David Watkin David Watkin read Music at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge whilst studying the cello with William Pleeth and singing with Kenneth Bowen. He was a Shell/LSO Finalist, received the Bulgin Medal and was Principal cello in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
As a cellist he has made a wide range of acclaimed recordings including Sonatas by Vivaldi (Hyperion) Beethoven (Chandos) and Francis Pott (Guild), Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante with OAE (Virgin) and Schubert Quintet with the Tokyo Quartet (hmusa). He has been a soloist at Wigmore Hall, Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York and performed the Schumann Concerto with Sir John Eliot Gardiner and ORR at Lincoln Center, New York. As a guest artist, he has collaborated with, among others, Robert Levin, Nicola Benedetti and Fredericka von Stade.
David Watkin read Music at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge whilst studying the cello with William Pleeth and singing with Kenneth Bowen. He was a Shell/LSO Finalist, received the Bulgin Medal and was Principal cello in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
As a cellist he has made a wide range of acclaimed recordings including Sonatas by Vivaldi (Hyperion) Beethoven (Chandos) and Francis Pott (Guild), Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante with OAE (Virgin) and Schubert Quintet with the Tokyo Quartet (hmusa). He has been a soloist at Wigmore Hall, Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York and performed the Schumann Concerto with Sir John Eliot Gardiner and ORR at Lincoln Center, New York. As a guest artist, he has collaborated with, among others, Robert Levin, Nicola Benedetti and Fredericka von Stade.
He has written widely about performance practice (Early Music, The Strad, CUP), and served as a juror twice at the Leipzig Bach Competition and for the Eurovision Young Musician.
He now focuses on conducting and teaching, and has conducted groups including the Academy of Ancient Music, Britten Sinfonia, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the European Union Youth Orchestra, and is artistic director of St Endellion Easter Festival. In 2016 he was appointed Professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Iwan Llewelyn-Jones Iwan Llewelyn-Jones has firmly established himself as one of the finest pianists of his generation. He has performed at many of the world’s prestigious concert halls including the Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Leipzig Gewandhaus, and the Sydney Opera House.
Iwan Llewelyn-Jones has firmly established himself as one of the finest pianists of his generation. He has performed at many of the world’s prestigious concert halls including the Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Leipzig Gewandhaus, and the Sydney Opera House.
His piano students have graduated from the top music institutions in the UK, including the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Trinity Laban, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
Iwan was the Artistic Director of the 2016 and 2021 Wales International Piano Festivals. He has been the recipient of several awards and honours, including the Sir Geraint Evans Award in recognition of his significant contribution to Welsh music. Iwan is a Steinway Artist and is Director of Music Performance at Bangor University.
Katy Ayling Katy Ayling graduated with a Masters degree from the Royal Academy of Music in 2009 where she won the Buffet Crampon clarinet prize. She then went on to train with the Southbank Sinfonia before embarking on a freelance career.
Katy Ayling graduated with a Masters degree from the Royal Academy of Music in 2009 where she won the Buffet Crampon clarinet prize. She then went on to train with the Southbank Sinfonia before embarking on a freelance career.
In 2014 she was appointed principal bass clarinet of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and continues to freelance alongside her position (also on clarinet) with other orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and London Sinfonietta.
Her performance work also includes recording for film and television, as well as chamber ensembles including the London Winds ensemble.
Alongside her performance career Katy is also involved in education work and has also coached wind ensembles at both the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music. She has also given masterclasses and adjudicated recitals at the Royal Academy of Music where she was made an Associate in light of her musical achievements in 2015.