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| The Hampstead String Quartet
The musicians that form The Hampstead String Quartet are a group of young, talented, highly classically trained musicians. Below is a list of our quartet players and our reserves, all of which are of equal professional standard and experience, thus whatever the date, we have a selection of musicians ready to perform.
Marianne Beevor Mari anne, the founder and manager of The Hampstead String Quartet, began playing the cello at the age of 7 under Chris Pascoe. For 9 years she was a member of Luton Youth Orchestra and the Bedfordshire County Youth Orchestra, and worked under Michael Rose and Julian Metzger. During this time, Marianne toured extensively abroad, performing in renowned concert venues such as The Royal Albert Hall and Pablo Casals Concert Hall in Montserrat, Spain. In 2006 Marianne began studying Music at City University and Guildhall School of Music, graduating with an honours degree in Music (2:1). Throughout this time, Marianne studied the cello with the renowned soloist Stefan Popov. She was also appointed the position of principal cellist of the City University Symphony Orchestra, with whom she gave regular concerts at the well known Old Street venue, LSO St Lukes; accompanying international soloists such as Amy Dickson, Indre Petrauskaite and Andrew Brownell. Marianne will be returning to City University to do a Masters in Ethnomusicology after being awarded the Robert Anderson Scholarship.
Aisling Higham
 Aisling is a violinist and joint founder of The Hampstead String Quartet. She has been learning the violin for 15 years, most recently studying with Michael Posner of the London Mozart Players. For 10 years she was a member of Bedfordshire County Youth Orchestra and Musicale Young Artists Symphony Orchestra. During this time she toured abroad to Italy and Spain as well as performing in venues such as The Royal Albert Hall and as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. With these orchestras she has had the privilege to perform with the international soloists Tasmin Little, Guy Johnston and Tom Poster. Between 2003 and 2006 she studied at Trinity College of Music, in Greenwich where she performed regularly with a variety of ensembles at venues such as St John Smiths Square, Cadogan Hall and The Blackheath Halls in London. At Trinity she achieved her Associate of Trinity College London diploma, at the age of 18. She now studies medicine at Kings College London, where she is also an active member of the Kings College London Symphony Orchestra. Aisling has been a member of The Hampstead String Quartet since 2007, when it was founded. Aisling co-ordinates the marketing for The Hampstead String Quartet.
Jordan Sian
 Jordan studied the viola under soloist Sarah Jane Bradley; and has been a
prize winner in several music competitions, most recently winning the
Winifred Copperwheat viola award. He has given solo performances in
Austria, France, Poland and across the UK most notably at King’s Place
London. Jordan made his first appearance as soloist with orchestra as a
teenager. In 2009 he attended the European Music Festival for Young
People in Neerpelt where his chamber group won a first prize. In
addition to chamber music performances across Europe including the
Southbank Centre and the Wigmore Hall, Jordan was a member of the
International Chamber Music Academy, Pro Corda. Subsequently, he has
attended master classes with Martin Outram, James Sleigh, Ian Jewel,
Robin Ireland, Wolfgang Redik, Ulrich Schönauer and the legendary Nobuko
Imai.
As a teenager Jordan was principal viola of the
National Youth Strings Academy, University of London Symphony Orchestra,
CBSO Youth Orchestra and Academy and the London Mahler Orchestra. As a
member of the National Youth Orchestra Jordan has played in the Royal
Albert Hall for the BBC Proms and recorded for EMI. He is currently a
scholar at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London under
renowned professor Mark Knight. Jordan plays on a fine viola by Erdesz
and extends his thanks to the Music Students’ Hostel Trust for
supporting his studies.
Jen Williams
 Jen has been a violinist for 19 years and achieved her diploma in performance at the age of 15. Growing up in Wales, Jen performed frequently at County level as principal of the Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra, Greater Gwent Youth String Orchestra and also LSCA Linea Senior Strings. At the age of 13, Jen became one of the youngest members of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (NYOW) in which she remained for 5 years under the direction of Owain Arwel Hughes. With these ensembles she has been given the opportunity to perform, often as a solist, in Italy, Poland, Ireland and Germany; most notably in the International Festival of Youth Music at the magnificent Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin. Furthermore, she has been privileged to perform with Katherine Jenkins and the BBC Symphony Orchestra; with whom she recorded for TV broadcasts and EMI. As a solist, Jen has been successful in several music competitions; her most prestigious awards include Young Musician of South Wales, Rotary Young Musician and winner at the Welsh National Eisteddfod. Prior to joining the Hampstead String Quartet in the summer of 2009, Jen had an array of experience in chamber music performance; regularly playing the violin, piano and viola in quartets and other small instrumental groups, notably performing for the Royal family, Duchess of Gloucester and at venues such as The Royal Albert Hall. She won the Outstanding Performance award on multiple occasions at the National Festival of Music for Youth. Jen attended the University of Bath as a Scholar to study Chemistry. Here, she became involved with the musical theatre society and adopted the role of musical director for performances of Little Shop of Horrors and The Last Five Years. Having graduated in 2009, she pursued her love for science and moved to London to study a PhD in medical research at King’s College London. Playing with The Hampstead String Quartet is an enjoyable time for her and provides a break from her studies.
Deputies
Martin Wray
Martin has toured extensively with different orchestras and performed in various venues across Germany, France and Switzerland, Prague, Tuscany, Berlin and China. Martin’s graduate studies took place at Guildhall School of Music and Drama (2009-present). Martin has won the Jack Petchey Award for 'Contribution to Music in School'. 'Brentwood Talented 100', the ‘JP Morgan Foundation String Prize at the Havering Young Musician of the Year contest’ and ‘Leigh on Sea Music Festival’.
Elizabeth Goodall
Elizabeth began violin lessons at the age of six at junior school. A few years later she joined the Nottingham Youth Training Orchestra and moved up to play with the Nottingham Youth Orchestra at the age of 14, as one of its youngest players. As a member of this 80-piece ensemble she was able to tackle the majority of significant orchestral works including, Shostakovich Symphonies, 5 and 10, Carmina Burana by Carl Orff and Rachmaninoff's second symphony. Elizabeth led the orchestra in her final year and enjoyed touring with this group to Spain, Italy and Edinburgh. She also led the Nottingham Youth String Orchestra during this time and played in several string quartets for weddings and functions whilst at school. As music was such a passion of hers she went on to read Music theory at Cambridge University, Newnham College from where she graduated in 2008. During her time at university, she broadened her violin technique to include folk music, playing regularly with the Cambridge University Ceilidh Band. Elizabeth plays an instrument made for her by her Grandmother in the year 2000. She now works as a researcher to a member of the Shadow Cabinet but plays her violin as much as she can.
Rebecca Garrard
Rebecca graduated from Kings College London with a 2:1 in music. Having gained a scholarship at Aylesbury Music Centre at the age of 12, and becoming a two times finalist at the Music Centres Soloist Competition, Rebecca went on to become leader of both the Buckinghamshire County Youth Orchestra and Aylesbury Youth Orchestra. Since moving to London in 2007 Rebecca has studied violin and piano under Chris Hopkins at the Royal Academy of Music. She is also an active member of King’s College Symphony Orchestra and has plays for numerous shows with the two college theatre groups. Rebecca is also an accomplished clarinet and saxophonist and in her spare time enjoys playing with the college Big Band and Concert Band. 
Rachel Lanskey Louisa Hall Jenny Coombes | |
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