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.
Elise Harper
Violin
Elise is an established and versatile chamber musician. She began her studies at the University of Manchester and the Royal Northern College of Music, and was then awarded a full scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London to study on the Chamber Music Artist Diploma course. Elise led several projects for the Southbank Sinfonia, and was a founding member of the Alke Quartet, with whom she attended the International Musicians Seminar Prussia Cove, working closely with the Endellion Quartet’s David Waterman. They were finalists in both the Bloch and St Martin’s Chamber Music competitions and were part of the prestigious Chamber Studio Scheme at Kings Place, as well as being Park Lane Group Young Artists.
Elise has performed with many orchestras throughout the whole of the UK, including the Manchester Camerata, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Novello Orchestra and Covent Garden Soloists. She is also in demand as a session musician and has toured with numerous artists including Michael Bublé and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Elise has also played in the 'Annie' and 'Joseph' UK tours and in 'The Wizard of Oz' in London’s West End.
Elise plays a W. E. Hill violin from 1897.
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
