The String team
Robert (violin) studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the RCM where he won the Tagore Gold Medal. He has been Leader of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia since 1998 and the London Festival Orchestra since 1997. With the LFO he has toured extensively throughout Europe, the Far East and The Americas regularly playing as soloist. With the RBS he has also often played solo for Birmingham Royal Ballet and visiting companies such as New York City, Harlem, Dutch National, Morphoses and K Ballet Japan. He has guest led for BBC Philharmonic, Dutch National, National Ballet of Canada and several orchestras in Japan including Sapporo Symphony, Royal Chamber and Kansai Opera, and often leads for the Jardins Musicaux Festival in Switzerland. His recordings include the violin and piano works of Bax, Goossens and WH Reed (friend and adviser of Elgar) whose violin he owns.
Chamber recordings with the Carl Flesch Quartet include the works of Rawsthorne, Korngold, Rebecca Clarke, Rozsa and clarinet chamber music of Mozart and Brahms. Recent solo trips have taken him to Russia and China. Robert has taken music education projects into a wide range of places such as care homes, hospitals, prisons and schools with ensembles including London Mozart Players and Apollo Chamber Orchestra.
Richard (violin) studied at Birmingham Conservatoire and then as a Countess of Munster Scholar at the Royal College of Music. He is leader of Southern Sinfonia, and has led London Orchestra da Camera, Opera Brava, Chameleon Arts Orchestra, ensembles for Russell Watson and Katherine Jenkins, and been Principal Violin II for Dorset Opera and Neville Holt Opera amongst many others. He has performed with ensembles including BBC Concert, Britten Sinfonia, CBSO, Orchestra of the Swan and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
He has performed with artists such as Gloria Estefan, Neil Sedaka and Jonny Mathis, and enjoys recording all manner of music at iconic locations such as Abbey Road, Air, Olympic and Angel studios. As a committed teacher Richard has formerly held positions at Uppingham School, Benenden School and Epsom College, and has given masterclasses and coached extensively, including at Junior Music Works, St. Paul’s Colet Court, Marryat Players, Rehearsal Orchestra and the National Scouts and Guides Symphony Orchestra.
Richard has performed in many outreach projects with Britain’s leading orchestras, including composition workshops and children’s concerts.
Helen (violin) studied as an exhibition scholar at the Royal Academy of Music. She regularly appears as concerto soloist at St Martin-in-the-Fields and Freemason’s Hall & is the leader of Belmont Ensemble of London and a guest leader of London Musical Arts Orchestra. She also performs with Trafalgar Sinfonia, London Concertante and Oxford Philharmonic. She has played for and recorded with Orchestra Nova for many years, specialising in recording premieres of works by contemporary British composers.
She has broadcast for BBC Radio 3's ‘In tune’ programme and for Scott Matthews as part of the itunes festival. She also was orchestral leader for Goldie when he conducted as part of his TEDx talk entitled ‘How art and music saved my life’.
In 2000 Helen was awarded a prestigious Fellowship of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust enabling her to study with eminent violin professors in New York, including teaching training at the Junior departments of Juilliard and Manhattan Schools of Music and the School for Strings, a specialist Suzuki Method School. Since 1997 Helen has been a violin and viola teacher at Trinity School in Croydon (awarded ‘Best school for music in the UK’ by The Week Magazine in 2013) and for the past decade has also taught advanced students for the Trinity Music Academy.
Emma (violin) studied at the Purcell School, Junior Academy and then the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has a busy orchestral career, playing with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Scottish, the London Mozart Players and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She has worked with Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Pinchas Zukerman, Nicola Benedetti, David Garrett, Lesley Garrett, Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson, Mika, Lemar, Tony Hadley and many more. She has been involved with several film recordings including the London Philharmonic Orchestra recording for “The Lord of the Rings” soundtrack.
Emma has worked on several educational projects with many schools in the London area including composition masterclasses at University College School. She also takes part in regular education projects with orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Brightsparks concert series and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's Blast project, as well as working closely with the schools she teaches at to put on successful performances.
She also has experience in teaching children with special needs; in particular, dyspraxia and autism, and has run music workshops for children with these conditions.
John (violin) trained at Trinity College of Music following a Physics degree at Imperial College. He is a busy freelance violinist in and around London, sharing his time between teaching, freelancing and touring with London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic orchestra amongst others, depping in West End and touring shows including Top Hat, and working with pop musicians both live and in studio, including Professor Green, Emilie Sandé Antony & the Johnsons and Tim Minchin.
A passionate teacher, in schools including Kings College Wimbledon, Kensington Prep and Old Palace of John Whitgift, John has widely led and participated in education projects including working with LSO Education and St Paul’s Sinfonia. John also enjoys coaching the violins and violas of the South London Youth Orchestra.
Claire (viola) studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and then the Royal Academy of Music, and has been guest principal for English National Opera, City of London Sinfonia, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. She has also had the pleasure of playing with London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic amongst others.
She is an enthusiastic chamber musician, having performed with the Brodsky Quartet, London Sinfonietta and at West Cork Chamber music festival, and many other venues and festivals.
A passionate teacher, Claire has taught at the Junior Royal Academy's 'First strings experience' scheme, worked on Liverpool's 'in harmony' project in association with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, worked on projects alongside the City of London Sinfonia and participated in workshops at Wigmore Hall. She currently teaches Viola and Violin and coaches on Pro Corda Junior, intermediate and Senior courses.
Matthew (viola) studied at Chethams School of Music before moving to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for his undergraduate degree. He also holds an International Artist Diploma from the Royal Northern College of Music & was a member of the European Chamber Music Academy where he studied with Hatto Beyerle of the Alban Berg Quartet, and Johannes Meissl. As an orchestral player, Matthew performs with many of the UK leading orchestras including Sinfonia of London, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Aurora Orchestra and Philharmonia. He regularly appears as principal with London Contemporary Orchestra and 12 Ensemble, was guest principal for Heritage Orchestra's 2021 UK Tour and has played co-principal for BBC National Orchestra of Wales. As well as recording regularly for film and television soundtracks, Matthew also enjoys playing in the West End including Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. As a chamber musician, he has given recitals at venues including Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Kings Place, Barbican, Purcell Room and Snape Maltings. He is the recipient of many awards including Royal Philharmonic Society, Park Lane Group, Hattori Foundation and Philharmonia/MMSF.
Mark (viola) studied at York University and the Royal Northern College of Music and now leads a busy freelance career in London being Principal Viola for many crossover artists including Katherine Jenkins, Andrea Boccelli, Alfie Boe and Russell Watson alongside TV and film sessions. He also recorded the score for Victoria Wood’s film “That Day We Sang” (starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton) which aired on BBC2/Boxing Day 2014. His appearances on a Hollywood movie soundtracks include “Anna Karennina” (2013) and “The Theory Of Everything” (Nov 2014) which won the Golden Globe for Best Music Score and was nominated for an Oscar. He can also be heard on many “Sony Award” winning TV Adverts, from Reebok through to Mercedes Benz.
Mark is Principal Viola of the National Symphony Orchestra, a core member of Orchestra Of The Swan and is No.2 for Raymond Gubbay’s London Concert Orchestra, alongside extensive work for the BBC Orchestras. He was also in Katie Melua’s String Quartet alongside touring with a diverse range of pop artists from Peter Gabriel to Goldfrapp.
Mark is also Principal Viola for Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds UK Tours and has deputised on many touring West End Shows including Phantom Of The Opera and Les Miserables.
Léonie ('cello) studied in Moscow, the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London. She has recently been awarded the honour ARAM, Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. Léonie has been Principal with Scottish Opera, Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, Manchester Camerata, Northern Ballet & Orchestra of the Swan, No.2 with the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia and No.3 with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
She has also played as a soloist for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, recorded at Abbey Road and played with artists including Jason Donovan, Shirley Bassey and Jeff Beck as well as performing live on radio around the world including BBC Radio 3 & Radio New Zealand as a soloist & a chamber musician.
Léonie was the 'cellist on the Tori Amos musical “The Light Princess” at the National Theatre in 2013-14. In the West End, she deputised on Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cinderella" until closing and ongoing since 2014, on Disney's "The Lion King".
Léonie has worked as education project leader for TDE, Orchestra of the Swan, the Three Choirs Festival & Ledbury Poetry Festival as well as having set up 3 series of community interactive children's concerts.
Léonie was the adjudicator for the Bedfordshire Young Musician of the Year for 3 years, has frequently been orchestral cello coach at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance & was invited to be guest panel lecturer by Royal College of Music in early 2023. She has also taken masterclass days for the New Zealand Christchurch School of Music and the New Zealand Hawkes Bay Music Society, and been workshop leader for education projects in Christchurch schools which included ‘cello teaching, orchestral sessions and chamber groups.
She has been the ‘cello, improvisation, chamber music and orchestral coach on various Summer Schools for many years, and has lead the ‘cellos and taken sectionals for the UK’s Rehearsal Orchestra every year since 2007. She has also been involved in the Education Outreach programmes with the major London orchestras including the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and English National Opera amongst others, and has participated in workshops in a variety of different institutions varying hugely in age, social background, financial resources, ability and capability of the participants, and have included special needs schools, care homes, hospices and nurseries.
Chamber recordings with the Carl Flesch Quartet include the works of Rawsthorne, Korngold, Rebecca Clarke, Rozsa and clarinet chamber music of Mozart and Brahms. Recent solo trips have taken him to Russia and China. Robert has taken music education projects into a wide range of places such as care homes, hospitals, prisons and schools with ensembles including London Mozart Players and Apollo Chamber Orchestra.
Richard (violin) studied at Birmingham Conservatoire and then as a Countess of Munster Scholar at the Royal College of Music. He is leader of Southern Sinfonia, and has led London Orchestra da Camera, Opera Brava, Chameleon Arts Orchestra, ensembles for Russell Watson and Katherine Jenkins, and been Principal Violin II for Dorset Opera and Neville Holt Opera amongst many others. He has performed with ensembles including BBC Concert, Britten Sinfonia, CBSO, Orchestra of the Swan and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
He has performed with artists such as Gloria Estefan, Neil Sedaka and Jonny Mathis, and enjoys recording all manner of music at iconic locations such as Abbey Road, Air, Olympic and Angel studios. As a committed teacher Richard has formerly held positions at Uppingham School, Benenden School and Epsom College, and has given masterclasses and coached extensively, including at Junior Music Works, St. Paul’s Colet Court, Marryat Players, Rehearsal Orchestra and the National Scouts and Guides Symphony Orchestra.
Richard has performed in many outreach projects with Britain’s leading orchestras, including composition workshops and children’s concerts.
Helen (violin) studied as an exhibition scholar at the Royal Academy of Music. She regularly appears as concerto soloist at St Martin-in-the-Fields and Freemason’s Hall & is the leader of Belmont Ensemble of London and a guest leader of London Musical Arts Orchestra. She also performs with Trafalgar Sinfonia, London Concertante and Oxford Philharmonic. She has played for and recorded with Orchestra Nova for many years, specialising in recording premieres of works by contemporary British composers.
She has broadcast for BBC Radio 3's ‘In tune’ programme and for Scott Matthews as part of the itunes festival. She also was orchestral leader for Goldie when he conducted as part of his TEDx talk entitled ‘How art and music saved my life’.
In 2000 Helen was awarded a prestigious Fellowship of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust enabling her to study with eminent violin professors in New York, including teaching training at the Junior departments of Juilliard and Manhattan Schools of Music and the School for Strings, a specialist Suzuki Method School. Since 1997 Helen has been a violin and viola teacher at Trinity School in Croydon (awarded ‘Best school for music in the UK’ by The Week Magazine in 2013) and for the past decade has also taught advanced students for the Trinity Music Academy.
Emma (violin) studied at the Purcell School, Junior Academy and then the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has a busy orchestral career, playing with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Scottish, the London Mozart Players and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She has worked with Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Pinchas Zukerman, Nicola Benedetti, David Garrett, Lesley Garrett, Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson, Mika, Lemar, Tony Hadley and many more. She has been involved with several film recordings including the London Philharmonic Orchestra recording for “The Lord of the Rings” soundtrack.
Emma has worked on several educational projects with many schools in the London area including composition masterclasses at University College School. She also takes part in regular education projects with orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Brightsparks concert series and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's Blast project, as well as working closely with the schools she teaches at to put on successful performances.
She also has experience in teaching children with special needs; in particular, dyspraxia and autism, and has run music workshops for children with these conditions.
John (violin) trained at Trinity College of Music following a Physics degree at Imperial College. He is a busy freelance violinist in and around London, sharing his time between teaching, freelancing and touring with London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic orchestra amongst others, depping in West End and touring shows including Top Hat, and working with pop musicians both live and in studio, including Professor Green, Emilie Sandé Antony & the Johnsons and Tim Minchin.
A passionate teacher, in schools including Kings College Wimbledon, Kensington Prep and Old Palace of John Whitgift, John has widely led and participated in education projects including working with LSO Education and St Paul’s Sinfonia. John also enjoys coaching the violins and violas of the South London Youth Orchestra.
Claire (viola) studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and then the Royal Academy of Music, and has been guest principal for English National Opera, City of London Sinfonia, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. She has also had the pleasure of playing with London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic amongst others.
She is an enthusiastic chamber musician, having performed with the Brodsky Quartet, London Sinfonietta and at West Cork Chamber music festival, and many other venues and festivals.
A passionate teacher, Claire has taught at the Junior Royal Academy's 'First strings experience' scheme, worked on Liverpool's 'in harmony' project in association with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, worked on projects alongside the City of London Sinfonia and participated in workshops at Wigmore Hall. She currently teaches Viola and Violin and coaches on Pro Corda Junior, intermediate and Senior courses.
Matthew (viola) studied at Chethams School of Music before moving to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for his undergraduate degree. He also holds an International Artist Diploma from the Royal Northern College of Music & was a member of the European Chamber Music Academy where he studied with Hatto Beyerle of the Alban Berg Quartet, and Johannes Meissl. As an orchestral player, Matthew performs with many of the UK leading orchestras including Sinfonia of London, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Aurora Orchestra and Philharmonia. He regularly appears as principal with London Contemporary Orchestra and 12 Ensemble, was guest principal for Heritage Orchestra's 2021 UK Tour and has played co-principal for BBC National Orchestra of Wales. As well as recording regularly for film and television soundtracks, Matthew also enjoys playing in the West End including Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. As a chamber musician, he has given recitals at venues including Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Kings Place, Barbican, Purcell Room and Snape Maltings. He is the recipient of many awards including Royal Philharmonic Society, Park Lane Group, Hattori Foundation and Philharmonia/MMSF.
Mark (viola) studied at York University and the Royal Northern College of Music and now leads a busy freelance career in London being Principal Viola for many crossover artists including Katherine Jenkins, Andrea Boccelli, Alfie Boe and Russell Watson alongside TV and film sessions. He also recorded the score for Victoria Wood’s film “That Day We Sang” (starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton) which aired on BBC2/Boxing Day 2014. His appearances on a Hollywood movie soundtracks include “Anna Karennina” (2013) and “The Theory Of Everything” (Nov 2014) which won the Golden Globe for Best Music Score and was nominated for an Oscar. He can also be heard on many “Sony Award” winning TV Adverts, from Reebok through to Mercedes Benz.
Mark is Principal Viola of the National Symphony Orchestra, a core member of Orchestra Of The Swan and is No.2 for Raymond Gubbay’s London Concert Orchestra, alongside extensive work for the BBC Orchestras. He was also in Katie Melua’s String Quartet alongside touring with a diverse range of pop artists from Peter Gabriel to Goldfrapp.
Mark is also Principal Viola for Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds UK Tours and has deputised on many touring West End Shows including Phantom Of The Opera and Les Miserables.
Léonie ('cello) studied in Moscow, the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London. She has recently been awarded the honour ARAM, Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. Léonie has been Principal with Scottish Opera, Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, Manchester Camerata, Northern Ballet & Orchestra of the Swan, No.2 with the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia and No.3 with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
She has also played as a soloist for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, recorded at Abbey Road and played with artists including Jason Donovan, Shirley Bassey and Jeff Beck as well as performing live on radio around the world including BBC Radio 3 & Radio New Zealand as a soloist & a chamber musician.
Léonie was the 'cellist on the Tori Amos musical “The Light Princess” at the National Theatre in 2013-14. In the West End, she deputised on Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cinderella" until closing and ongoing since 2014, on Disney's "The Lion King".
Léonie has worked as education project leader for TDE, Orchestra of the Swan, the Three Choirs Festival & Ledbury Poetry Festival as well as having set up 3 series of community interactive children's concerts.
Léonie was the adjudicator for the Bedfordshire Young Musician of the Year for 3 years, has frequently been orchestral cello coach at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance & was invited to be guest panel lecturer by Royal College of Music in early 2023. She has also taken masterclass days for the New Zealand Christchurch School of Music and the New Zealand Hawkes Bay Music Society, and been workshop leader for education projects in Christchurch schools which included ‘cello teaching, orchestral sessions and chamber groups.
She has been the ‘cello, improvisation, chamber music and orchestral coach on various Summer Schools for many years, and has lead the ‘cellos and taken sectionals for the UK’s Rehearsal Orchestra every year since 2007. She has also been involved in the Education Outreach programmes with the major London orchestras including the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and English National Opera amongst others, and has participated in workshops in a variety of different institutions varying hugely in age, social background, financial resources, ability and capability of the participants, and have included special needs schools, care homes, hospices and nurseries.
