Violinist Judith Templeman works regularly with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. An English Speaking Union Scholar toTangelwood Music Centre, she led both the Symphony and Opera Orchestras, working under maestros such as Seiji Ozawa and Claudio Abbado. In 1999 she won a Fulbright Award to the Juilliard School where her teacher was world-renowned pedagogue Dorothy Delay. Judith was a Morgenstern Award winner at the 1998 Shell/LSO Competition.
Violinist/Fiddler Donald Grant was born in Roy Bridge, Scotland. Having attended St Mary's Music School, he is currently a student at the Royal Northern College of Music with Christopher Rowland. In his first year he was the winner of both major chamber music prizes, and in 1999 was the runner up in the Norman George prize for violin. As a fiddler he was selected to represent Scotland at the International Pan-Celtic competition in Ireland, at which he went on to win first prize in the band section. He recently headlined at the Fiddle Fest 1999 Festival with Alasdair Fraser.
Violinist Hazel Correa was born in London and studied violin with Simon Cartledge, Detlef Hahn and with Richard Deakin at the Royal Northern College of Music. She has performed extensively in all the London concert halls with ensembles such as National Musicians Symphony Orchestra and Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra. Hazel spent 6 months last year at Kathmandu University Preparatory School in Nepal where she taught classroom singing and English. She is currently teaching and freelancing in London.
Violist Fiona Winning was born in Glasgow and attended St Mary's Music School before going on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music and Manchester University. At the RNCM she won all the prizes for string chamber music and was awarded a Professional Performer's Diploma. She is currently a graduate student at the Juilliard School in New York, studying with Karen Tuttle and Toby Appel. She has performed as soloist/director on both violin and viola and given premieres of diverse contemporary works, including a BBC Composers' Platform. Fiona has recently joined the staff of 'Hands On', a progressive music studio in New York which works with children to promote rhythmic and melodic aural awareness. She is the five-time recipient of the Leonard Friedman Violin Award.
Cellist Donnie Gillan, born in Aberdeen, received scholarships to study at both the Royal College of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music. He currently performs in Scotland with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, with whom he took part in three BBC proms at the Royal Albert Hall, BT Ensemble, Scottish Opera, Hebrides Ensemble, One Voice and various singers and bands. In theatre he has worked as composer/musician with Rain Dog and Grid Iron, and performed with composer David Paul Jones in 'Something There' with Cryptic Productions.
Cellist Gabriel Trop, a recent graduate of Stanford University, is a Fulbright Scholar in the field of German philosophy. Having received three majors in German Studies, Modern Thought Literature, and Philosophy and Religious Studies, a minor in Political Science, and a Master in German Studies, Trop still finds time to play cello in orchestras, chamber groups, and recitals around the world. Trop has played first chair under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen, and performed in all the major cities of Europe as well as Asia. He recently gave a concerto performance with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra.
Composer/Pianist Mathew Fuerst graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy and the Eastman School of Music in both piano and composition, and he is currently working on a Masters degree at Juilliard. Matt made his orchestral debut as piano soloist at the age of seven, and received his first commission at fifteen. This work was subsequently broadcast on National Public Radio. As one of a dozen composers selected to study at the Paris La Schola Cantorum he had the opportunity to study with world-renowned composers Christopher Rouse, Samuel Adler and Robert Beaser. He has been involved in several multi-media projects at Juilliard, including collaboration with dancers and choreographers.