Sacconi
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"Live music for corporate dinners and receptions, weddings, parties, and all other functions" Formed in 2001 at the Royal College of Music, the Sacconi String Quartet is rapidly gaining an enviable reputation as one of the outstanding quartets of their generation. Last year the Quartet won 2nd Prize at the 2006 London International String Quartet Competition, along with the Esterhazy Prize & Sydney Griller Award, following their 1st Prize win in the 2005 Trondheim International String Quartet Competition. They also won the Kurtag Prize at the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition, 1st Prize in the Royal Over-Seas League chamber music competition and were shortlisted for a Royal Philharmonic Society award. In May 2006 the Quartet was selected for representation by Young Concert Artists Trust (YCAT), and in August 2006 was awarded an Angel Award by The Herald newspaper for outstanding performances in the Edinburgh Festival.
This season, plans include a series of concerts in Switzerland, and recitals in the Musikverein in Vienna and in the prestigious Liceo da Cámara series in Madrid. The Quartet will also tour throughout the UK with Acoustic Triangle, the renowned classical-jazz trio, performing written and improvised music in some of the country’s most spectacular cathedrals and abbeys. The Quartet’s recording of Finzi’s song cycle By Footpath and Stile with baritone Roderick Williams was released on Naxos in 2006 and received four- and five-star reviews in all the national broadsheets and BBC Music Magazine. In 2007 the Quartet gave the world premiere of John Metcalf’s first string quartet, and in 2008 will give the world premiere of Robin Holloway’s String Quartet No.2. The Sacconi Quartet is a member of the Royal College of Music’s New Generation Scheme, supported by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. They pursue a keen interest in education work, collaborating with the Cavatina Chamber Music Trust and others, making regular visits to schools, hospitals and community venues. If you would like a written quote, click here.
or EMAIL us Ben Hancox Violin I Ben Hancox has played the violin since the age of four. In 1997 he became a student of Serguei Fatkouline, studying in Madrid and Bonn. Last year he entered the third year of the Royal College of Music, where he now studies with Felix Andrievsky. Here, he has recently won the Helen Just violin prize and been awarded scholarships to study at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Ben has given many solo and chamber music recitals in this country and abroad. Last year he performed concerti by Bach, Haydn and Bruch and gave a performance of The Lark Ascending with the Kent Sinfonia. He has recently performed the Bach Double Violin Concerto with Maidstone Symphony Orchestra and has given recitals in the 2002 Sounds New Festival and in the Metrolpole Arts Centre. He was also soloist with the Kent County Youth Orchestra on their Summer tour to Florence, performing the Bruch G minor concerto. Ben has a long-standing partnership with the Bulgarian pianist Lora Dimitrova, and together they have given many performances, most recently at festivals in Swale, Deal and Aberystwyth. Ben plays a Testori violin on loan from The Royal College of Music. Hannah Dawson Violin II Hannah is in her fourth year at the Royal College of Music where she is now learning with Professor Ani Schnarch, who coaches the quartet. She studied with Howard Davis while at school and previously with Rodney Friend at the RCM. Hannah was educated at Sevenoaks School where she was a music scholar. She played in the Lydian Orchestra, the National Isis Strings Academy and the Kent County Youth Orchestra. In 1996 she reached the Regional Final of the Audi Young Musician of the Year Competition in Goodwood House, which was broadcast on Classic FM. Composer Michael Omer heard Hannah playing Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No 5 at St John's, Smith Square and asked if he could write a violin concerto for her. She premiered this at St John's, Smith Square, in April 1999, and repeated it in the Sevenoaks Summer Festival later that year. Hannah is currently leader of the Kent Youth Orchestra and recently toured Italy with the orchestra, giving concerts in Tuscanny. Their performances included the Bruch Violin Concerto, with soloist Ben Hancox. Since becoming a member of the Sacconi String Quartet, Hannah's life has become very hectic, but she has also led an orchestra on camera in the film Thunderpants and been profiled on Sky TV. Robin Ashwell Viola Robin Ashwell graduated from the Royal College of Music in 2001 with First Class Honours. He plays both viola and baroque/classical viola, and is continuing his studies at the Royal College of Music as an Associated Board Scholar. He is a student of Andreij Vijtovitch on viola and Annette Isserlis on baroque/classical viola. In addition to his work with the Sacconi Quartet, Robin performs regularly with the Phoebus Trio, a flute-viola-harp trio. He was Principal Viola of the European Union Baroque Orchestra for its 2001 season, and since then he has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Whilst at the Royal College of Music he has been awarded all the major viola prizes. He was formerly a student of Ian Jewel, Jan Schlapp, Catherine Mackintosh and Marguerite Wilkinson. Robin pursues a keen interest in education work, and has worked alongside members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra on its Playerlink scheme, conducting music workshops in schools around London. He was also involved in running the first Higher Education Summer School to be held at the Royal College of Music in August 2000. Cara Berridge Cello Cara Berridge recently graduated from the Royal College of Music with First Class Honours. She is continuing her studies as a Postgraduate Scholar at the RCM with Melissa Phelps, and is supported by the Martin Musical Fund. During her time at the RCM Cara has been Principal Cello of the RCM Sinfonietta and RCM Symphony Orchestra, and has won prizes such as the Anna Shuttleworth Prize for solo cello (2002) and the Helen Just Prize for cello (2001). Cara’s past teachers include Anna Shuttleworth, Alexander Boyarsky and Sue Lowe, and she has participated in masterclasses with Alexander Baillie, Johannes Goritzki and Nicholas Jones. As a soloist, Cara has performed throughout the UK and Europe, performing concertos by Haydn, Elgar, Saint-Saëns and JC Bach. Having studied the baroque cello with Jenny Ward-Clarke for several years at RCM, this area of performance has also become a special interest of Cara’s. Sacconi String Quartet
The Kent Music School recommended Robin Ashwell and Sacconi String Quartet to us when we were looking for music for our wedding at Oakwood House. Sacconi String Quartet performed at our wedding on 27th May 2001 with great style and professionalism, adding a wonderful ambience to what was already a very special day. They arrived at the venue promptly with plenty of time to set up. They presented themselves very well with good comunication, particularly from Robin who also acts as manager for the quartet. They played a great selection of music throughout the day, both classical and contemporary, and closed with a set of contemporary music at the wedding breakfast. When finished they packed up and moved away quickly, quietly and without fuss. The quartet is a throughly splendid group of musicians who would complement any function or gathering. Our friends and family are still talking about the wonderful string quartet that played so beautifully at our wedding. I would not hesitate in again hiring Sacconi String Quartet or indeed recommending them to you most highly. Julie Kyte
John Yerburgh May I, on behalf of all those who have enjoyed hearing the music of the Sacconi String Quartet at Hartlip Place, strongly recommend Mr Robin Ashwell and his Quartet for any occasion where such a musical ensemble might be appropriate. At Hartlip Place we are licensed to hold weddings and receptions. In the last two years, we have engaged the Sacconi String Quartet on three occasions, (including our son’s wedding), and found their playing greatly added to each of them. The players are all in their twenties, full of enthusiasm, extremely talented and totally reliable. We are particularly impressed by the way in which they can accommodate a wide range of music. They are happy to provide continuous background music throughout a reception or give virtuoso performances, as the occasion may require. They are always polite, well turned out and a very friendly group and I can recommend them without reserve. Yours sincerely, John Yerburgh
Sue Timmins In March 2002, we again arranged for this young and enthusiastic string quartet to provide background music and interlude entertainment for a presentation evening to healthcare professionals achieving academic and vocational awards. They played both during the reception before the presentation, and during the buffet afterwards. I commend them to you. Each time they have played for us, we have been very pleased with the selection of music, which we left entirely to their judgment, and the quality of their music-making was excellent. The members of the quartet conducted themselves professionally and unobtrusively; they arrived promptly, and adhered to our pre-arranged timetable. The presence of the quartet playing at our event provided us with live background music, enhancing the positive and enthusiastic atmosphere. I will not hesitate to book them again for similar events in the future. If you would like a written quote, click here.
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