Concert with SELO: Weber Bassoon Concerto on 15th October 2023
James Fisher is an Australian bassoonist and dedicated woodwind educator. After graduating from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2015 with a Bachelor of Music in Performance, James was eager to further his musical prowess embarking on a transformative chapter in his life by relocating to London. There, he pursued a Master's degree in Performance at the Royal College of Music, where he graduated with distinction in 2018. During this period, James was honoured to be named a John Nickson & Simon Rew Scholar, receiving support from the John Llewellyn Edwards Award and the Henry Wood Trust.
In recent years, he has played a variety of roles as a professional musician. From playing with many UK and international orchestras such as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sweden's Camerata Nordica and as Guest Principal Bassoon with the BBC Symphony Orchestra to touring with the late Olivia Newton-John and performing as a bassoonist extra in the film The Great Gatsby. In 2020 and 2021, James held the distinguished Sir Charles Mackerras Chair as a bassoonist with the Southbank Sinfonia, with additional support from the Tait Memorial Trust. In January 2023, he embarked on a sabbatical from his studies with the renowned Professor Ole Kristian Dahl in Mannheim, Germany, to assume the position of Sub-Principal Bassoon with the Pori Sinfonietta in Finland. This position included a memorable tour to Vienna's Goldener Saal, Musikverein.
James has a passion for music education. Over the past decade he has filled many teaching roles in both Sydney and London. His teaching portfolio includes classroom music teaching, private instrumental lessons, and conducting concert bands. Upon his return to London, he eagerly anticipates further enriching the lives of aspiring musicians while connecting them with his exceptional colleagues through his newly founded initiative, fishermusic.co.uk. Recognising the paramount importance of high-quality instrumental music education, James encourages anyone with an interest in music to explore the exceptional tutors available through this platform.
Concert with SELO: Beethoven Violin Concerto in D on 21st May 2023
Charlie Lovell-Jones debuted at a sold-out Royal Festival Hall aged 15. He has since soloed with major orchestras internationally, broadcasting on radio and television. As concertmaster of the multi-award-winning Sinfonia of London (SoL) he has performed at the BBC Proms and recorded several CDs, garnering critical acclaim from Classic FM and Gramophone Magazine. He found success in several international competitions, including the Sendai 2019, Shanghai Isaac Stern 2020, and Joachim 2021 Competitions.
In 2020, Charlie graduated from Oxford University with a Gibbs Prize in Music and received a Bicentenary Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music on the spot, graduating in 2022 with the Strings Postgraduate Prize. Charlie studied for over ten years with Rodney Friend MBE, and now studies at the Yale School of Music with Augustin Hadelich. He won the Hattori Foundation, Harriet Cohen, John Fussell, Drake Calleja and Countess of Munster Trust's awards, and has enjoyed materclasses with Ida Haendel, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Vadim Repin, Menahem Praessler, Pinchas Zukerman, James Ehnes, Leonidas Kavakos, Tai Murray, and most recently, Ida Kavafian at the Lincoln Center.
Charlie's 2021-22 season featured multiple concerto performances, world premieres from Colin Matthews, Deborah Pritchard and Tod Machover, recitals nationally and internationally, his Wigmore Hall debut and as a RAM Bicentenary Scholar, his debut album includes leading more SoL recordings and concerts, performances of Sibelius, Britten, Beethoven, Glazunov, Berg, Brahms and Bruch Concertos, a world premiere by Aaron Kernis, and many recitals.
As a J&A Beare Violin Society Artist, he plays a fine 1777 GB Guadagnini violin, generously loaned by a benefactor.
Concert with SELO: Britten/Matthews, Movements from a Clarinet Concerto on June 26th 2022
From the age of 16 Nick Shipman studied with the legendary clarinettist Jack Brymer OBE followed by studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
After completing the course and gaining his BMus (hons), Nick studied for two years with Sjef Douwes at the Royal Conservatorium for Music and Dance in The Hague, Holland.
In 2004, he successfully auditioned for the prestigious Park Lane Group and performed in one of their showcase concerts in the Purcell Room at London's South Bank Centre, where, among other works, he gave the world premiere of 'Three Maquettes' for solo clarinet by Douglas Young. The following year he was selected by the Fresh! Young Musician's Platform to give a recital in the Purcell Room with Stefan Hofkes. A few months later he made his Wigmore Hall debut.
As a chamber musician he has performed in the Barbican Hall, St John's Smith Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Wigmore Hall, Cité de la Musique in Paris, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, De Doelen in Rotterdam and has taken part in the Aldeburgh Festival, the Dartington International Festival, the Cheltenham Festival and the Muziek in de Maartenskerk International Chamber Music Series in Holland. With regular duo partners You-Chiung Lin and Stefan Hofkes he has given recitals throughout the UK, Europe and the USA. He has been broadcast on BBC Radios 2 and 3, and Dutch Radio 4.
In 2005-2007, he took part in the very successful Ensemble in Residence scheme at the Beauforthuis arts venue in Austerlitz, Holland.
His album of works for solo and multi-track pieces titled ‘New York Counterpoint’ was released in 2016 and several tracks were subsequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3 over the following months. Also in 2016 composer Graham Fitkin was commissioned to write a piece for Nick for solo clarinet and pre-recorded clarinet and bass clarinet lines. The world premiere of this work ‘Switching’ was given at Queen Anne’s School, Caversham to great acclaim.
www.nickshipman.co.uk
Concert with SELO: Berg, Seven Early Songs on April 10th 2022
London-born mezzo-soprano Jessica Gillingwater studies with David Pollard and is a member of the BBC Singers. Recent performance highlights include the role of Lavinia in Errollyn Wallen’s Dido’s Ghost with Dunedin Consort at Buxton International Festival, Bernstein’s Jeremiah Symphony with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at Saffron Hall, Duruflé’s Requiem with Stephen Cleobury and the BBC Concert Orchestra at King’s College Cambridge and Mrs Noye in Britten’s Noye’s Fludde with Martyn Brabbins at Southwark Cathedral.
Jessica also has a keen interest in contemporary music and has recently performed Boulez’s Le Marteau Sans Maître and Ligeti’s Aventures and Nouvelles Aventures with the Psappha Ensemble at Hallé St Peter’s. Jessica has recently established an online song recital series, “Proud Songsters”, with colleagues from the BBC, highlights of which have included Elgar’s Sea Pictures, Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été and Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder.
Jessica’s oratorio repertoire includes Handel’s Messiah, Elgar’s Apostles and Dream of Gerontius; Bach’s Passions and B Minor Mass; Mendelssohn’s Elijah; Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle and Stabat Mater and Verdi’s Requiem.
Jessica also performs regularly with ensembles including Dunedin Consort, Exaudi, Solomon’s Knot, The Marian Consort, Alamire and The Choir of the Enlightenment.
Concert: Dvořák Cello Concerto, 24th October 2021
Yoanna Prodanova is originally from Varna, Bulgaria and currently based in London, she is performing internationally and enjoying a busy schedule both as a solo cellist and a chamber musician. Her recent concerto performances include Haydn C major with the RAM Chamber Orchestra led by the Doric String Quartet, Elgar with the Amati Orchestra and Dvorak with the Surrey Philharmonic.
Yoanna’s debut solo recording which includes works by Janacek, Fauré and Chopin for Linn Records came out in 2020. She has also recorded the Brahms clarinet trio for Orchid Records with pianist Somi Kim and clarinettist Joseph Shiner. After having studied at the Conservatoire de musique de Montreal, Yoanna obtained her Bachelor and Master’s degrees at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 2019 she graduated from the prestigious Advanced Diploma course at the Royal Academy of Music where she was a Bicentenary Scholar. A passionate chamber musician, Yoanna regularly performs with pianist Mihai Ritivoiu. The duo are currently Tunnell Trust artists. She is also the cellist of the Barbican String Quartet, winners of the 2019 Joseph Joachim International Chamber Music Competition and 2020 Young Artists in Residence in St John Smith’s Square. The quartet made their Wigmore Hall debut in 2017 thanks to the Maisie Lewis Award.
Concerts with SELO:
Walton Violin Concerto, 8th December 2019
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, 14th and 18th October 2018
Korngold Violin Concerto, 26th March 2017
Sibelius Violin Concerto, 29th March 2015
Bruch Violin Concerto, 5th July 2014
With playing described in the press as ‘unforgettable’ and ‘a wonder’, violinist Fenella Humphreys enjoys a busy career combining chamber music and solo work. She has broadcast for the BBC, Classic FM, and German, Canadian, Australian and Korean radio and TV.
A champion of new and unknown music, a number of eminent British composers have written works for Fenella. During 2014/15 she premiered a set of 6 new solo violin works by leading British composers including Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Sally Beamish and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, with performances at Aldeburgh, The Forge, and St. Magnus and Presteigne Festivals as well as a 2-CD recording for Champs Hill. Both discs have been released to critical acclaim, chosen by BBC Music Magazine as Instrumental disc of the month (October 2015 and January 2017) with 5 Star reviews, and Gramophone Magazine Editor’s Choice.
Concertmaster of the Deutsche Kammerakademie, Fenella also enjoys guest leading and directing. Her teachers have included Sidney Griller CBE, Itzhak Rashkovsky, Ida Bieler and David Takeno, studying at the Purcell School, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Robert-Schumann- Hochschule in Düsseldorf graduating with the highest attainable marks.
Fenella plays a beautiful violin from the circle of Peter Guarneri of Venice, kindly on loan from Jonathan Sparey.
Concert with SELO: Romantic arias and Mahler Symphony No. 4 on 7th July 2019
Teuta Koço studied piano and singing at Chethams's School of Music, then singing at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester and the CNIPAL Opera Studio in Marseille, France. She is the winner of numerous prizes including the John Scott Award for Scottish Opera, the Leonard Ingrams Award for Garsington Opera, the Frederic Cox Award, the Elizabeth Harwood Prize as well as gaining second prize at the Centre for Contemporary Opera International Competition in New York, leading to her Carnegie Hall, New York debut with a recital of 20th and 21st century music.
Teuta currently teaches singing at Goldsmiths, University of London and piano and singing at Norland Place School in Holland Park as well as privately.
Concert with SELO: Finzi Clarinet Concerto, 4th December 2017
Charlotte is a regular player with the South East London Orchestra (SELO), having been one of the founding members of the orchestra back in 2012. Charlotte began playing the clarinet whilst at school, and has played extensively with amateur orchestras and chamber groups ever since.
She attended Oxford University from 2001 – 2010, studying physics, and while there was a regular principal player with both the Oxford University Orchestra and the Oxford Millennium Orchestra. On completion of her studies she moved to London to become a Civil Servant in the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Her current role is in development and delivery of the MOD science and technology programme.
Along with SELO, currently Charlotte plays and performs with the Oxford Spezzati Soloists & Orchestra, the City of London Symphonic Winds and the LIPS quintet.
Concert with SELO: Mahler, Rückert Lieder, 16th July 2017
Jake Muffett was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire where he attended The King’s School Grantham. Jake graduated from the University of York with a BA (Hons) in Music and received an MMus in vocal performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Jake is currently continuing his postgraduate studies on the opera course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he receives vocal tuition from John Evans. His studies are generously supported by The Laurin & Arthur Glaze Trust, The Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Serena Fenwick, the Grantham Music Club and the Grantham Choral Society.
Jake recently made his major London solo debut at the Royal Albert Hall in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the English Festival Orchestra, The Really Big Chorus and Bob Chilcott. Jake was also part of the 2016 Glyndebourne Festival chorus where he understudied the role of Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia and performed a principle role in Glyndebourne Youth Opera’s production of Lewis Murphy’s A Garden Dream. Jake was one of the 2014-2015 Monteverdi Choir apprentices and has performed with the group on a regular basis since completing the apprenticeship and has also appeared as a soloist with the group on various occasions. In September 2017 Jake will be singing the title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with British Youth Opera conducted by Lionel Friend.
Concert with SELO: Elgar Cello Concerto, 4th December 2016
Since being awarded the title of BBC County Young Musician of Hereford and Worcester, Sarah has enjoyed a busy international career as a freelance orchestral, chamber and solo cellist. Her orchestral experience is extensive, having toured as principal with The Soloists of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Brandenburg Sinfonia, with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and with Birmingham Royal Ballet. As a chamber musician, Sarah has travelled the world performing recitals with cruise lines and performs internationally with The Crystal Palace String Quartet. As well as her classical experience, she has recorded, toured and performed with Tinie Tempah, Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Michael Ball, Andrea Bocelli, MIKA, Jeff Beck and Katy Mellua, and has performed as principal and soloist in London’s West End shows. Sarah has also performed on Strictly Come Dancing, X-Factor, and toured and recorded with the Grammy nominated show ‘Inala’ with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
In addition to her performing career, Sarah is an active teacher and trained workshop leader and was recently awarded her PGDE and Qualified Teacher Status.
Sarah completed her degree at Trinity College of Music, studying with Joely Koos and Tim Gill, and her Postgraduate Diploma and LRAM teaching diploma at The Royal Academy of Music with Josephine Knight and baroque cello under Jennifer Ward Clark.
Concert with SELO: Mahler, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, 2nd July 2016
Miriam Sharrad attained a Bachelor of Arts and Creative Arts, before making her debut with the Australian Opera Studio in 2004 where she trained with Gregory Yurisich. In the United Kingdom, Miriam has worked with the English Touring Opera, Grange Park Opera, Renard Productions, Opera South East, Opera Holland Park and has performed Waltraute (Götterdämmerung) for The Mastersingers, conducted by David Syrus, Schwertleite (Die Walküre) with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis and Brangäne (Tristan und Isolde) with the Edinburgh Opera Players. Most recently, Miriam performed the roles of Mrs Galloway in The Opera Room’s, The Invited, (part of the Grimeborn festival) and a much lauded Dinah from Trouble in Tahiti with Director, Keiko Sumida. She will reprise the role of Dinah later this year as well as singing Martha and Swai Phillips in the new opera, The Butt by Susie Self.
Concert with SELO: Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjuez, 22nd May 2016
Multi-award winning classical guitarist Manus Noble studied at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. He gave his debut performance at Cadogan Hall at the age of 19 and is in high demand as a performer. Read Manus’ full biography http://www.manusnoble.com/bio/
Concert with SELO: Fung Lam, In Search Of, 20th March 2016
Described by The Independent as a composer who “has a distinctive voice”, Dr Fung Lam holds the distinction of being the youngest Chinese composer and the first Hong Kong composer ever commissioned by the BBC. He has to date written over ten orchestral works, including three commissions for BBC Radio 3 and two commissions for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2012, Endless Forms was premièred by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo at the BBC Proms, taking his music to a global audience. An excerpt from Evening Standard’s review reads, “… Lam, working with a carefully constructed minimum of material, shapes his musical world with dreamy individuality.”
He was the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Composer-in-Residence with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2015, Quintessence, written in celebration of the orchestra’s 40th anniversary, was taken on tour and performed in several major European cities, under Jaap van Zweden.
Other performers of his music have included the London Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert, Tokyo Philharmonic, New Zealand Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.
Born in Hong Kong, Lam studied composition with Martin Butler, Michael Finnissy and Michael Zev Gordon at the Universities of Southampton and Sussex in UK, and was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree in composition from the latter in 2012. In the same year he received the Young Artist Award from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.
Concert with SELO: Mozart, Clarinet Concerto in A major, 6th December 2015
Felicity graduated from the Royal College of Music in 2007 with a Masters degree, having been awarded scholarships to study there for both undergraduate and postgraduate study with Timothy Lines; she has since been a freelance clarinettist, working with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra in concert, in the studio and on tour. As a soloist Felicity has performed the Mozart, Nielsen, Weber and Crusell Concertos.
Concert with SELO: Saint-Saëns, Morceau de Concert, 4th July 2015
Those regulars at our concerts will recognise Natalie as our principal horn. Together with our conductor David Smith, she helped to start the orchestra in 2012. Although more experienced with orchestral playing, we are excited to invite her to perform solo with the orchestra before she leaves us to return to her homeland of Australia. Natalie began playing the horn at the age of 12, continuing her musical education following studying the piano and singing in her local choir. She played 3rd horn with Melbourne Youth Orchestra from 1992-1999, and toured North America with them in 1998, where she got to see back-stage in Disneyland. She completed a Bachelor of Music at the Victorian College of the Arts in 1999, and played with numerous ensembles and musicals in Melbourne, the highlight being a double brass ensemble on top of Flinders Street Station at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve 1999! She arrived in London in 2000 and quickly developed a playing career with the West London Sinfonia, Kew Wind Orchestra and Kensington Symphony Orchestra, as well as small ensembles performing at weddings, at park bandstands and summer fairs. She has performed Schumann’s Konzertstück for 4 horns on two occasions, and the London Horn Sound’s Titanic Fantasy. (Unfortunately just the once: listen to it, it’s awesome!) When Natalie isn’t busy organising the orchestra, she spends time with her husband, their 24 month old daughter and at her day job in the office, which isn’t quite as rewarding as playing the horn. Natalie and her family are preparing to relocate to Sydney, Australia, in August. She is very sad to say “goodbye” to SELO and wishes them the best of luck in the future.
Concert with SELO: Lennox Berkeley, Sinfonia Concertante, 30th November 2014
Victoria began playing the oboe at the age of nine. Having achieved her Advanced Certificate at an early age, she decided to take music to a higher level, studying for a Bachelors Degree at the University of Southampton. After completing her degree, she undertook a Masters Degree course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying with Gordon Hunt, Richard Simpson and Andrew Knights. An enthusiastic performer both in orchestral and chamber music ensembles, Victoria has toured extensively, visiting France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Italy, Norway, Ireland and the Czech Republic. She has performed in many prestigious venues throughout Europe, including the Barbican, the Royal Festival Hall, Cadogan Hall, St David’s Hall Cardiff, St Paul’s Cathedral, St Mark’s Basilica Venice, St John’s Smith Square and Her Majesty’s Theatre, London. Victoria has participated in performances broadcast on Italian Radio. She was also part of the London premiere of two chamber works by the Scottish composer, James MacMillan, which were broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. She has worked alongside acclaimed musicians including, José Cura, Jonathan Lemalu, Hayley Westenra, The Priests, Jennifer Pike, David Owen Norris and James Bowman. Victoria has also worked as a member of The Works, a project directed by David Owen Norris with whom she recorded a CD of both Mozart and original compositions by David Owen Norris; part of which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and later performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Victoria is a founder member of The Britannic Ensemble, a chamber ensemble which performs a diverse range of repertoire across a wide musical spectrum and is particularly interested in encouraging an appreciation of the music of British composers.
Concert with SELO: Lennox Berkeley: Four Poems of St Teresa of Avila, 9th March 2014
Sarah gained a Masters in Performance with Distinction from Trinity Laban Conservatoire in 2012, generously supported by the Kathleen Roberts Scholarship. Whilst at Trinity, she was awarded the Wilfred Greenhouse Allt Prize for Oratorio & Cantata, and she won the 2012 Roy Pleasance Competition. Sarah recently performed at the Isabelle Bond Gold Medal at Kings Place, Trinity’s most prestigious award for solo performance, and was a Director’s Prizewinner. Sarah enjoys balancing a mixture of opera, oratorio, recital and choral singing. Opera credits include Fanny Price in Jonathan Dove’s ‘Mansfield Park’, Marcellina (Figaro) in Germany, roles at the Tete a Tete Opera Festival, Tilly in the UK Premiere of Stephen McNeff’s ‘The Secret Garden’, Dorabella (Cosi), and the Sorceress (Dido). Other highlights include a masterclass with Ann Murray (Wigmore Hall) and with Steuart Bedord on Britten’s ‘Phaedra’, European tours with the Monteverdi Choir (Sir John Eliot Gardiner), soloist in the London Handel Festival, and a mentor scheme with the Royal Opera House Chorus.
Concert with SELO: Nielsen, Flute Concerto, 24th November 2013
Born into a musical family, Charlotte soon developed an interest in the flute and began taking lessons at the age of six. Through her teenage years she played with Bedfordshire Youth Orchestras and appeared as a soloist performing Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.5, and on the television series Howard Goodall’sBig Bangs, playing the piccolo. She also received the accolade of being invited to perform with the International Millennium Youth Orchestra as their principal flautist. Charlotte studied for a BA (Hons) in music at the University of Southampton and graduated with first class performance marks. Charlotte went on to complete a Masters degree in Performance, for which she gained a distinction. At Southampton, Charlotte studied flute with Kathryn Thomas and piccolo with Barbara Brown, together with performance guidance from David Owen Norris. Most recently she has studied with Michael Cox. As a soloist Charlotte enjoys exploring a range of material for the flute. She particularly enjoys chamber music and is a founder member of The Britannic Ensemble (flute, oboe and piano). Charlotte dedicates much of her time to education work, teaching from beginner to postgraduate level, and is the founder of PrimoMusic, an independent music practice working with young children from birth to eight years.
Concert with SELO: Vaughan Williams, The Lark Ascending, 27th April 2013
Anna read music at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and then continued her violin studies as a postgraduate scholar at the Royal Academy of Music, where she studied with Erich Gruenberg and graduated with the prestigious Dip RAM. She has also won awards from the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. Anna is currently a member of the 1st Violin section of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the violinist of the Elgin String Trio and the Notting Hill Piano Trio. For five years, Anna was the violinist of the Lawson Piano Trio, who were Leverhulme Junior Chamber Music Fellows at the RAM and with whom she performed regularly in recitals and masterclasses nationwide, as well as at the Kuhmo International Chamber Music Festival in Finland where they won the Kees Wiebenga Diploma for the best performance at the festival. She now performs chamber music with the Elgin Trio and as a guest with groups such as the Emanuel Ensemble, Merchant Quartet, Surrey Soloists’ Ensemble and Ensemble MP3. Anna has worked with many of the country’s finest orchestras, including the London and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Philharmonic and Concert Orchestras, Northern Sinfonia, Bournemouth Symphony and Ulster Orchestras and the Orchestra of English National Opera. She has performed as guest Principal 2nd Violin with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestras, as co-leader of the London Gala Orchestra, and as leader of Sinfonia Cymru, 4Strings and the Nonesuch Orchestra. She was recently appointed leader of the Jersey Chamber Orchestra. She is also very interested in pursuing projects outside of classical music and has recently performed in a number of live recordings for BBC Radio 1 with groups such as The Kooks, We Are Scientists and Cajun Dance Party, as well as participating in improvisation projects with folk music groups from Iran and Turkey and the tango group Tango a 3. Anna plays on a violin by Joseph Gagliano, thanks to a generous loan from the Abbado Trust.
Concert with SELO: Weber, Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat, 23rd September 2012
Christopher Walters graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2002 and has performed with the European Union Youth Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, English National Opera and Cape Town Opera. He has performed as a concerto soloist with Southbank Sinfonia, Hertford Symphony Orchestra and students from the Royal College of Music. He spent two years teaching music in a secondary school in Nairobi, Kenya, and regularly goes back to coach the country’s fledgling National Youth Orchestra. Aside from performing, Chris is editor of Music Teacher magazine and has written about music and music education for a variety of newspapers and magazines.