Four talented musicians bring us music by Mozart and Dvorak, as well as pieces composed by pianist Louis Mander.
PROGRAMME
Mozart Piano Quartet No.1 in G minor K.478
Mander Zapateado, Idyll & Scherzetto
Dvorak Theme & Variations from Piano Quartet No.1 in D major Op. 23
PERFORMERS
Violin – Wendy Clark
Viola – Rebecca Saunders
Cello – Imogen Seth-Smtih
Piano – Louis Mander
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
Wendy Clark – Violin
Wendy was born in London. She is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music where she studied violin with Alla Sharova and Trevor Williams, viola with Alexander Taylor and chamber music with Sydney Griller and from where, in 2003, she was awarded an ARAM.
She recently returned to the UK from Greece where she lived and worked for nearly 30 years. As well as bringing up her two children she also taught the violin, coached youth orchestras, gave chamber music recitals and was a member of the Athens State Symphony Orchestra for 25 years. She still returns to Greece to adjudicate music competitions and to mentor the youth string ensemble “ENA” that she founded there.
Wendy is passionate both about teaching and performing. She teaches the violin and viola at Beaudesert Park School as well as privately and organises regular meetings of “Swindon Strings” an opportunity for amateur string players to meet and play.
She is a member of the Highclere String Quartet as well as the Beaudesert Piano Quartet and leads the Newbury Symphony Orchestra. She also performs regularly with the Swindon Symphony Orchestra, North Wilts Symphony Orchestra, Marlborough Concert Orchestra and Truro Symphony Orchestra.
Rebecca Saunders – Viola
Rebecca read music at Cardiff University and upon graduating was awarded the Neville John Strings Prize for her outstanding contribution to music making. Whilst studying the viola at Cardiff with Philip Heyman (WNO), Rebecca led sections in the Symphony, Chamber and String orchestras and performed chamber music on a regular basis in both string quartets and piano quintets. In addition, Rebecca’s orchestral experience includes performing with the CBSO Youth Orchestra, Cardiff Sinfonietta and North Wiltshire Symphony Orchestra. More recently, Rebecca has studied viola under the tutelage of Philip Dukes. During her time as Associate Conductor of the Malmesbury Abbey choir,
Rebecca conducted a wide range of choral music, including a world premiere of Nico Muhly’s ‘Malmesbury Motets’ in 2016.
Following her undergraduate studies, Rebecca studied for a PGCE (Music). Having held teaching posts in senior schools, Rebecca took up the position of Director of Music at St Francis School, Wiltshire; here she developed a passion for inspiring young musicians of a prep school age. Currently, she is Director of Music and Head of Scholarship & Challenge (Arts) at Beaudesert Park School in Gloucestershire, managing a thriving music department with a wide range of ensembles, 17 visiting instrumental teachers and a full calendar of performance opportunities for all children. She is passionate about encouraging children of all abilities to fully develop their musicianship and gain experience as performers and composers.
Imogen Seth-Smith – Cello
Having read music at York University, Imogen went on to study baroque cello at the Konninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague where she was a pupil of Richte van de Meer. She complemented these studies by continuing to study the viola da gamba, an instrument that she had started at York.
Since returning to Britain in 1986 she has played regularly with many of the leading period instrument orchestras here including Academy of Ancient Music, The Orchestra of the Sixteen, Florilegium and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. She is also active as a chamber musician both on cello and gamba and as such has recorded for Virgin Veritas, Musicaphon, Gamut, ASV, Somm and Riverrun recording labels. Imogen teaches Baroque Cello at Birmingham Conservatoire.
Louis Mander
British composer & pianist Louis Mander trained at The Royal College of Music in London and Birmingham University. His music is internationally performed and includes a prolific output of chamber opera, vocal music, and music for film. A Rondel of Gloucestershire will be premiered by Baritone Roderick Williams in 2021. Recent commissions include a full-length opera The Life to Come with a libretto by Stephen Fry and a new musical based on Peter Pan with book & lyrics by Pam Ayres. As an accompanist and recitalist, Louis has collaborated with singers and instrumentalists alike, including baritone Rodney Earl Clarke, David Jones, mezzo-soprano Maria Jagusz and cellist Patrick Johnson. In 2011 whilst living in London Louis co-founded the Crescent Piano Trio and now, the newly formed Gloucestershire-based Beaudesert Piano Quartet.
