The Players

Nicola Rainger (violin) studied music at Oxford University receiving violin tuition from David Takeno and Adrian Levine. She now freelances in the York and Leeds area, and also teaches the violin and viola at The Minster School and St. Peter's School, York. In addition she leads the orchestra for York Musical Society and plays in The Field Quartet and the York Guildhall Orchestra.

Fiona Love (violin) trained at the Royal College of Music where she studied violin and piano. After a year with the Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet orchestra, she became a founder member of Opera North, leaving ten years later after her second son was born. Since then she has enjoyed a freelance career working with orchestras including BBC Philharmonic and Concert orchestras, Manchester Camerata, Northern Sinfonia, the Halle and Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras, as well as popping back in to Opera North regularly. Fiona leads the York Guildhall Orchestra, is a tutor for the Leeds Youth Orchestra and has coached chamber music courses at Leeds College of Music.

Wendy Dyson (Violin) studied with Tessa Robbins-Khambatta at the Royal College of Music and graduated with honours. She has pursued a career principally as an orchestral musician and has worked with the CBSO, the RLPO, The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta, and the European Chamber Orchestra under Claudio Scimone. She is currently a member of the Orchestra of Opera North. Wendy has given numerous recitals throughout the UK and abroad, and also teaches the violin at Leeds University.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sally Ladds ('Cello) studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. Since graduating in 1991 she has established herself as a freelance cellist in much demand, and has worked with Northern Ballet, The Manchester Camerata, The Manchester Concert Orchestra, The Northern Sinfonia and Opera North. She also teaches the 'cello at Leeds Grammar School.

Tamsin Symons (Violin) studied the violin at Manchester University and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Immediately following this she worked with various orchestras including the BBC Concert Orchestra, RSNO and Scottish Ballet, and she has now been a member of Opera North Orchestra for the past thirteen years. Alongside her orchestral career she also gives regular recitals with her pianist father, and has numerous chamber music and teaching commitments.

Dress

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