

Today the studio keeps a narrow focus: violin only, adults only, Wellington only. That constraint protects lesson quality and keeps the calendar humane for both teacher and students.

Former students occasionally return for chamber reading nights or to book the practice room before auditions. Mara publishes a term letter with repertoire themes — baroque sonatas one season, twentieth-century miniatures the next — so returning players know what to expect before enrolling.

The studio library grows through donations and duplicate sales; proceeds fund sheet music scholarships for adult learners facing temporary financial strain. Nothing flashy, just a room that respects the instrument and the people who arrive after work to play it.