Authors
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I’m a professional bassoon player who took up the instrument at the age of 11, pretty much the minute I was big enough to hold it up (almost) properly. Eventually it became my job and I’ve since played in the orchestra for Elton John tours, performed on board the QE2 and made odd noises on the soundtrack for Dr Who. When not playing I’m often to be found at a pub quiz, where my specialist subject is 1990s pop lyrics.
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Since studying in Manchester at the Royal Northern College of Music, Alice enjoys a busy freelance career performing with Orchestras in London such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra. She has recorded many film and TV soundtracks (including 'Downton Abbey') and performed with pop artists such as Katie Melua and Pixie Lott. She has appeared on TV shows such as X factor and The Graham Norton Show, and performed for the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance. When not performing Alice can be found running and cycling many miles in Kent and painting oil landscape paintings!
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Anna enjoys a busy career as a freelance violinist, performing across the classical and pop genres, with artists such as Katherine Jenkins and Russell Watson. Anna is a regular player with The Limelight Orchestra which performs 'Ibiza Classics' concerts across the UK at festivals and arenas. Most recently Anna has toured with the International Film Orchestra, supporting West End Stars Kerry Ellis and Louise Dearman. Anna has a busy private teaching practice, tutoring violin, piano and theory to over 40 students each week. In addition to music, Anna loves travelling and spending time with her crazy teenage sons!
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I’m Anna and I play the horn. My work takes me anywhere from playing Bach in Germany to the music of Prince at the Royal Albert Hall, working with orchestras like Scottish Chamber Orchestra, London Contemporary Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic. I attended the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music in London, as well as studying historical horn in Amsterdam; I’ve always had strong ties to Europe (as a massive foodie as well as a musician…) and can’t wait to get back to travelling for music again!
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Bethan is a clarinettist based in Oxfordshire. Like many musicians she started on the recorder and then took up the clarinet aged eight. She studied at Birmingham University and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and has worked in the arts ever since.
Recent career highlights have included performing at Gloucester Cathedral (where Harry Potter was filmed) and being dubbed “The Queen of Music Production” by John Rutter whilst working at Oxford University Press.
When not clarinet-ing Bethan loves running and baking, because life is all about balance! -
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My name’s Cai Isfryn and I’m a trumpet player who’s performed with Public Service Broadcasting and Bastille, appearing numerous times at Glastonbury Festival as well as some of the world’s most famous concert halls such as the Sydney Opera House and The Royal Albert Hall. I studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and am endorsed by Bach (I play a Stradivarius model 37). Aside from the trumpet I enjoy yoga and meditation as well as any endurance sport. I’m currently training for my first Ironman next year.
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Carina grew up in Dublin and started learning the cello when she was 9 years old. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Carina loves the focussed environment of the recording studio and she has recorded music for BBC and ITV television, film soundtracks and her own album which was played on Irish, UK and German national radio. When she’s not playing the cello Carina loves to bake and she brings her cakes to rehearsals to share. She lives beside the sea and loves to go for long runs along the seafront.
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Carl has performed with orchestras including the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He has recorded with Bastille at Abbey Road Studios, played at Glastonbury and the BBC Proms. Carl studied at the Royal Academy of Music and has also performed for The Queen. Interestingly, he has appeared in film and TV as a musician in The Ipcress File remake, Military Wives and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. Carl teaches at Royal Holloway University, Highgate School, Surrey Arts and as a visiting guest at Junior Guildhall.
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Chloë is a graduate of the Guildhall School and concert highlights include the BRIT awards with Billie Eilish, The Who at Wembley Stadium and performing for the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Chloë regularly records at studios such as Abbey Road, working for artists such as Kanye West, Madonna and Michael Kiwanuka as well as film sessions. Orchestral work covers tours of China and Japan and performing at the Musikverein in Vienna. Chloë lives in Oxfordshire with her trumpeter husband and enjoys cooking and playing board games in her spare time.
Twitter - @chloeflute -
Cory Burns Barger is a bassoonist based in Mexico, where she is the principal bassoon of the filarmónica de Boca del Rio y Veracruz. She has performed in over 20 countries on 4 continents. She studied in London at the Royal College of Music. When she isn't performing, she loves to start DIY projects and spend time with her cat.
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Dave Danford is an established orchestral contractor actively working in the UK, providing orchestras and ensembles of professional musicians for concerts, events and theatre productions throughout the country. As a Percussionist he has performed with leading professional orchestras, for West End theatre productions, and as a soloist (including recitals and orchestral concertos).
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Dawn Hardwick hails from the small town of Mountain Ash, in the Welsh valleys where she began her piano studies. Dawn attended the prestigious Chetham's School of Music studying with Alicia Fiderkiewicz followed by the RWCMD with Richard McMahon and Philip Martin, and continued her performance studies at the Royal College of Music under the tutelage of Julian Jacobson. Dawn is an experienced concerto soloist, with a varied repertoire from more traditional piano concertos to contemporary collaborations and experimental music. Most recently, she performed John Psathas’ double concerto ‘View From Olympus’ with percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie and the British Sinfonietta to great acclaim, and was subsequently invited to perform with Dame Evelyn at the Southbank Sky Arts Awards, broadcast on the Sky Arts channel, and also on BBC One’s ‘The One Show’. One of her great loves is orchestra/ensemble playing, and she regularly works as an orchestral pianist/celeste/keyboards player with many of the UK's top orchestras both at home and on tour. Dawn regularly performs as an accompanist for various musicians, and has been involved in many radio and television broadcasts such as James May’s ‘Man Lab’, BBC One's ‘The One Show’ and the Southbank Sky Arts Awards. She was the pianist for English Touring Opera’s production of Tippett’s ‘King Priam’ for which they won an Olivier Award and has recently been working with animator Gregoire Pont in his performances of ‘Cinesthetics’ – live animation to the solo piano music of Ravel, in association with Maestro Arts.
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Doug started playing piano at age 6. He studied classical piano and music composition at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Bloomington (one of the foremost music schools in the US), later working as an accompanist at the School. In Los Angeles, Doug studied contemporary (jazz/blues) keyboard styles with John Novello, one of the country’s leading keyboard teachers who has taught and/or played with Chick Corea, Stevie Wonder and Andy Summers of The Police.
Doug was later mentored as a teacher by Novello. Doug has regularly gigged and worked as a music director in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Doug also holds a master’s degree in adult education. He is the author of the Creative Keyboardist Adult Piano Course, a systematic and sequential method designed especially for adult learners. Doug has composed hundreds of piano pieces and songs and the score of a full-length musical. He is a member of Music Teachers National Association. -
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Elaine is a reed player, equally at home playing saxophones, flutes and clarinets. She’s generally found below the stage in a pit band, and is currently a regular dep in the band for Only Fools and Horses in the West End. She has also toured the UK with ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’, and ‘The Magic Flute’. Elaine has played at the National Theatre, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and many other theatres throughout the UK. She loves cats and cooking, and listening to jazz.
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Elinor is a world-class Opera singer and Olympic Hip Hop Dancer all combined into one! She is currently travelling the globe on tour with André Rieu and The Johann Strauss Orchestra as a guest soloist.
Whilst not performing on the stage, she likes making records - and was recently featured on the SONY BMG album, “The Best Of Gilbert And Sullivan” which reached the top of the Classical Chart. Oh, and did we mention she also loves hip-hop! What a brilliantly odd combination... -
Ellen Porter is a cellist based in North Yorkshire, UK. She is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied with Eduardo Vassallo and Jennifer Langridge. Later, she completed postgraduate training with Johan Stern in Gothenburg, Sweden, where she specialised in orchestral performance. Ellen has performed throughout the UK and Europe as a member of several orchestras including the Swedish National Orchestra Academy, Berlin Opera Academy, Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra and Baroque in the North. She has also performed in masterclasses with cellists Hannah Roberts, Guy Johnston, Gillian Thoday, Emma Ferrand, Miklos Perenyi and Peter Somodari; and previously studied with David Smith
Ellen has always been passionate about communicating and sharing her passion for music with others. She currently works for North Yorkshire Music Education Hub as an Instrumental Teacher having previously worked as a supply music teacher in Sweden. In 2021, she completed the Ambassador Programme with the Benedetti Foundation, and completed articles for Ted's-List. She has also worked with Global Grooves as part of the LIME Music UK 2017 Festival, the National Children's Orchestras of Great Britain, RNCM Young Basses and the Halle Youth Ensembles team.
Ellen currently plays on a modern Italian style cello dated 2012 and a French bow in the style of Tubbs. She was supported in her further musical study by The Edna Newill Charitable Trust, to whom she is forever grateful.
Apart from music Ellen enjoys learning languages, travelling and going on long walks with her dog, Digby! -
Fiona Gibbs is a violinist and academic based in London. After reading Music at King’s College, London she commenced doctoral studies at the Royal College of Music. Since graduating in 2018 Fiona has worked as a freelance violinist and academic across the UK. She has performed at the Royal Albert Hall with Cinematic Sinfonia, and for members of the Royal Family during her time at the RCM. Aside from music, Fiona loves to travel and explore new places in the UK and abroad, visiting Australia and Cuba in recent years.
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Initially an electric guitarist, Frederick Lawton decided to move to classical guitar whilst already at university studying Popular Music and Jazz. Despite coming to the instrument late, he has quickly established himself as a player with a rare understanding and ability to project and display a sound which shows the colours of the instrument freely. He studied under Paolo Pegoraro at The Segovia Guitar academy in Pordenone, Italy. Before this he studied with Craig Ogden at The RNCM and Graham Anthony Devine for his MMus at Trinity Laban. In 2018 he became the international board member for the Norwegian Guitar Festival and became the first English guitarist to record solo for Guitar Salon International in Los Angeles California.
