JACKIE SHAVE
Leader and Artistic Director
Jacqueline Shave is one of the most versatile and dynamic musicians of her generation. She is an acclaimed leader, director and virtuoso chamber musician and is noted for her many collaborations with other musicians and artists of all genres www.jacquelineshave.com
MAGNUS JOHNSTON
Violin
Magnus Johnston is a member of both the Navarra String Quartet and the Aronowitz Ensemble. Aside from his dedication to chamber music, Magnus has been in demand as Guest Leader and Principal of orchestras such as the Royal Opera House, ENO Orchestra, Philharmonia, Britten Sinfonia, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Scottish and Australian Chamber Orchestras.
TOM HANKEY
Violin
Tom is in constant demand as a chamber musician and is a member of the Callino Quartet, the Aronowitz Ensemble and Red Note Ensemble. He has recorded extensively and toured worldwide with these groups.
KATHY SHAVE
Violin
Kath has a reputation as a fine leader, notably leading the Kreisler String Orchestra and English Touring Opera. She now devotes her time to chamber music and is a founder member of the Kentish Piano Trio. She performed a complete Beethoven String Quartet Cycle with sister Jackie on the Hebridean Island of Harris.
BRIDGET DAVEY
Violin
Bridget was a member of the Archaeus Quartet for ten years and made her Wigmore Hall debut in 1995. She has performed several cycles of the complete Beethoven String Quartets. She recently trained as a psychotherapist and now has her own private practice.
CATHY THOMPSON
Violin
Cathy was a member of the Medici String Quartet for many years, then in 2011 she was drawn to different pathways away from the classical music world and co wrote with Ian Brown, bringing commercial and critical success. She continues to write and arrange music, performs and records in the studio, and has just released her first single ‘Love Always Wins’ with Leo Stanford.
MARIJE JOHNSTON
Violin
Dutch violinist Marije Johnston founded the Navarra String Quartet with which she soon went on to win numerous prizes in major international string quartet competitions. With the quartet she toured all over the world and played in venues such as the Sydney Opera House, Concertgebouw and Berlin Konzerthaus and recorded several CDs to critical acclaim. Marije plays a F. Cuypers violin kindly loaned to her by the Nationaal Muziekinstrumenten Fonds in the Netherlands.
CLARE FINNIMORE
Viola
Clare is principal viola of Britten Sinfonia with whom she regularly performs as chamber musician and soloist. She is also violist in the Britten Oboe Quartet. She is professor of Chamber music for senior strings at Saffron Centre for young musicians.
HELEN KAMMINGA
Viola
Helen is a former principal of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and co-principal of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and has appeared as guest principal with many of the UK's orchestras including the London Philharmonic and the Philharmonia. Helen is a member of the Balanescu Quartet and is a regular in London’s recording studios, performing on soundtracks for TV and film, from Downton Abbey to Bond.
KATIE WILKINSON
Viola
Katie studied at the Royal College of Music and subsequently joined the acclaimed Brindisi Quartet with whom she performed extensively at major festivals and concert halls throughout Europe and the US. She was a member of the Balanescu Quartet from 2006-2018 with whom she performed internationally.
ROBERT IRVINE
Cello
Robert is cello professor at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow and was a founder member of the Brindisi Quartet with Jackie. He also founded the Chamber Group of Scotland, the Da Vinci Trio, and is artistic co-director of the Red Note Ensemble. He has recorded and commissioned music extensively, notably releasing a solo cello CD ‘Songs and Lullabies’ with all proceeds going to UNICEF.
JANE FENTON
Cello
Jane was principal cello with the Guildhall String Ensemble and appears as guest principal with many orchestras. She led the cellos in Glyndebourne Touring Opera for eighteen years.
JULIET WELCHMAN
Cello
Juliet's first position was with English National Opera, before moving to Scottish Opera as Principal Cello. She is a member of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and plays regularly with Britten Sinfonia and City of London Sinfonia. She has also recently played with London Sinfonietta and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
JUB DAVIS
Double Bass
Jub’s career has encompassed an extraordinarily wide range of musical styles. He co-founded the radical and dynamic Kreisler String Orchestra, winner of the 1986 Jeunesses Musicales Competition in Belgrade and was a founding member of the Carnival Band, who have recorded and toured extensively with English folk diva Maddy Prior. He has worked with the English National Opera, London Contemporary Dance Theatre, London Mozart Players and London Chamber Orchestra.
BEN RUSSELL
Double Bass
Benjamin joined the London Mozart Players as principal double bass in 2020 and is also a member of the Britten Sinfonia with whom he regularly plays principal bass. He is a regular guest principal of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and City of London Sinfonia. Benjamin has recorded for various pop artists including Ed Sheeran and Snow Patrol as well as playing for tv and film soundtracks.