Soloist on 28th June 2014 - Matthias Feile (cello)

Matthias Feile was born in Munich and first began studying music in his home town. He spent a few years inspired by 'wanderlust' in order to pursue opportunities for further study and for work in Salzburg, Hamburg and Berlin.

In 1984 he came to Britain where, much to his own surprise, he still finds himself some 30 years later. During the second half of the Eighties and most of the Nineties he was Principal Cellist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and also the Philharmonia Orchestra with whom he performed world-wide. Matthias was also internationally known as soloist, chamber musician and teacher; he next developed an interest in conducting and in education, and was conductor and artistic director of a youth and student orchestra in South-West London for 8 years.

More recently, his love of medicine came to the fore, and after obtaining a medical degree coupled with a few years spent as a house officer in Dundee, and indeed in Forfar, he now works as a trainee psychiatrist in Perth.

Soloist on 28 September 2013 - Sophie Askew Harp

Sophie Askew studied as a scholarship student at the Guildhall School of Music with Sidonie Goossens and Sioned Williams. As a scholarship student at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music she gained a B.A. (Musical Studies) and a MMus (Harp Performance).

Sophie manages to combine two careers, one teaching the other as a performer. As a recitalist, she performs throughout Scotland as a soloist and as part of duos with Roderick Long (Violin), and Dorcas Owen (Mezzo Soprano); she has also been a guest recitalist and teacher at the Edinburgh Harp Festival.

Sophie has performed concertos with various orchestras including the B.B.C. Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Meadows Chamber Orchestra and the Kelvin Ensemble. In 2009, Tayside Symphony Orchestra was delighted when she agreed to perform William Alwyn's 'Lyra Angelica', a concerto for harp and string orchestra.

Her work also takes her to the most prestigious venues in Scotland performing for private and corporate events. These include Skibo Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Glenapp Castle, Glamis, Scone Palace, Gleneagles Hotel and Loch Lomond Golf Club.

Claire Echevarria was born in Dundee in 1980. She started to play the flute when she was eight years old, having lessons from Susie Will when Susie herself was still at Secondary School. When Susie went on to study music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Claire went to have private lessons from Jill MacKay until 1998 when she, herself, left school, gaining her Grade 8 flute in 1996.  She has been principal flute with many local and national orchestras including the Senior Schools Orchestra, the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland, Dundee Symphony Orchestra, Tayside Symphony Orchestra and the National Scottish Philharmonic Orchestra.

Although dedicated to music, Claire decided not to study music at University and instead attended the University of Dundee where she gained her Masters in English Literature. When leaving University, she took another different career path and is now a fully qualified Fingerprint Officer working in Forensic Science at the Serious Crime Unit of the Scottish Police Authority. Now the proud mother of daughter Erin, Claire lives in Broughty Ferry with husband Colin and will gladly tell you that her flute playing is now "a cherished hobby and a fantastic stress buster after a long day at the office".

Soloist on 28th September 2013 - Maggie Findlay - (Soprano)

Maggie Findlay is one of Tayside's best known sopranos. She was born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire but now lives, with husband Ron, in Carnoustie and has studied with Raimund Herincx at North-East of Scotland Music School Aberdeen, and Miss Alice Fleming of Broughty Ferry.

Maggie's wide repertoire includes modern and traditional Scottish songs, grand opera, light opera, popular musicals and show songs. She has appeared as a guest artiste with, amongst others, Dundee Strathspey and Reel Society, Angus Strathspey and Reel Society, Keltic Fiddlers Orchestra, Tayside Symphony Orchestra and Tayside Symphony Chorus, Arbroath Male voice choir, Kirkintilloch Male Voice Choir, Arbroath Instrumental Band, Elgin Strathspey & Reel Society, Angus Minstrels and Houston (Texas) Heather & Thistle Club. Performances include appearances at the Caird Hall, Dundee; a BBC recording at the Waterfront Concert Hall, Belfast; Glamis Castle and as the principal guest singer on the Keltic Fiddlers Orchestra 2001 tour of New Zealand.

Maggie has taken part in numerous concerts helping to raise thousands of pounds for charity, and has recently recorded a CD, proceeds of which go to Alzheimer Scotland.

Maggie says "There is nothing better in life than music, when I sing I feel uplifted and cannot imagine life without it."

Soloist on 20th June 2009: Euan Crabb (trumpet)

Euan Crabb was educated at Monifieth High School. He went on to study music at The City Of Leeds College Of Music gaining the College Diploma with distinction. He studied Trumpet with Don Bateman, Mark David and Brian Rance while at Leeds and on returning to Monifieth he studied with Marcus Pope (RSNO). Euan took up the post of Instrumental Instructor for Tayside then Dundee Councils before moving to Angus Council in 1996 where he currently works as a Brass Instructor as well as a Kodaly Music Specialist.
Euan set up his own nursery music business - ABC Early Years Music. Inspired by his own children and his love of music he thought it the best starting point for children to develop musical skills. He trained in London with the Da Capo Foundation using the Kodaly methodology before developing his own materials which he uses to great effect in local nurseries.
Euan has built a great reputation for his Trumpet and Cornet playing and is in demand for solo and ensemble playing. He currently has his own brass group, County Brass and fronts a Big Band, which he loves as it gives him the opportunity to play in many different styles.

Euan Crabb
 

Soloist on 27th September 2008: Claire Forgan (flute)

Claire Forgan was born in Dundee in 1980.  She started to play the flute when she was eight years old, having lessons from Susie Will when Susie herself was still at Secondary School.  When Susie went on to study music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Claire went to have private lessons from Jill MacKay until 1998, gaining her Grade 8 flute in 1996.

 She has been principal flute with many local and national orchestras including the Senior Schools Orchestra, the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland, Dundee Symphony Orchestra, Tayside Symphony Orchestra and the National Scottish Philharmonic Orchestra.  This year she took part in a BBC 3 Radio recording with the Dundee Symphony Orchestra which is to be aired in October 2008.

 Although dedicated to music, Claire decided not to study music at University and instead attended the University of Dundee where she gained her Masters in English Literature.  When leaving University, she took another different career path and is now a fully qualified Fingerprint Officer working in Forensic Science at the Dundee Bureau of the Scottish Police Services Authority. Her flute playing is now a cherished hobby and "a fantastic stress buster after a day at the office".

 

                     Claire Forgan

Soloist on 21 June 2008: Sarah Williamson (clarinet)

Sarah Williamson came to the attention of the British musical public with her performances in the finals of the BBC Young Musicians competition in May 2002. She won the woodwind prize and then, in the concerto final at the Barbican Centre, gave a highly individual and memorable performance of the Copland Clarinet Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. She immediately went on to win 2nd Prize in the Eurovision Competition for Young Musicians held in the Berlin Konzerthaus with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marek Janowsky.

 Sarah went on to study at the Paris Conservatoire studying with Pascal Moraguès and graduating with the Premier Prix, and was awarded a Laureate, the highest honour. Prior to this, she studied at the Purcell School and the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music, winning the concerto competitions at both schools.

Since 2002 Sarah has given a series of recitals and concerto performances throughout Europe, including a critically acclaimed debut at the Purcell Room and recitals at the Cheltenham, Chester, Windsor, North Aldborough and Harrogate Festivals. She has also undertaken a tour of the Channel Islands, made her debut at the Tonhalle in Zurich and given concerts in the United Arab Emirates and the USA.

Sarah has worked with a number of contemporary composers, including Edward Longstaff who has written both a concert piece (broadcast by Radio 3) and a Clarinet Concerto for her. Earlier this year she worked with Phillip Grange on his Clarinet Concerto ‘Sheng Sheng Bu Shi’ with the National Youth Wind Ensemble, which she will be recording for the Campion label. Sarah was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for five years and principal clarinettist for two years.

    Sarah Williamson

Soloist on 22 September 2007: Sophie Sneddon (Violin)

Sophie Sneddon was born in Dundee in 1989. She started playing the violin at the age of 8 under the tutelage of Gillian Simpson at the High School of Dundee. At the High School, she later became leader of both the High School of Dundee Symphony Orchestra and the String Ensemble.

Since then she has performed at numerous concerts including the Glamis Castle Musicale, CLIC Sargent Concert in the Caird Hall for the Prince's Trust and for Save the Children at Cortachy Castle. Sophie has also been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. Not only does Sophie play classical music, but she also plays traditional music. Her involvement in the Tayside Young Fiddlers led to several recordings for Radio Scotland's Take the Floor and her winning both the Under-12 and Senior Fiddle Championships.

Earlier this year, Sophie gained distinction in her Grade 8 violin exam and also obtained her Grade 8 for piano. She is embarking on her medical career as a student at the University of St. Andrews. Though she is not studying music, she fully intends to remain playing both the violin and piano.

Sophie plays a violin sent from Germany which previously belonged to her Great-Grandmother.

Soloist on 22 September 2007: Ross Knight (Tuba)

Ross (15) is one of Scotland's up-and-coming young brass players. In 2006 he was one of the youngest ever competitors to reach the finals of the Scottish Brass Open Solo Championships gaining a 4th place. Over the past five years he has been Scottish under-12 and under-16 solo champion three times and runner-up twice.

Ross has been a member of the Tayside Symphony Orchestra for the past two seasons.

In 2004 Ross was a member of the National Childrens' Orchestra of Scotland and for the past five years has been a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland. In May 2007 he was selected to join the European Youth Brass Band which played in Birmingham during the European Brass Band Championships. In 2008 he will join the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland as they perform concerts during a two week tour of Japan.

He is currently the principal E flat Bass player with the Arbroath Instrumental Band and has played with the band since he was 9 years old. The conductor of this band is Mr. Mike Robertson who is also Ross's tutor and has provided him with the support, guidance and encouragement to progress so far.

Ross has a growing reputation for playing fast, intricate pieces on his tuba and has already mastered pieces like Bass in the Ballroom, Czardas, Pretty Jane, Facilita and Swiss Air for previous solo performances. The Gregson Tuba Concerto is his most challenging piece so far, but his young talent, hard work and dedication to master the piece will be evident.

Ross can turn his hand to most musical instruments and as well as playing tuba plays piano, guitar and drums. He recently sat his Grade 5 music theory exam under the tuition of Mr. Johnston Ralston, who is also his piano tutor, and passed with distinction.

He is currently undertaking his Duke of Edinburgh Award through Carnoustie High School which he attends, and for his service section he has brought together ten young players from Angus to form a brass group which he conducts.

Ross lives, breathes and sleeps music and when he is not practising one of his instruments, he can be found at the computer, composing brass and guitar music. He is currently in fourth year at Carnoustie High School, about to sit his Standard Grades and it is his intention to study music at one of the top conservatoires in Glasgow, Manchester or London. His ambition is to play with one of the world's top orchestras. He has already received some preparatory lessons for tonight from Mr. Jim Gourlay, the world-renowned tuba player and director of music at the RSAMD in Glasgow, and Ross intends to join the junior academy there next year.

Other than playing music, in his spare time Ross is a member of the Ist Carnoustie Boys' Brigade and he keeps goal for the Carnoustie Panmure U16 Football Team.

                   Ross Knight

Soloist on 23 June 2007:  Joseph Long (Piano)

Joseph Long is one of Scotland's finest concert pianists. Much in demand nationally and internationally, he has given recitals, lecture-recitals, workshops and masterclasses in venues as diverse as the Edinburgh Society of Musicians, St-Martin's-in-the-Fields in London, the University of Almeria in Spain, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire, and the India International Centre in Delhi.

Joseph is a familiar face on the concert circuit in Scotland and has performed at twenty-eight music clubs throughout the country. At many of these he has made second or third appearances; his straightforward combination of stimulating programmes, well thought ­out interpretations and informative verbal introductions to all repertoire has ensured unanimous acclaim among audiences and promoters.

Joseph's successes in competitions began at an early age, and he received prizes in the Audi Junior Musician competition and the BBC-TV Young Musician of the Year competition. He went on to read Music at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1997 with First Class honours.

A continued interest in the scholarly aspects of music and performance has since led Joseph to explore many neglected works for the piano. His discography to date includes some of the lesser-known music of Balakirev, Sibelius and Bax, and at present he is planning to put together a recording of the piano works of Nielsen.

Joseph retains a keen interest in the nurturing of talent and in the imparting of musical knowledge to others. A gifted communicator, he is a respected teacher of advanced piano students at the University of Aberdeen and at the North-East of Scotland Music School. He is also an accomplished composer.

Soloist on 9 September 2006: Geoffrey Bridge(Oboe)>

Geoffrey Bridge was born in Accrington, Lancashire, the son of professional musicians. After a period of medical training at St Andrews University he studied the oboe at the Royal College of Music continuing with Leon Goossens and later with Heinz Holliger. Following his professional recital debut in the Manchester Midday Concert series of 1962 Geoffrey became a solo artist for the Arts Council of Great Britain. He has broadcast solo and chamber music recitals on BBC radio and made solo appearances on both independent television and radio. Geoffrey has worked as a freelance player with many orchestras, including the BBC Welsh Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Southern Pro Musica Orchestra, and has given recitals throughout Great Britain. He has appeared in Music Festivals including those held in Aberdeen, Bath, Belfast, City of London, Petersfield, Perth, Portsmouth, Winchester, Canterbury and Stour. For a time he was Head of Woodwind Teaching for Hampshire County Council and before moving to Scotland last September taught the oboe at Winchester College. He continues to play professionally and coach at Summer Schools.
 

Soloist on 24/25 June 2006: Christine Allan (horn)

Christine Allan was born in Ohio and raised in Texas. She began playing the Horn at the age of 11, the choice of instrument determined by the fact that her arms were too short for the trombone. She graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy, the U.S.A.'s foremost boarding fine arts high school, nicknamed "Fame in the Woods".

Mrs Allan received her Bachelor of Music Performance degree with distinction from the Eastman School of Music, which was ranked first in the U.S.A. in 2004 for its graduate music programmes and was founded by George Eastman, inventor of the Kodak camera. While at Eastman, she studied with Verne Reynolds and Peter Kurau. As a member of the Genesis Brass Quintet, she was awarded the Eastman Chamber Ensemble Fellowship and First prize at the New York Brass Conference Competition. She received her Master of Music Performance degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, studying with William Purvis, a New York­based soloist and chamber musician who has premiered works by such composers as Milton Babbitt, Elliot Carter, Peter Maxwell Davies and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

A recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Grant, Mrs Allan studied at the Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo with Froydis Ree Wekre, an international soloist, chamber musician and baroque horn player, who has commissioned and premiered numerous works by composers in Norway and the U.S.A., including Wolfgang Plagge's Concerto for Horn and Orchestra, Op.49. Her other main teachers include William VerMeulen and Roger Kaza, Principal and Associate Principal Horns of the Houston Symphony, and Erik Ralske, Third Horn in the New York Philharmonic.

Mrs Allan had her New York City debut concert in 1996 and has performed throughout the U.S.A., Japan, and Europe with artists such as composer/performer Neil Sedaka and conductors Michael Tilson Thomas and Charles Dutoit. She has recently performed Schumann's Konzertstück for Four Horns with the St Andrews University Orchestra and Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante with the Tayside Symphony Orchestra.

Mrs Allan works at the University of Abertay Dundee and resides in Dundee with her two cats and her husband. The couple are expecting their first child at the end of August.
 

Soloist on 11th February 2006: Glenn Ross (bagpipes)

 Fourteen year old Glenn Ross lives in Forfar.  He began playing the bagpipes at the age of eight under the tutelage of Jack Stewart in Kingsmuir.  For four years he played with Arbroath R.B.L. Pipe band in Grade 4 before moving on to play with Drambuie Kirkliston Edinburgh which is a Grade 2 band.  He played there for two years, in which time the band became Grade 2 European and World Champions.  Glenn now plays with the Robert Wiseman Dairies, Vale of Atholl, a band which plays and competes in Grade 1.  From the age of eight, Glenn has competed in solo competitions, achieving some good results against very good opposition.