Violin I

Cleo Annandale is a violinist currently in her third year at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she studies with Yossi Zivoni. Originally from Northampton, she began playing the violin at the age of 7 and progressed steadily through the county’s system of youth orchestras, eventually leading the Northamptonshire County Youth Orchestra in 2015. She was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for two years, during which time she played in many of the country’s most famous concert halls, including; Birmingham Symphony Hall, Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall at the BBC Proms. During her time at RNCM, she has performed in many of the college’s ensembles, including; the RNCM Symphony Orchestra, RNCM Session Orchestra and has recorded with the RNCM String Orchestra. She has also represented the college abroad, in Montepulciano, Italy in summer 2017 and will be performing in Paris in March 2018 as part of the RNCM’s French Connections theme. She has also been awarded a place on the Professional Experience Scheme with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Cleo hopes to continue to develop her playing, both as an orchestral and chamber musician, and hopes to one day become a professional orchestral violinist.

Violin II

Bolton born violinist Matthew Chadbond is currently studying with James Clark at the RNCM and is in his third year. Matthew performs in numerous orchestral projects at the college and also performs with numerous orchestras outside of college. He is a principal player with the Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra. and was leader of the Halle Youth Orchestra between 2014 and 2015. Matthew is currently second violinist in the Cuerda Quartet, and first violinist in the Lomas Clarinet Quintet. He enjoys collaborating with pianist Robert Aston in regular guest soloist appearances across the North West. Matthew plays a 20th century English violin by David Rubio, kindly on loan from the RNCM.

Viola

Nicholas previously attended Junior Royal Northern College of Music and played with the National Children's Orchestra and Halle Youth Orchestra. He is currently in his third year at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester studying under Vicci Wardman, Principal Viola of the Liverpool Philharmonic. He is also working as a freelance orchestral and chamber musician, working closely with Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra. ​ Nicholas is one of the founding members of The Northern String Collective and the Cuerda Quartet. Nicholas has taken part in RNCM Strings Festival for several years and recently played the Bruch String Octet as part of an exciting collaboration with the Solem Quartet. The Northern String Collective is Nicholas' other chamber group and they are currently preparing for an exciting project in Liverpool where they will play in a festival fusing contemporary and classical music. Nicholas has also played in a side by side project with players from the Halle Orchestra and Kinshasa Symphony Orchestra. Nicholas also played as part of "Hot House", at the Royal Opera House which brought together youth organisations from across the country.

Cello

Ellen Porter is a British cellist and studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with Eduardo Vassallo. She previously studied with David Smith and in 2016 she received the RNCM's Annie Fletcher Award. Ellen studies baroque cello with Susan Sheppard, and receives regular coaching from Roger Hamilton, Harvey Davies and Annette Isserlis. In recent years she has also taken part in classes with Hannah Roberts, Guy Johnston, Gillian Thoday, Emma Ferrand and Miklos Perenyi. As Principal Cellist of the CBSO Youth Orchestra she has worked with conductors such as Edward Gardner, Jac Van Steen and Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla. Ellen also plays with a number of Manchester-based orchestras including the Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Universities' Strings Society as well as orchestras and ensembles at the RNCM. Ellen is passionate about music education and outreach work. During the last year she has worked with Global Grooves as part of the LIME Music UK 2017 Festival at Manchester Children's Hospital. She has worked with at RNCM Young Basses, and as a member of Social Staff at the National Children's Orchestras of Great Britain. Ellen currently plays on a Italian style cello dated 2012, and is supported in her further musical study by The Edna Newill Charitable Trust.