Helen Clissold, Violin

Helen graduated from Goldsmiths College, University of London, with a BMus (Hons) degree, and subsequently gained a Diploma at the National Centre for Orchestral Studies.

Following a season in an orchestra in Germany, Helen returned to the UK to pursue a career as a freelance violinist and teacher. She plays professionally in a wide variety of orchestras and ensembles, and has been a member of Chameleon Arts Orchestra since 1991.

Andrew Harper, Violin

Andrew has performed with many of the top orchestras in the UK and Europe for 35 years, and as an educator has been a Head of Strings and has taught at conservatoire level.

Tim Robinson, Violin

Tim’s musical training on violin and viola took place at Trinity College of Music. As a soloist he has given recitals in venues such as Queen Elizabeth Hall and St. Martin In the Fields.

Tim is first violinist with the Wilton String Quartet which gives recitals in London and the South East. He is also in demand as a freelance orchestral player, playing regularly with numerous orchestras in London and around the UK.

Helen Stanley, Violin

Helen studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and post-graduate with Fred Grinke including masterclasses at Snape Maltings and Dartington. She has a varied career of orchestral and chamber-playing in London and countrywide, playing in ensembles in Aldeburgh and Lincoln.

Helen’s orchestral playing includes the Lincolnshire Chamber Orchestra, and she loves working with singers, so oratorio and concert performances of opera are a great joy.

Helen Twomey, Violin

Since graduating from Trinity College of Music in London, Helen has performed and recorded with singer-songwriters, a piano trio, symphony orchestras and choral societies.

She has played live on radio for BBC Radio Kent, TalkSport 1089AM and Resonance FM and has held recitals as a soloist and with The Darwin Piano trio.

Stephanie Waite, Violin

Stephanie had an unusual path to becoming a working musician. Following studies at Junior Guildhall and Cambridge University, she worked as a teacher in one of London’s largest prisons, also running arts projects with inmates.

Stephanie now enjoys a diverse career as a violinist, performing in many orchestras, travelling the world, and playing chamber music.

Julius Bannister, Viola

Julius Bannister studied in London and has played for West End Shows, has recorded in excess of 5,000 soundtracks, for movies & TV, pop tunes and commercial jingles, in addition to visiting four continents with The London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestras.

Celine Barry, Cello

Celine studied cello at the Royal Academy of Music and then at Trinity College, Dublin. She received an Arts Council of Ireland Award towards Postgraduate studies in London. 

Celine is a freelance orchestral musician, music teacher and chamber musician. She has worked with the RTE National symphony orchestra of Ireland, Longborough and Birmingham opera companies and is a member of the Belmont Ensemble of London. She has taken part in several sessions at Abbey Road Studios. 

Dan Burrowes, Cello

Dan studied the cello at the Junior Guildhall, the Kent Music Academy, the University of Leeds, Trinity College of Music and Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Dan has performed with many ensembles including the English National Ballet and National Symphony Orchestra. He also performs regularly in West End theatres. Dan is active in a number of chamber ensembles, and is artistic director of the Stretto Ensembles.

Anna Chalmers, Cello

Anna grew up on the West coast of Scotland. When she was 14 she was given a place at a specialist music school there to study cello and viola da gamba. She left Scotland at 17 to attend the GSMD in London. 

Anna teaches cello at Oundle School, where she lives and is a regular section tutor for the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, which she is passionate about. She enjoys fencing in her spare time.

Louise Dearsley, Cello

Louise studied cello at the Royal College of Music, and was a full-time member of the RTE National Symphony Orchestra in Dublin.  Now based in London, she performs regularly with orchestras such as BBC Symphony and Bournemouth Symphony, and groups including the London Soloists Chamber Ensemble, Belmont Ensemble, Southern Pro Arte, Southern Pro Musica and London Concertante.  

Theatre work includes touring opera companies, West End shows and productions at the National Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and Birmingham Rep.

David Kadumukasa, Cello

David is a London based freelance cellist and teacher. Since graduating from the University of Manchester and Royal College of Music he has played with orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the recently founded Chineke! Orchestra.

As soloist David has performed Dvorak, Elgar & Panufnik cello concertos. He has also performed in numerous theatre productions including at the National Theatre and on tour in countries such as the USA, Brazil, China and various countries in Europe.

Catherine Ricketts, Double Bass

Catherine Ricketts is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music. Her professional career started with touring musicals, Opera 80, Ballet Rambert and London City Ballet.

Catherine has performed with early music orchestras from the Hannover Band to the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and freelanced with the London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic orchestras and also at the Royal Opera House. She has been Sub-Principal Bass of the English National Ballet Philharmonic since 1990.

Lucy Rundle, Double Bass

Lucy studied at the Royal College of Music. Her work as a freelance double bass player includes performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra in Norway.

Lucy taught double bass at the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She also plays in folk and barn dance bands, and once appeared on the big screen as an extra in “Gulliver’s Travels,” playing the cello!