The Avenas String Quartet

Anya began to play the violin aged 5 and when she was 7 was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has subsequently studied at the Escuela Superior De Musica FAMA, in Madrid and has recently completed a postgraduate diploma in performance (with distinction) at the Royal Academy of Music, where she was awarded the South Square Scholarship to study with the internationally renowned soloists Lydia Mordkovitch and Richard Deakin. Anya now enjoys a varied musical career, recent highlights of which include perfoming Messiaen's Theme et Variations live on BBC radio 3 and also in the Southbank's Messiaen Festival, playing at the 2008 Aldeburgh festival, appearing on South African National Radio as part of the Indaba New Music Festival 2008, playing regularly with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and also playing for West End Shows such as Phantom of the Opera and A Little Night Music. Anya has a passion for chamber music and as a member of the Sollertinsky Piano Trio she combines a busy recital schedule with educational work for the Live Music Now scheme and the Cavatina Chamber Music Trust. Anya also teaches the violin at the Junior Royal Academy of Music and Blackheath High School for Girls.

Originally from Bedfordshire, Kate began studying the cello at the age of 7, and played principal cello in the Bedfordshire Youth Orchestra, Youth Chamber Orchestra and Youth Opera Orchestra for many years. At the age of ten, she received a scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Junior Dept, where she was twice a finalist in the annual Lutine Prize and was awarded the String Prize in her final year. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music under Paul Watkins and Josephine Knight, and graduated in 2004 with a first class honours degree. Kate is an experienced soloist and chamber musician, and has given recitals and workshops around England and across the world. 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. Kate also loves jazz and pop music, and has her own Jazz trio. She has performed on the Parkinson show, Top of the Pops, CDUK and the X Factor, and has toured with Sir Elton John. She also works as a session musician and has performed on film soundtracks and commercial recordings.

Violist Fiona Opie was born in Kent and began studying the violin at age 7 before changing to the viola at 18. She completed her Bachelor of music at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester under the tutelage of Mark Knight. Her further studies have included a year at the Oberlin Conservatory in USA studying with Roger Chase, and a Master’s Degree at McGill University, with Professor Andre Roy. Fiona has received many awards and scholarships for her studies, and has performed solo and chamber recitals in Europe and North America, many of which have been broadcast. Fiona has played as assistant principal with BBC National Orchestra of Wales and works regularly with the London Symphony Orchestra, playing in recordings and performing concerts across the world.

Rebecca began to play the violin at the age of five. She later spent eight years studying under Faith Whiteley at the junior department of the Guildhall School of Music, where she met the other Avenas Quartet members. On leaving the Guildhall Rebecca was awarded the Principal's Prize and second place in the school's Lutine Prize Competition. She then began a seven year course of study with the Russian professor Serguei Fatkouline at his music school in Madrid, the Escuela Superior de Musica FAMA. Since completing her studies Rebecca has worked as a soloist, playing concertos by Saint-Saens, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Bruch with orchestras in the south of England including the Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra. Her freelance work with orchestras has included playing with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and she particularly enjoys playing chamber music, as well as teaching the violin in schools and privately.