Dara de Cogan became leader of the Irish Youth Orchestra in 1978 and represented his country in the European Community Youth Orchestra. He continued his studies at the Royal College of Music with Jaraslav Vanecek. In 1982 he joined the Hallé Orchestra and became Principal Second Violin in 1986. Alongside his orchestral work, Dara runs his own Irish band, Delginis, and he was the String Coach and Artistic Director for the Hebridean Youth Project Summer Music School. Dara was appointed Head of Strings at Ampleforth College in 2004 and continues coaching various youth orchestras, as well as private individual tuition.

Andrew Watkinson received his musical training at the Guildhall School of Music in London under Erika Klemperer, before spending many years as a member of the Icelandic Symphony and Opera Orchestras. He now lives and plays in the York area, holding a teaching post at the Leeds College of Music and working with the orchestra of the touring opera company Opus1.

Margaret Lamb was co-principal viola with the English National Opera Orchestra for nine years before spending eight years playing for the Philharmonia Orchestra. She moved to a teaching position in York in 1995, and now divides her time between freelance viola playing, teaching, singing, coaching orchestras and examining for Trinity Guildhall.

Sara Gilford started her career as sub-principal `cello at English National Opera, moving some time later to join the BBC Symphony Orchestra. She then free-lanced for many years, primarily with the City of London Sinfonia and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, before becoming an associate member of The Philharmonia. She now teaches and plays in the York area.

Vince Parsonage (Violin/Viola) was born and studied in New Zealand, playing with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra before going to Melbourne, Australia to further his studies at the Victorian College of the Arts.  He has had a number of Australian works written for him and was invited to the 1992 Singapore Arts Festival as the festival’s solo instrumentalist.  In 1990 he received first prize at the Dandenong  International Recital Competition, Australia and he has recorded as a soloist for Radio New Zealand.  Vince is now a member of the Orchestra of Opera North and has also played with the BBCSSO, BBC Philharmonic, RLPO, and the Northern Sinfonia.

Our usual dress, unless alternatives are requested and agreed, is DJs for the men (with purple bow ties and cummerbunds) and black evening wear for the ladies, with a touch of purple.