NATHALIE GREEN-BUCKLEY
Viola
Nathalie is already a seasoned chamber musician beyond her years. She graduated from Cambridge University and the Royal Academy of Music with first class honours, and now has a busy free-lance career. She performs with the top orchestras in the UK (Glyndebourne is a favourite), and has built up an impressive resume as a chamber musician. As violist of the Halcyon Quartet she reached the finals of the Royal Overseas League twice, and performed at major venues including the Royal Opera House.
Nathalie enjoys collaborating with artists from a range of musical backgrounds and styles. She was selected to feature on the critically-acclaimed debut album 'Sphinx' of counter-tenor Hamish McLaren under Orchid Classics, which can be heard regularly on the radio.
Nathalie continues her exploration of the string quartet repertoire with Icon Strings alongside session work and private teaching.
Nathalie plays on a William Gilkes viola from 1840 and a Maline bow, kindly on loan from David Wigram-Tomes.
CHARIS JENSON
Violin
Charis Jenson is a prize winning graduate of the Royal College of Music, and now performs throughout the UK and Europe, with recent highlights including the prestigious Sommersprossen Festival in Rottweil where she collaborated with some of Europe's leading musicians.
Charis is an established and well-respected chamber musician, and has worked closely with the Piatti Quartet and the Alke Quartet amongst many others. She regularly travels to Germany to perform with the Zeutsheim Piano Trio, and chamber music broadcasts include UK Radio 3's Late Junction and a live performance for the BBC Proms Plus as part of the Proms season.
In demand as an orchestral musician, Charis has received invitations to guest as Associate Leader with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and RTE Concert Orchestra Ireland, and Principal 2nd with the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast. As a core member of the much loved John Wilson Orchestra, she has enjoyed performances at the Berlin Philharmonie, Grafenegg Festival and the Royal Albert Hall.
Charis plays a Hendrik Jacobs violin from the 1680s, owned by Dr Michael and Jutta Wilson and kindly on loan from the Beares International Violin Society.
KIRSTEN JENSON
Cello
A recipient of numerous prizes and awards, Kirsten made her solo debut playing the Schumann Cello Concerto with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra while studying with renowned soloist and pedagogue Johannes Goritzki. After finishing her studies in Switzerland, she joined the Ragazze Quartet in Holland, with whom she featured in Dutch Vogue and Harpers Bazaar, released albums under the label Channel Classics and performed regularly on live TV, radio, and at major venues including the Royal Concertgebouw. Kirsten maintains ties with Germany and Switzerland, travelling frequently back to Mainz in particular to give concerts championing the 'Violins of Hope' project. Festivals include the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival and the Rottweil Sommersprossen, where she has collaborated with players from notable ensembles including the Auryn Quartet. She guests regularly with chamber ensembles throughout the UK and abroad including most recently the historic Allegri Quartet, the Primrose Piano Quartet and the United Strings of Europe.
SOPHIE LOCKETT
Violin
Chamber music has been at the core of Sophie’s fascination with music since she was a child and it will always be an integral piece in her life. As a teenager Sophie lead the Mimosa Quartet, later the Cavell Quartet, and now the Holywell Quartet, and has been the violinist in the internationally renowned Barbican Piano Trio since 2009. Sophie leads a busy freelance career working with orchestras including the London Chamber Orchestra, London Contemporary Orchestra, and invited Guest Principal Second for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia and Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Sophie is the leader of Albert’s Orchestra, the Royal Albert Hall’s in house orchestra, and their educational ensemble, Albert’s Band. A passionate teacher of her craft, Sophie teaches the violin and chamber music privately and also at both the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department and Eton College. In 2017 Sophie was awarded the accolade of Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
HARU USHIGUSA
Violin
Already the recipient of numerous prizes, Haru moved from Tokyo to London to complete her studies at the Royal Academy of Music under a scholarship kindly provided by the Rohm Music Foundation.
Since graduating with the highest honours, Haru has continued to compete and perform as a soloist and chamber musician world-wide. Awards include the prestigious Waterhouse Prize and the coveted Richard Carne Fellowship at Trinity Laban as a founding member of the Dulcinea Quartet.
Haru is particularly passionate about discovering new and lesser-known works, and is an active member of Anima, a chamber ensemble playing live contemporary music alongside animated films.
Haru is the mastermind behind much of our education work, in particular our themed Kids Concerts. She has an extensive background in working with students of all ages, and her patience, kindness and grace has made her one of the most sought-after teachers of our generation.
MARTYN JACKSON
Violin
Acclaimed by The Berliner Morgenpost as "a truly sensitive musician, impassioned playing and utterly compelling", and as "a player of great intensity... a remarkably accomplished young violinist" by the Strad. Legendary violinist Ida Haendel described him as "one of the most exceptionally gifted violinists I have ever encountered."
Martyn has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at the Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Berlin Kozerthaus and Musikverein amongst many other prestigious venues. He has appeared as soloist with numerous illustrious orchestras including the Berlin Symphoniker, Northern Chamber Orchestra and the Halle, and performs globally as a chamber musician. He has worked with Guy Johnston, Natalie Klein, Martin Roscoe and Valery Sokolov (to name but a few!). He led the Allegri Quartet and the Cavaleri Quartet and has won numerous awards including the Royal Overseas Leave Competition, and at the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition.
He has served as guest Assistant Concertmaster of the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia and BBC Scottish Orchestra, and is currently Concertmaster of Orquestra Sinfonica do Porto Casa da Musica
