Alumni

Judith Busbridge | Viola

Judith graduated in Music from Birmingham University and completed her viola studies with Thomas Riebl in Salzburg, where she was solo violist in the Camerata Academica under the directorship of Sándor Végh.

In September 2013 Judith joined the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as one of their principal violas. She has a busy schedule playing for the Opera season as well as for the productions of the Royal Ballet.

As a former member of two multi-award-winning chamber music ensembles; the Dante String Quartet and Ensemble 360, Judith has performed at major concert halls and festivals throughout the UK and Europe, regularly broadcasting on BBC Radio 3 and winning the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Chamber Music both in 2007 and 2013

Her varied freelance career includes being Principal Viola in the London Mozart Players as well as playing guest principal viola with the ECO, the Philharmonia Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, The London Symphony Orchestra and The Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

She is also solo viola in John Eliot Gardiner’s Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, which performs repertoire of nineteenth and early twentieth centuries on period instruments.

Carol Cook | Violin

Carol Cook, a native of Scotland, is the newly appointed principal violist with the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra, and has appeared as both a soloist and chamber musician in concert halls worldwide. Last season, she performed alongside violinist David Perry as the viola soloist with the Chicago Philharmonic. In addition, Cook performs frequently with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and has also appeared with the New York Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra. She toured as guest principal violist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra throughout Australia and New Zealand, and is a current member of the Rembrandt Chamber Players as well as the newly formed string trio, Dorel Ensemble.

Cook is a former member of the Appalachia Waltz Trio with Grammy Award-winning violinist Mark O'Connor. The trio toured extensively throughout the US and released an album entitled Crossing Bridges. Cook holds a Masters Degree from the Juilliard School, where she studied with Toby Appel and Hsin-Yun Huang, as well as an Artist Diploma from Oberlin, where she studied with Roland Vamos. She holds a Bachelor Degree from Guildhall School in London, under the instruction of David Takeno. When she is not playing her viola, Cook loves to golf and ride her road bike.

Euan Duncan | Chorister

Euan was a chorister with the cathedral choir in the early 1980s.  Although music has always been a big part of his life, and has undoubtedly contributed to his opportunities and the choices he has made, it has not featured in his professional career.  Following a degree in Theology from Durham University, Euan worked for a bank for a short spell before turning to teaching.  Since 1994 he has worked in North Ayrshire, first as a teacher of Religious and Moral Education and then as a Principal Teacher of Pastoral Support.  He still plays 'cello and is presently looking for the time and an opportunity to participate in a small choir.

A member of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA), one of Scotland's principal teaching unions, Euan took up the role of school representative early in his career.   For a number of years he has been a member of SSTA Council and National Executive.  As Convener of the SSTA’s Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee he represented the SSTA at the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers.  In 2015 he was elected as SSTA President, a role which has enabled him to lead association discussions on teachers' professional and contractual matters and to influence national and international educational developments.

Neil Ertz | Violin

Staff, pupils and former pupils were saddened to learn of Neil’s death on 5 October 2016.

The following obituary appeared in The Strad on 6 October 2016 and is reproduced here with permission.

British luthier Neil Kristóf Értz died on 5 October at the age of 50. A respected maker and restorer, he was also well known as a teacher of violin making, and had been a contributor to The Strad.

Born in 1966 in Scotland, Értz studied the violin and viola at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh, before attending the Newark School of Violin Making from 1983–86. He then worked at various workshops across Europe, including three years at Geigenbau Machold (1988–91), alongside Roger Hargrave. Following a year working in France, he and Hargrave worked together in Myenburg, Germany, for five years (1992–97), making new instruments and researching the methods of the old Italians, in particular those of Guarneri ‘del Gesù’. This research was used in the 1994 exhibition of ‘del Gesù’ instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the subsequent publication Violin Masterpieces of Guarneri del Gesù in the same year.

Értz opened his own workshop in Cambridge, UK, in 1997 and returned to Edinburgh in 2009. Among other projects, he repaired several instruments used by the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq when it visited Edinburgh in 2012, and gave lectures at the National Violin Making School in Querétaro, Mexico. An instrument made by Értz won first prize at the inaugural Querétaro International Violin Making Competition. He was a regular attendee at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, where his instruments were displayed alongside those of other contemporary makers. His article on making violin ribs appeared in the June 2006 edition of The Strad.

‘Neil was incredibly intelligent, with a phenomenal memory,’ Roger Hargrave recalls. ‘I once asked him if he remembered an article I’d written for The Strad ten years ago, and he immediately said, “Yes, it was on page 1302!” I thought he was joking but it turned out he was right, and he could remember any article I asked about afterwards. He worked with me unstintingly on the Guarneri book, although his name never appeared in it. He was an unsung hero of the violin world.’

www.ertz-violins.com

David Gargaro | Conductor

British conductor, David Gargaro currently holds the position of Principal Guest Conductor of the New Fine Arts Ensemble in South Korea and Staff Conductor of the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia. In addition, he has previously held posts with Opera Philadelphia, and New York Youth Symphony.

This season, David was invited to conduct the BBC Symphony, London Mozart Players, and Hilliard Ensemble and in addition was selected as one of sixteen competitors in the Cyprus International Conducting Competition. This season saw David as a finalist for the American Conducting Prize and semi finalist in the prestigious League of American Orchestras Bruno Walter Conductor Preview.

David has conducted orchestras such as the Virginia Symphony, New World Symphony, Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra and Chorus, Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic, Cincinnati Philharmonia, Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, New York Youth Symphony, UCLA Philharmonia, New York Women in Music Festival Orchestra, Genovian Philharmonia, Cincinnati Concert Orchestra, Oistrach Symphony Orchestra, Bard Conservatory Orchestra, and Eastman Graduate Orchestra. David has conducted in masterclasses for Michael Tilson Thomas, Helmuth Rilling, JoAnn Falletta, Gustav Meier, Kenneth Kiesler, Leon Botstein, Cliff Colnot, Jorge Mester, Kirk Trevor, David Effron, David Loebel, Mark Gibson, Markand Thakar, Apo Hsu, and Donald Schleicher.

Born in Germany, David began his musical studies at St. Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh, Scotland where he studied trumpet with Marcus Pope and piano with John Cameron. In 2005, David accepted a scholarship to study trumpet at Eastman School of Music with James Thompson and orchestral conducting with Brad Lubman. David also holds an MM in Orchestral Conducting from Bard Conservatory of Music where he studied with esteemed mentor Harold Farberman. David has been the recipient of several prestigious scholarships including the Howard Hanson Scholarship, Dewar Arts Awards Grant, Bagby Foundation Grant, Hope Scott Trust Grant, and Bard Conducting Scholarship among others.

Performances on trumpet with over one hundred ensembles include: Meadows Chamber Orchestra, Edinburgh Symphony Baroque Orchestra, Brighton Symphony Orchestra, Edinburgh Grand Opera Company, Ossia, Musica Nova, Riverdale Choral Society, Lansdowne Symphony, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Opera & Philharmonia, National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, and the Lowland Band of the Scottish Division.David has performed in trumpet masterclasses for Niklas Eklund, Mark Gould, Patrick Addinall, John Gracie, Robert Early, John Kenny, Todd J. Hastings, Angela Whelan, Marc O'Keefe, and James Chamberlain.

Live radio broadcasts include WXXI in the Live from Hochstein Concert Series and special appearances have included performing the American National Anthem at the Edinburgh celebrations marking the 229th anniversary of American Independence at the invitation of American Ambassador Cecile Shea and two invitations to perform for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Holyrood Palace. In 2005 David was awarded 1st place in the prestigious Scottish Concerto Competition.

www.davidgargaro.co.uk

Chris Guild | Piano

Scottish pianist Christopher Guild is in demand as a recital artist, concerto soloist and collaborative pianist, with concert engagements taking him across the UK.

Performances have included those given at St James’s Piccadilly, the Wigmore Hall and St John’s, Smith Square, as well as numerous recitals for music societies under the auspices of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.  Christopher’s concerto appearances have seen him work with conductors such as Sian Edwards, as well as with numerous non-professional orchestras.  He has recorded CDs for Champs Hill Records, with violinist Diana Galvydyte, and for Toccata Classics, as a soloist and with violist Elena Artamonova.

"The rhythmic vivacity and crispness of his delivery, the subtlety of his pedalling, the incisiveness of attack with never a hint of heaviness, and his range of keyboard colour are such that I’m sure the composer himself would have applauded... All in all this is a splendid achievement." - Calum MacDonald, International Record Review.

As a chamber musician and ensemble musician, Christopher appeared as a Park Lane Group Young Artist at London’s QEH Purcell Room, and the Wigmore Hall, and was also a Parkhouse Award finalist in 2013 with Diana Galvydyte.  He has worked with the composer Judith Weir towards performances of her solo piano workThe Art of Touching the Keyboard and the British premiere of her piece for mixed ensemble,Blue Green Hill.  Christopher has appeared live as a collaboartive pianist on BBC Radio 3's 'In Tune' and his performance of Haydn's B minor Sonata at the Purcell Room for the Park Lane Group in 2015 has also been broadcast by Radio 3.  Christopher has also appeared at the Royal Greenwich International String Quartet Festival (2013) with the Benyounes Quartet.  He has also appeared as an orchestral keyboardist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and City of London Sinfonia in works by Schnittke, Philip Glass (the European Premiere of Icarus at the Edge of Time) and Franz Schreker.  His repertoire is far-ranging, from the sonatas of Beethoven, through Stockhausen and Carter to the present day.

"A naturally creative and innovatory musician ... Such pianists are rare ... He is a wonderful advocate for new music." - Royal College of Music, London

Born in Scotland in 1986, Christopher Guild studied piano and violin locally before entering St Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh aged 13. He took top honours in the Moray Piano Competition 2001 - he remains the youngest winner to this day.  Christopher entered the Royal College of Music in 2005 as a Foundation Scholar and studied for six years with Andrew Ball, gaining a First Class BMus (Hons), and the MMus and Artist Diploma with Distinction.  He went on to be the Richard Carne Junior Fellowship in Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance 2012-13.  Christopher now combines performing and recording with extensive teaching commitments, at Junior Trinity in London and the Godolphin School in Salisbury.

Christopher acknowledges the following for the invaluable support received during his studies at the RCM: Dewar Arts Awards, the Robertson Scholarship Trust, the Alistair Maclachlan Memorial Trust, the Cross Trust, The Royal Caledonian Schools Trust, the Hope Scott Trust, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarships Trust, the RCM Foundation, a Michael Whittaker Scholarship, and an Ian Fleming Award Award (Musician's Benevolent Fund).

www.christopherguild.co.uk

Philip Higham | Cello

Philip Higham has been described as ‘possessing that rare combination of refined technique with subtle and expressive musicianship… all the qualities of a world-class artist’ (The Strad). Already in high demand, in recent years Philip has appeared as soloist with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Hallé Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. He has given recitals at the Wigmore Hall, St. John’s Smith Square, Brighton Festival, the City of London Festival and Lichfield Festival as well as debuts further afield in Germany and Istanbul.

His USA debut at the Phillips Collection in Washington received high praise in the Washington Post. Already regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Philip has also recorded an acclaimed disc of the Britten Solo Suites (Delphian Records), which won the title of ‘Instrumental disc of the month’ in Gramophone Magazine. In 2015 sees Philip’s recording of the complete Bach Suites was released to critical acclaim, and was preceded by complete performances of the suites at the Musashino Cultural Foundation in Tokyo, and here at the Oriental Club.

Future performances of the suites take place at the Bath Festival 2016 and at Wigmore Hall in 2017. Philip plays a fine Milanese cello by Carlo Giuseppe Testore, made in 1697, and is grateful for continued support from Harriet’s Trust.

Prizes:

• 1st Prize - 16th International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition, Leipzig, 2008
• 1st Prize - 7th International Lutoslawski Competition, Warsaw, 2009
• 2nd Prize - Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann, Berlin, 2010

www.philiphigham.com

Patrick Kenny | Trombone

Born into a musical family, Patrick played piano and recorder from an early age, took up trombone aged 11, and was also a chorister at Old St Paul’s in Edinburgh, Scotland’s oldest “sang school”. He studied at St Mary’s Music School, and in his final year also obtained the Advanced Jazz Diploma of St Andrew’s University, before going on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, where his studies were generously supported by the Donald Dewar Trust, the Cross Trust, and was also awarded and Erasmus Foundation Scholarship which enabled him to undertake a period of study at the Paris Conservatoire.

Patrick’s musical interests have always been very broad, ranging from jazz to classical, early music to the avant-garde and popular. Patrick is currently based in London, working as a freelance trombonist, brass teacher, composer and arranger working across a wide variety of genres and has performed and recorded with many leading artists, including Boy George, The Heritage Orchestra (Goldie and Sparks), European Jazz Orchestra, Peter Andre (Big Night tour 2014), London Jazz Orchestra, Scrouge (UK tour), Venetian Casino Macau (In house band 2013), Michelle Burke and James Ross (Celtic Connections 2015), Grand Union Orchestra, Brighton Early Music Festival, Gizelle Smith, Jesus Cutinio, Chaconne Oscavaldez, Femi Lance Omole, Cuban combination, Future Dub Project, The Boom Yea, Gypsy Hill, Brassroots, Riot Jazz, The Coalminers, Ma’Grass, Mimika Ensemble and many more, Pandora’s Box, Setbual Festival (Portugal) and Galway Early Music Festival. Patrick also plays the Carnyx, A 2,000 year old Celtic war horn (of which only two reconstructed examples exist) performing at events including the opening ceremony of the Derry Year of Culture in Ireland, the televised celebrations for the re-opening the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, and final concert of the Belladum Festival 2014. In 2014 he was invited to become a member of the European Music Archaeology Project (EMAP).

His classical ensemble experience has included Music Theatre Wales, The London Sinfonietta Academy, Dartington Festival Orchestra, Aurora Festival Orchestra Sweden and the Chipping Campden Orchestra. He was also a semi Finalist in the BBC Young Brass Musician of the Year 2010, and has performed at the Mumbai International Festival, International Jazz Conference in Toronto, and as a Young Artist at the International Trombone Festival, Beijing. Since 2013 Patrick has pursued an advanced study project, generously sponsored by the Musicians Benevolent Fund, which has enabled him to meet and study with leading trombonists across Europe and the USA in the fields of jazz, classical and early music.

As a teacher, Patrick holds a BMus Degree in classical performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Advanced Jazz Diploma of St Andrew's University and teaches Trumpet, Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, Cornet and all recorders as well as Trombone.

As a professional performer and improviser on trombone, sackbut and recorder he brings a wealth of practical experience and enthusiasm to his teaching at every level, from beginner to advanced individual instrumental tuition. As well as private music tuition Patrick has been employed as a member of staff for Eaton Square School (recorder), Camden Music Service (Brass and Recorder), Lambeth Music service (Brass) and Avanti House Primary School(Recorder). As an ensemble coach he has taught for the Maltese Big Band, and given workshops with the Brighton Early Music Festival and The Grand Union Orchestra.

'Such an enlightening and interesting one to one session and overall jazz trombone performance course with Patrick Kenny.' - Jesmond Azzopardi - Bass Trombone of the Maltese Philharmonic Orchestra.