Region(s): Scotland
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Soprano, Piano, Piano

Region(s): Scotland
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Clarinet, Piano, Piano

Ebony Duo Repertoire List Spring 2006

Malcolm Arnold Sonatina
Heinrich Baermann Adagio
Bela Bartok Romanian Folk Dances
Leonard Bernstein Sonata
Arthur Bliss Pastoral
Eugene Bozza Pulcinella
Johannes Brahms Sonata in E flat
Norbert Burgmuller Duo
Ferruccio Busoni Elegie
Ernest Chausson Andante et Allegro
Claude Debussy Premiere Rhapsodie
Gerald Finzi Five Bagatelles
Jean Francaix Tema con Variazioni
Phillipe Gaubert Fantaisie
Niels Gade Fantaisestucke
Francisco Gomez Lorito Caprice
Paul Harvey Three Etudes on Themes of Gershwin
Joseph Holbrooke Nocturne
Joseph Horovitz Two Majorcan Pieces
Joseph Horovitz Sonatina
William Hurlstone Four Characteristic Pieces
Xavier Lefevre Five Sonatas
Georges Marty Premiere Fantasie
Bohuslav Martinu Sonatina
Andre Messager Solo de Concours
Darius Milhaud Scaramouche
Darius Milhaud Caprice
Charles Oberthur ‘Le Desir’
Gabriel Pierne Canzonetta
Francis Poulenc Sonata
Henri Rabaud Solo de Concours
Maurice Ravel Piece en forme de habanera
Camille Saint-Saens Sonata
Robert Schumann Fantasiestucke
Igor Sravinsky Three Pieces for clarinet solo
Germaine Tailleferre Arabesque
Terence Thompson Boogie and Blues
Vaughan Williams Six Studies in English Folk Song

Biographies

Fiona Macleod

After growing up in Inverness, Fiona moved to Edinburgh in 1997 to study music at Napier University. Three years later she transferred to the RNCM in Manchester to complete a Bmus Degree. She studied with Kathryn Stott. In 2002 she won the European Piano Teachers Association Pedagogy Prize. Fiona then stayed on for a further year and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in accompaniment with John Gough and won the Stella Bradshaw award in accompaniment.

In 2003 Fiona moved to Glasgow and was a Junior Fellow Accompanist at the RSAMD for two years. She studied with Fali Pavri and gained a PG Dip in Advanced Accompaniment, winning the accompanist prize in 2004.

Fiona is now a freelance pianist/accompanist and also teaches at the RSAMD and RSAMD Junior Academy. She is the pianist of the ‘Ebony Duo’ and the ‘Bell Ensemble’.

Lesley Bell

Lesley Bell grew up in Fife, and was a pupil at the Junior Academy of Music in Glasgow with Alison Waller. After two years at Napier University in Edinburgh she went on to do the BA Music course at the RSAMD in 1999. She studied with Yann Ghiro, Joe Pacewicz and John Cushing, and graduated with a First Class Honours in 2003.

Lesley now combines teaching at Aberdeen City Music School and St. George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh with a freelance career. She has performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Scottish National Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Region(s): London
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Cello, Piano, Piano

STEPHEN BUCK

Stephen Buck (b.1975) studied at The Purcell School and The Royal College of Music, where he was holder of the prestigious Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Scholarship.

For seven consecutive years he received awards from the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund, administered by the Philharmonia, alongside wining scholarships from Craxton, Hattori, English Speaking Union, Gertrud Hopkins, and The Countess of Munster Musical Trusts.

Solo, recital and chamber concerts have lead to extensive performances at London's South Bank Centre and numerous venues throughout the UK, including appearances at festivals in Canterbury, Bath, Oxford, Lichfield, Honiton, Bristol, Wallingford, Grassington and Reigate. Stephen has also performed in many of the major concert halls throughout Europe and broadcatsed live on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4.

Invited in 1999 as one of only five cellists worldwide to receive private lessons on scholarhsip by the celebrated American cellist Bernard Greenhouse, founding member of The Beaux Arts Trio, Stephen undertook Advanced Postgraduate studies in the USA. Since his return to the UK he has continued a busy schedule of performances, with recent highlights including Elgar's Cello Concerto in Kensington, the Monn Concerto in aid of The Council for Music in Hospitals, and an appearance as soloist with The London Mozart Players, where he performed 'The Protecting Veil' by Sir John Tavnener,in the presence of the composer.

Stephen is actively involved in Live Music Now, a scheme founded by the late Lord Menuhin, with the aim of bringing music to people who would not normally have access to it, and providing opportunities for gifted professional muscians.

DANIEL GRIMWOOD

Daniel was born in London in 1976 and from a very early age took a keen interest in music, teaching himself the piano until the age of eight when he began to take lessons. It was around this time when he seemed destined to become a dancer, having taken a profound interest in the art of movement. Three years later, however, he won a scholarship to study at the Purcell School where he flourished not only on the piano and violin, but also composition, which he studied with Tim Stevenson. Daniel already has a piece published.

He has performed extensively throughout Britain, Germany and in Moscow, and is currently attending the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester with a scholarship. Piano lessons are taken with Vladimir Ovchinikov.

Region(s): London
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments:

Abigail Burrows was a scholar at The Purcell School for nine years with Anna Pope. She was chosen for the prestigious Austin and Hope Pilkington Award and in 2000 she continued her studies at The Royal College of Music in London under Susan Milan.

Abigail is a regular recitalist for many concert series across the UK and has performed concerto’s with various orchestras including The Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra at The Royal Festival Hall. She has also been a soloist in a private concert for Prince Charles at St James's Palace, on Classic FM, the BBC World Service, BBC1 and the Norwegian TV Network (filmed in Oslo). She toured Germany for the ‘Bach 250th Anniversary Celebrations’ and toured Russia during the Rachmaninoff Festival after winning the Watford Concerto Competition and was invited back the following year to play a concerto with the Novgorod Philharmonia Orchestra.

Abigail plays on a gold Brannen-Cooper flute kindly awarded to her by the Austin & Hope Pilkington Trust. She is also a children’s writer and has a regular feature in international flute magazine Flutewise.

Clare Jefferis was awarded a Foundation Scholarship in to study on the B Mus course at the Royal College of music form 2001-2005 with Paul Edmund-Davies and Jaime Martin. She went on to win the prestigious Ian Fleming award (administered by the MBF), a scholarship from the AHRB and a further RCM scholarship to continue her studies there as a Postgraduate. Clare is also supported by the Solti Foundation.

A former member of the National Youth Orchestra, she performs with the RCM Symphony Orchestra and as a freelance, with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Clare performs with the Calderon Duo (flute and guitar) in association with the Live Music Now! The Calderon Duo have also performed as part of the International Guitar Festival at the Bolivar Hall of the Embassy of Venezuela. As a soloist, Clare has given recitals at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Nice, the National Gallery, RCM and at the Oldham Walton Festival. She has performed concertos with Imperial College London String Orchestra and Oldham Youth Orchestra. Clare has also featured in recording sessions for the National Youth Ballet and also on the soundtrack for the art-house film: “The Lost Boy”. Clare was awarded the position of “Assistant” to Paul Edmund Davies and Lisa Nelson to at the “Harrogate Flute Kitchen” Flute Summer school, August 2005.

Region(s): London
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments:

Region(s): London
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Flute, Classical Guitar

Abigail Burrows

Abigail Burrows was a scholar at The Purcell School for nine years with Anna Pope. She was chosen for the prestigious Austin and Hope Pilkington Award and in 2000 she continued her studies at The Royal College of Music in London under Susan Milan.

Abigail is a regular recitalist for many concert series across the UK and has performed concerto’s with various orchestras including The Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra at The Royal Festival Hall. She has also been a soloist in a private concert for Prince Charles at St James's Palace, on Classic FM, the BBC World Service, BBC1 and the Norwegian TV Network (filmed in Oslo). She toured Germany for the ‘Bach 250th Anniversary Celebrations’ and toured Russia during the Rachmaninoff Festival after winning the Watford Concerto Competition and was invited back the following year to play a concerto with the Novgorod Philharmonia Orchestra.

Abbie plays on a gold Brannen-Cooper flute kindly awarded to her by the Austin & Hope Pilkington Trust. She is also a children’s writer and has a regular feature in international flute magazine Flutewise.

Tom Mclauchlan

Tom Mclauchlan (b. 1981) began to play the guitar at the age of 12. He studied at the Royal College of Music with Gary Ryan and Chris Stell, and is establishing himself as one of the most promising and versatile guitarists of the new generation. He maintains an eventful career not only as a soloist but also as a chamber musician.

He has performed as a chamber musician at the Dundee Guitar Festival and the 8th and 9th International Guitar Festival at the Bolivar Hall Embassy of Venezuela. His recent solo recital for Southampton Classical Guitar Society was reviewed with much enthusiasm; ‘his expert playing allowed our imaginations to paint a masterpiece of pictorial music’.

In 2000 Tom was presented with an Exhibition Award from Trinity College of Music for the finest guitar exam mark in the UK and Eire. Through out his time as a guitarist Tom has performed to such luminaries as Leo Brouwer, Paul Galbraith, David Russell and Scott Tennant.
Tom will be away travelling until June 2009.

Region(s):
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Soprano, Piano

Region(s): London, Uk
Genre:
Instruments:

http://www.margaretfingerhut.co.uk

Region(s): North West
Genre: Jazz
Instruments: Piano, Saxophone, Bass Guitar, Trombone, Trumpet, Drum Kit

6pac Jazz Sextet has worked extensively throughout the UK since they formed in June 2002. The players met whilst studying at the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, UK) and the University of Manchester. In June 2004 6pac were awarded the RNCM Gold Medal, the highest accolade for performance that the College bestows, and the only time in its history that an ensemble received the award.
Later in the same year the band received the Peter Whittingham Award for an Innovative Jazz Project from the Musician’s Benevolent Fund for their project Last Minute Changes. This included a tour of northern universities and the recording of their debut CD featuring brand new music by young people and the band themselves. The band continues to perform new music as well as putting their distinctive mark on jazz standards. Their second album, Business as Usual, is a collection of their favourite arrangements to date.
6pac perform all over the UK at festivals including Manchester, Isle of Wight and Peterborough, chamber music societies including St Martin In-The-Field, Macclesfield and Saddleworth and at Jazz venues. 6pac have also performed for BBC Songs of Praise.
Education and outreach work is an important part of the groups’ work. In addition to being part of the Live Music Now! scheme, 6pac also holds its own week-long summer school as part of the Dartington Summer Youth Programme in Totnes, Devon.

Region(s): North West
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Virginal, Drum Kit, Marimba

Region(s):
Genre:
Instruments:

Region(s): Wales, London
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Piano, Piano

Paul Carey Jones & Llyr Williams

Paul Carey Jones was born in Cardiff and studied at Queen’s College Oxford, the Royal Academy of Music, and the National Opera Studio, where his studies were supported by Welsh National Opera and the Friends of Covent Garden. His operatic roles include Mozart’s Figaro (Diva Opera, British Youth Opera (cover), Beaufort Opera, Opera Mint), Papageno (Opera By Definition), Escamillo (Stowe Opera), Marcello (Opera Mint), Schaunard (Diva Opera), The Forester (Surrey Opera), John Styx (British Youth Opera), Count Ceprano (Diva Opera), Ariodates (British Youth Opera (cover)), and Aeneas (Youthful Promise Wales).
Paul’s oratorio repertoire comprises over thirty major works, including the UK premiere of Galuppi’s motet Confitebor Tibi Domine last month. He has performed in concert and recital across the UK, at venues including Cardiff’s St David’s Hall, The Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room on the South Bank, at the Edinburgh Festival and in 2002 at Buckingham Palace with the London Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa at Mstislav Rostropovich’s 75th birthday concert. His performances in Europe have taken him to France, Switzerland, Germany, Gibraltar and the Channel Islands.
Paul has given over 100 concerts as a member of the Live Music Now! scheme in partnerships with the pianists Llyr Williams, Helen Collyer and Siobhain O’Higgins. In 2001 he was awarded the National Eisteddfod of Wales’ most prestigious award for young singers, the W. Towyn Roberts Scholarship. His broadcast performances include BBC Radio 3’s In Tune, Eisteddfod 2001 for BBC2, A Visit to the Eisteddfod and Raised Voices for HTV Wales, and Heno, Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol, Croma and Musicale for S4C.
Full details of forthcoming appearances and all other news regarding Paul’s career can be found at www.paulcareyjones.com.

Llyr Williams of Pentrebychan, Rhosllannerchrugog, North Wales, began playing the piano at the age of seven and gained a distinction in all eight grades of the Associated Board before leaving primary school. He read music at the Queen’s College, Oxford, from where he subsequently graduated with a first class alpha degree for which he was awarded the Gibbs Academic Prize and the Joan Conway Scholarship in Performance Studies. While at Oxford he gave regular concerts and recitals, including a performance of Rhapsody in Blue at the Sheldonian Theatre and two recitals for the Gordon International Conference of Scientists, convening in Europe for the first time.

In 1998 Llyr was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music for two years. His teachers there have included Michael Dussek, Iain Ledingham, Hamish Milne, Julius Drake and the late Irina Zaritskaya. He won all of the Academy’s prizes for accompanists and in the summer of 2000 received a Dip. RAM. Other awards have included a Sir Henry Richardson Award and first prize in the Blue Ribbon Instrumental Solo in the National Eisteddfod of Wales, 1999 – Wales’ premier instrumental competition. He recently won the Accompanist Prize at the annual English Speakers and Singers Association Competition.

He is an official accompanist at the Canford Summer School of Music and will be on the panel of accompanists at the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 2002. For the past 3 years Llyr has been involved with ‘Live Music Now’ having already performed in almost 50 concerts.

At present Llyr is the Shinn Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music for a second consecutive year coaching singers and pursuing some conducting study. He has arranged and performed seven recitals at the Academy’s Duke Hall, including a concert series comprising the three song cycles and the last three sonatas of Schubert, the complete Morike songs of Hugo Wolf and another series entitled ‘Aspects of Young Schumann’.

Recent appearances have included two concerts at the Amersham Festival of Music performing Mozart Piano Concertos, recitals in the Isle of Wight and St David’s Hall, Cardiff. Llyr also appeared as an accompanist in a recital in St Martin-in-the-fields, in the Lower Machen Festival and the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Llyr made his international debut playing Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto in Wasserburg-am-Inn in Bavaria. In April he performed Schumann’s Concerto in Valencia, Spain, where he has been assisting Denise Ham’s Conducting Masterclasses.

Llyr was recently accepted on to the Young Concert Artists Trust programme and gave his debut in a solo recital at the Wigmore Hall.

Region(s): London
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Flute, Violin, Viola, Harpsichord

Rachel Latham - baroque/classical flute
Francisco del Amo - viola da gamba/baroque cello
Marianna Szucs - baroque violin/viola d'amore
Bridget Cunningham - harpsichord
Founded in 1997 the group specialises in chamber music of the 17th and 18th centuries. Individually, and as a group, the players have won several prizes and awards including the RCM (1998) Century Prize for Early Music and a Leverhulme and Wall Trust Scholarship.

Performances as an ensemble have included festival recitals at Farnham Castle, Southwark Cathedral, Aldeburgh, Chichester Festivities and CULTUR99 (Spain). Pasemezzo has also performed in the Aestas Musica festival in Croatia.

All members of the group freelance with wel-established period orchestras in this country and abroad. The flexibility of Passemezzo is such that the group is at home making chamber music, but is also expandible to full orchestral size. Educational work is also a central part of each player's life and each member teaches and has experience of workshop leading.

Ask Alice for indiviudal biogs if needed.

Region(s): London
Genre: World Music
Instruments: Flute

Tomoko Kinuta is both a Japanese traditional and Modern European flautist. She began to play the flute at the age of 13. She studied the Modern European flute with Keiko Nagayama, Fumiko Ando, Sarah O'flynn, David Nicholson and Peter-Lukas Graf and studied the Japanese Traditional flute, Shakuhachi, with Ryokuzan Edo. She graduated with BMus from Kobe Kollege in Japan and MMus from Goldsmiths College, London University. She has given regular out-reach concerts since she was a music student in Japan. She is currently teaching for one year on the 'Outreach in Music' (Community engagement) as a lecturer at Kobe College in Japan.

Region(s): Scotland
Genre: British/Irish Folk and Traditional
Instruments: Fiddle, Flute

Claire Mann (flute, fiddle, tin whistle and vocals) and Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar and vocals) met on the thriving Edinburgh folk music scene about six years ago. Over the years they have developed a unique and exciting musical relationship, performing a mixture of traditional and original Scottish and Irish music and song.

They have played together in various bands such as, Tabache, Craobh Rua and Arún. They have performed at numerous festivals worldwide, and are currently performing for Live Music Now!, a charity set up by Yehudi Menuhin. They recently appeared on “The Thistle and Shamrock Thanksgiving Special”, America’s largest public radio show for traditional music.

Claire comes from Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England and is quickly establishing herself as one of the leading exponents of Traditional Irish flute, fiddle, tin whistle and song.

Coming from a musical family, Claire was surrounded by music and performing from an early age. She started playing the violin in school at the age of eight and was studying Classical music until the opportunity arose to play folk music and it wasn’t long before “the violin” became “the fiddle”.

She spent many of the summers during her childhood visiting Ireland and attending Fleadh Cheoil competitions where she became immersed in the music. Over these years she began to play the whistle, aged ten and then the flute, aged twelve, all the time developing her own individual style and technique.

Claire won the All Ireland Flute Championships in 1993 retaining her title in 1994. During this time she added a Whistle All Ireland title and was a finalist on the Fiddle and in Singing. During those years she added over eighty Fleadh Cheoil medals and was a finalist in the prestigious BBC Young Tradition Award in 1993.

In 1995 Claire teamed up with Scots fiddle player Aidan O’Rourke to form the band Tabache. A year later they released their debut album “Are you Willing?” on KRL Lochshore to critical acclaim and in 1998 released their follow up CD “Waves of Rush”. Tabache currently tour extensively throughout the USA, Canada, Europe and the British Isles.

She also tours with Irish band Craobh Rua and with the fantastic singer/piper Christy O’Leary, formerly of Boys of the Lough and De Dannan. She has appeared on numerous television and radio shows including “Prairie Home Companion”, and performed for the renowned British Flute Society who described her as, “…astonishing.”

Alongside performing, she is also becoming recognised as a tutor on fiddle, flute and tin whistle, having taught at the Folkworks Summer School, various festivals worldwide, Newcastle and Strathclyde Universities and is currently the Flute and Tin Whistle Tutor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Claire released her long awaited solo album in September 2001 to great critical acclaim. She is joined on the recording by Aaron Jones on Bouzouki and Guitar (Craobh Rua/Seelyhoo), Brian McAlpine on Piano (Iron Horse/Pearl Fishers), John Joe Kelly on Bodhran (Altan/Flook) and Simon Thoumire on Concertina.

Aaron was born in Poole in England. He started playing acoustic guitar at the age of fifteen encouraged by a musical family from the North of Ireland. At the age of sixteen Aaron took up the Electric Bass Guitar and the Bouzouki, a ten stringed instrument. He moved to Edinburgh, where he still lives, to study Electric Bass as part of a Diploma in Modern Musicianship. Over the next two years Aaron earned qualifications in Recording, Arranging, Composition, Applied MIDI, Music Law and Music Marketing and graduated from the course with a Merit Award on Electric Bass.

Throughout this period, and subsequent to completion of the course, Aaron has earned invaluable and substantial gig and recording experience.

He is recognised as one of the world’s finest Bouzouki players in traditional music. He has toured in Europe, the United States of America, Canada and Australia with artists such as Seelyhoo, The Sandy Brechin Band, Iron Horse, Keep It Up, Burach, Tabache, Leo McCann, Dibidil, Davy Steele, Claire Mann and Urbn Ri. He is much sought after as a session musician both on the Bass and Bouzouki.

Aaron continues to work freelance with some of the biggest names in traditional music and tours extensively worldwide, singing and playing Guitar and Bouzouki with the Irish band Craobh Rua.

Alongside touring he is currently writing a definitive historical and instructional book for the Cittern and 10 string Bouzouki and has recently launched www.tradmusic.com, a fully interactive traditional music resource to support and promote traditional music and traditional music artists and groups throughout the world.

“Her sheer musicality - the beautiful feel in her playing - is what really sets her apart.” (The Planet, Radio National, Australia)
“Astonishing”
(British Flute Society)

“Catch of the Festival”
(Sebastopol Folk Festival 2000, California)

“I for one would love to see Claire with a cloned sister of herself in a live performance as both her flute and fiddle playing are faultless.”
(Pete Fyfe, Folking.com)

“This excellent new CD of hers is full of great music and performances, and is sure to win Claire many new fans at home and abroad.”
(Aidan O’Hara, Irish Music Magazine)

“Claire’s soft voice held the audience in a simple spell”
(Larry Winger, Hexham Courant)

“Claire on fiddle, flute, whistle and singing showed true musicianship on all”
(Orcadian, Orkney Folk Festival)

“The rhythm was absolutely incredible, the best rhythm I’ve heard anyone play with for years, it was brilliant, great playing”
(Kathryn Tickell, BBC Radio 2’s Young Tradition Award)

“Stunning performance......”
(Paul James)

“A wonderful player, hugely versatile, excellent”
(Barbara Dickson)

“ ... a clear voice with lots of passion”
(Folksblatt)

“Aaron Jones lends his Irish musical roots to the superb provision of innovative bass lines and skilfully atmospheric bazouki accompaniment. Another player, with a rich musical heritage, his CV reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of Scottish music.”
(John Adams, The Orcadian)

“Aaron is certainly one of the best Cittern players I have ever seen.”
(Sean Laffey, Editor, Irish Music Magazine)

“…backed by Aaron Jones on the ten string bouzouki (fans of Croabh Rua will know how good an accompanist Jones is).”
(Andy Ryan, Irish Music Magazine)

“Aaron Jones was the heart of the band, providing the guitar, bouzouki and lead vocals” (Roger Lilly, State Cultural Center Theater, W. Virginia)

“The ballads were marvellously done”
(Roger Lilly, State Cultural Center Theater, W. Virginia)

“Jones provided a fine voice on ballads”
(Dale Dempsey, Dayton Daily News)

“Jones...sang songs with cool sensitivity...”
(Ken Ferguson, The West Australian)

You can hear Aaron & Claire together on:

Claire Mann Foot Stompin’ CDFSR1712
Heat the Hoose 2 Foot Stompin’ CDFSR1707

Individually:

Tabache “Are you Willing?” KRL, CDLDL 1244
Tabache “Waves of Rush” KRL, CDLDL 1283
Seelyhoo “The First Caul” Greentrax
Sandy Brechin “Out of his Box” Greentrax
Sandy Brechin “Out of his Tree” Greentrax
Pete Clarke “Fiddlecase” Smiddymade
Davy Steele “Chasing Shadows” Hypertension
The Wrigley Sisters “Mither o’ the Sea” Greentrax
Robert Mathieson “The Big Birl” Lismoor Records
Gavin Marwick/Jonny Hardie “The Blue Lamp” KRL Lochshore
Craobh Rua “If Ida been here, Ida been there” KRL Lochshore
Leo McCann “If anyone can” Canndhu
The Iron Horse - Forthcoming Release Autumn 2001 KRL Lochshore
Heat the Hoose Foot Stompin’ CDTT1006
Ceol Tacsi Vertical VERTCD052
Folkal Point Greentrax Cdtrax 168
Dance of the Celts Narada ND63932
New Celtic Dimensions KRL CDDLD 5001
Robert Burns Collection Volume 6 Linn Records
Robert Burns Collection Volume 8 Linn Records
Robert Burns Collection Volume 9 Linn Records
Huntingdon Folk 2 Speaking Vol.
Scottish Folk Festival Tour FMS (Germany)
Folk in Hell Unknown(USA)
Evolving Tradition Mrs Casey
Live at Double Inn Independent

Region(s): London
Genre: World Music
Instruments: General Percussion, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Gustavo Marques & Sam Alexander

Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Gustavo Marques (guitar, vocals) now lives in London. Gustavo met Sam right after he arrived in London and they have been playing together since then. Their music reflects the universe of Brazilian music, including Bossa-Nova, Samba and Afro-Brazillian grooves. They have performed in different venues including Guanabara Club and Royal Festival Hall (foyer), 606 Jazz Club and The Jazz Café.

Vocalist and guitarist GUSTAVO MARQUES grew up surrounded by music in his home city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. He studied at the 'Groove' School of Music for seven years, and soon after formed his first band 'Rebento' (Luiz Roberto, bass; Eduardo Marques, drums) playing MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira). After over six years of playing regularly on the thriving Sao Paulo music scene, Gustavo made the move to Europe, and has become a leading figure on the London Brazilian music scene for over five years.

Percussionist SAM ALEXANDER is a pioneer in the world of Brazilian music in this country. Sam founded several of the UK's leading Samba Schools, he has toured and recorded with great Brazilian artists such as Marcos Vale and Azymuth as well as home grown acts including D-Note, Shola Ama and D-Influence.

Region(s): London
Genre: World Music
Instruments: General Percussion, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Jembe, Vocals, Flute, Cajon

Gustavo Marques & Jack Yglesias (voice, guitar and percussion)
Vocalist and guitarist Gustavo Marques grew up surrounded by music in his home city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. He studied at the 'Groove' School of Music for seven years, and soon after formed his first band 'Rebento' (Luiz Roberto, bass; Eduardo Marques, drums) playing MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira). After over six years of playing regularly on the thriving Sao Paulo music scene, Gustavo made the move to Europe, and has become a leading figure on the London Brazilian music scene for over five years.

Jack Yglesias has travelled and studied extensively in Latin America, including a year at the Cuban institute of Superior Art, and is now one of the most in-demand multi-instrumentalists in London today. Specialising in Afro-Southamerican percussion (particularly Cuban, Venezualan and Brazilian), he is also a talented flautist and singer. He works regularly in a number of different bands (Saravah Soul, The Heliocentrics, Family Atlantica, The Quantic Soul Orchestra) with whom he has toured throughout the UK, Europe, Cuba and Brazil. His session work has included globally renown artists such as DJ Shadow.

Region(s):
Genre: World Music
Instruments: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, General Percussion

Vocalist and guitarist Gustavo Marques grew up surrounded by music in his home city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. He studied at the 'Groove' School of Music for seven years, and soon after formed his first band 'Rebento' (Luiz Roberto, bass; Eduardo Marques, drums) playing MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira). After over six years of playing regularly on the thriving Sao Paulo music scene, Gustavo made the move to Europe, and has become a leading figure on the London Brazilian music scene for over five years.

Region(s): Midlands, London
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Soprano, Piano, Piano

Region(s): London
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Piano

http://www.valentinschiedermair.com

Region(s): Midlands
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Flute

Duo Mañoso

Rachel Smith, flute
Andrew Gough, guitar

Duo Mañoso was formed in 1997 whilst Rachel Smith and Andrew Gough were in their second year of studies at Birmingham Conservatoire. Since then they have performed nationwide giving concerts and music workshops.

The duo released their debut album in 2003 including works by Piazzolla, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Bartok, Carulli and a new arrangement of Stanley Myer's Cavatina.

In 1999 they successfully auditioned onto the Live Music Now! scheme. Set up by Lord Menuhin in 1977, the scheme brings live music to people who are normally unable to go to concerts. The Duo has gained valuable knowledge and experience through playing to a variety of audiences in venues such as special-needs schools, community centres, mental hospitals and prisons.

Duo Mañoso regularly give recitals and have recently played at the Lincoln International Chamber Music Festival, Concerts in Rural Churches series in Warwickshire, Toddington Festival Music Society, Bewdley Arts Festival, Ketton Music Society, Henley Festival, Birmingham Cathedral and in the Art Gallery, Birmingham. In 2000 they were finalists in the Sylvia Cleaver Chamber Music Competition. As well as their concert repertoire the duo has a vast collection of music suitable for all functions. They have performed for the Mayor of Birmingham, the Lord Lieutenant of the Midlands and for Virgin Trains.

Andrew Gough is already an acknowledged classical guitarist both on the concert platform and in the recording studio.

As a soloist Andrew has performed extensively throughout the Midlands and nationwide. He has recently performed for the Southampton, Derby and West Sussex Classical Guitar Societies. He is an orchestral guitarist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Andrew celebrated Rodrigo’s centenary with a solo concert at Birmingham Conservatoire and several concerto performances. With Duo Mañoso Andrew is a member of Live Music Now!

Andrew has recorded two solo CDs: Electric Counterpoint by the American composer Steve Reich and an album including works by Albéniz, Rodrigo, Barrios and Myers.

In 1999 Andrew won the BMI Strings Prize, was a finalist in the Symphony Hall Competition 2000 and a prize winner in the Ludlow Philharmonic Concerto Competition 2001. Andrew has also received a substantial scholarship from the Young Cygnets Music Trust.

Andrew is head of guitar at the Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department and tutors at King Edward’s School, Birmingham. He is a tutor for the International Classical Guitar Summer School & Festival at West Dean College. In August 2004 Andrew was the guitarist-in-residence at the Stratford-upon-Avon International Flute Festival. He graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire in 2000 with BMus (Hons) and again in July 2002 for his Master of Arts degree.

Rachel Smith has established herself as a flautist working as a freelance player around the Midlands. Much of her time as a performer is spent giving concerts to people who would not usually get the chance to go to concerts. She performs for the prestigious Live Music Now! scheme with Duo Mañoso and also for The Council for Music in Hospitals with her husband Edward Smith in the Astcote Ensemble (flute and cello).

Rachel plays principal flute in the Alethian orchestra based in London and is a member of the recently formed flute orchestra, Arithicus, directed by Robin Soldan. As part of the Astcote Ensemble, Rachel also works for Creative Ministries Agency, based at the Birmingham Christian Centre, performing in churches nationwide.

As a competitor, Rachel has been a finalist in the Albert Cooper Competition at the Stratford-upon-Avon International Flute Festival in 1999 and 2000, and the Birmingham Conservatoire Wind Prize 2000. As well as playing the flute, Rachel also plays the panpipes and regularly incorporates them into her concert performances.

Alongside her performing, Rachel is the Community Festival Organiser for the Stratford-upon-Avon International Flute Festival. She also teaches flute at the Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department, Blue Coat School in Harborne, Chase Academy in Cannock as well as teaching privately. She graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire in 2000 with BMus(Hons) and then gained her LRSM having studied with Elena Duràn and Jonathan Rimmer.

Region(s): London
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments:

QuintEssential Sackbut and Cornett Ensemble

Director: Richard Thomas

QuintEssential was formed in 1993 by five brass players while studying at the Royal Academy of Music. The word ‘quint’ was a generic term used in Renaissance music to denote a fifth part.

Members of quintEssential have performed with some of the leading period instrument groups, including the Gabrieli consort, the English Baroque Soloists, the New London Consort, the King’s Consort, His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts, the Musicians of the Globe been involved in recordings for Naxos, Nimbus and Deutsche Grammophon, as well as broadcasts for the BBC. Collaborations with vocal ensembles have led to performances with the Oxford Camerata and the Choir of the Chapel Royal at the Tower of London.

In 1995, as part of the Museum of London’s Purcell Tercentenary events, QuintEssential hosted Classic FM’s educational programme, Masterclass, and in 1996 joined the Live Music Now scheme which aims to reach those people who would not normally have access to live music. QuintEssential also tour Ireland and performed at the Leicester Early Music Festival and the Exeter Festival last year.

In July 1997 QuintEssential completed an educational project working with children with learning difficulties towards a public performance in the York Early Music Festival. They have also been invited t perform at the Beverley Early Music Festival the Warwick and Leamington Festival and the norfolk and Norwich Festival, as well as touring in Switzerland. They are looking forward to the release of their first CD for Meridian Records entitled In Venetia, which will include some of the finest music by Gabrieli, Priuli and Picchi.
July 1997

Region(s): Yorkshire & Lincolnshire
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Harp, Violin

Eleanor Turner was born in Essex in 1982. Last year she was a Scholar at the Royal College of Music, and won the Harp Prize there. Eleanor is now a second year scholar at Middlesex University, where she hopes to attain BA Honours in Music. She studies harp with Alison Nicholls in Cambridge. For seven years Eleanor was a student of Daphne Boden the RCM Junior Department. she won several prizes there and had many compositions performed. At 15 Eleanor made her London debut at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Recitals include St. James's Piccadilly, St Martin in the Fields and Stamford Arts Centre. She is a regular concerto soloist with the Helix Ensemble and the English Baroque Ensembles.

Region(s): Yorkshire & Lincolnshire
Genre: Western Classical
Instruments: Harp

Eleanor Turner was born in Essex in 1982. Last year she was a Scholar at the Royal College of Music, and won the Harp Prize there. Eleanor is now a second year scholar at Middlesex University, where she hopes to attain BA Honours in Music. She studies harp with Alison Nicholls in Cambridge. For seven years Eleanor was a student of Daphne Boden the RCM Junior Department. she won several prizes there and had many compositions performed. At 15 Eleanor made her London debut at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Recitals include St. James's Piccadilly, St Martin in the Fields and Stamford Arts Centre. She is a regular concerto soloist with the Helix Ensemble and the English Baroque Ensembles.