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Classical string quartet available to hire for Weddings & Functions.

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Anya Birchall: - Violin

Anya was born in Cambridge, in 1982. When she was 5 she began to learn the violin, taught by her mother. At the age of 7 she was awarded a scholarship to study at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she learnt with Faith Whiteley, Pauline Scott, and subsequently Katharine Gowers.  Anya was 13 when she made her concerto debut, playing Mozart’s third violin concerto with the K239 Chamber Orchestra in Cambridge. At 16, Anya won a concerto prize at Junior Guildhall, which resulted in a performance of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Junior Guildhall Symphony Orchestra.  During her time at Guildhall. Anya formed a duo with Rosie Richardson and they were fortunate to be coached by Peter Norris. They were selected to take part in Master classes with David Dolan (of the Paris Conservatoire) and the Vienna Piano Trio with whom they performed at the Wigmore Hall. In August 2002 they took part in the International Academie of the Moulin d’Ande, again studying with David Dolan and performed the Franck Sonata for Violin and Piano in the final concert. They have also performed in various London venues, including St Martins-in-the-Fields. From 1990-1996 Anya was a member and leader of the National Children’s Orchestra.  At 16 she was invited to participate in a master-course with Serguei Fatkouline, and it is with him that she now studies. Anya is a member of the Escuela Superior de Musica FAMA, Madrid, in the class of Professor Fatkouline. Anya has performed all over the world, most recently in France, Scotland, Hungary and Spain. In May 2004, as part of her duo, she was invited to give a televised performance in the North Cyprus International Music Festival. This was followed by two performances of the Dvorak Violin Concerto in Spain and England. Future engagements include the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Suffolk Sinfonia, and a recital in Romania, whilst in the United Kingdom she is scheduled to give a number of recitals in London, the Midlands and the Alcester Music Festival.




Kate Hetherington: - Cello

Originally from Bedfordshire, Kate began studying the cello at the age of seven. She played principal cello in the Bedfordshire Youth Orchestra, Youth Chamber Orchestra and Youth Opera for many years, and has often performed locally as a soloist, most  recently performing the Boccherini cello concerto with Bedford Sinfonia.  Kate attended the Junior Department of the GSMD from the age of ten, where she was twice a finalist in the annual Lutine Prize and was awarded the String Prize in her final year.  In June 2004 Kate graduated from a four-year degree at the Royal Academy of Music  with a first class honours degree. Whilst there she studied with Paul Watkins and Josephine Knight and, as a member of various string quartets has given recitals around England and in Europe.  As an orchestral musician Kate has performed under Sir Colin Davis, Yan Pascal Tortellier and Sir Charles Mackerras amongst others, in venues including the Royal Festival Hall, the Purcell Room and the Royal Albert Hall. She  has recently returned from playing with Sir Elton John on his latest U.K tour!



Fiona Opie: - Viola


Fiona Opie began studying the piano at age 5 and violin when she was 7 years old at Junior Guildhall.  She switched to viola at the age of 17 when she changed teacher to Mark Knight.  Whilst at Junior Guildhall she was principal viola of the string ensemble, and performed in many venues across London.  She was invited to participate in a work experience scheme with the London Sinfonietta, where she led the violas.  After winning the Barbican Music Shop prize at Junior Guildhall, Fiona continued her studies at the Royal Northern College of Music on a scholarship.   She is currently in her third year working for a BMus degree with Mark Knight.  In the academic year 2003-2004, Fiona studied at the Oberlin Conservatory in America with Roger Chase on a scholarship.  Whilst there, she performed in many concerts and recitals, and was principal viola of the Oberlin Orchestra and Opera Orchestra. Fiona was a member of the National Children's Orchestra for five years, and took part in Pro Corda for four years.  In February 2001 she went on tour to Romania and played Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante with the Arad State Philharmonic.  In November 2002, Fiona was asked to play in an international orchestra in Strasbourg, performing for the European Parliament.  She has played solo, chamber music, and orchestral works all over Europe and in North America.  For three years she has taken part in the 'Summer Music Festival' in Casalmaggiore, Italy.  In August 2004 she was invited to take part in a chamber music program in Ontario, Canada.  At the beginning of December 2004, Fiona auditioned for the BBC Philharmonic access scheme, and was successful.  She will be working with the BBC Philharmonic next year.

 




Rebecca Totterdell: - Violin

Rebecca Totterdell began the violin at the age of five with Paul Hill, a teacher of the Suzuki method in Reading.  She met the other Avenas Quartet members five years later when she began to study with Faith Whiteley at the junior department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.  While at the Guildhall she led the Junior Guildhall String Ensemble for two years which included a tour to the south of Spain to take part in an International Music Festival, and a solo performance of Vaughan Williams' "The Lark Ascending" with the orchestra in St James' church, Piccadilly.  In her final year at the Guildhall she was awarded the Principal's prize, and second place in the Lutine Prize competition.  Rebecca also played with the National Children's Orchestra for three years, and took part in chamber music masterclasses at the Guildhall, including one with David Dolan in the Wigmore Hall. She has performed as a soloist in, amongst other places, the Georgian Theatre, Richmond and The Purcell Room, South Bank, and in 2002 performed with the pianist Lora Dimitrova in a recital to raise money for the National Deaf Children's Society.  Rebecca is now in her sixth year of study with Professor Serguei Fatkouline at his music school, Escuela Superior de Musica, FAMA, in Madrid.  She has performed in concerts in Canterbury, Seville and France with other pupils of the professor,and was also invited to take part in the Ost-West Musikfest in Austria during the summer of 2004.  She regularly plays in orchestral and chamber music concerts. Over the past three years Rebecca has performed the Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens third and Brahms violin concertos with the Deane Sinfonia in her home town, Basingstoke in Hampshire. She performed Beethoven's Romance in F with the Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra in March 2005, and was subsequentally invited to perform Bruch's violin concerto number one with the orchestra in Basingstoke's Anvil in June 2006.
 



Photographs by Lorraine Morris. www.lorrainemorris.com