Biographies.

 

Originally from Cuddington, Cheshire, Sophie Rosa  is rapidly emerging as one of the UK's most exciting violinists. In 2011 Sophie was awarded the Second Prize and Audience Prize at the Manchester International Violin Competition. Her performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra was broadcast by Classic FM. She has performed across the UK as a recitalist in venues including the Wigmore Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, the Purcell Room and Bridgewater Hall as well as performing live on air for BBC Radio 3.

 

Sophie has performed regularly throughout the UK and internationally from a very young age. An early highlight was a solo concerto for HRH Princess Margaret when she was just seven years old at the Grange School, Hartford. Already showing great promise she was a finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2006. Sophie studied at Chetham's School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music with Wen Zhou Li. She was a recipient of the RNCM Gold Medal and was also awarded the Worshipful Company of Musician’s Silver Medal in recognition of her musical achievements. After completing her Masters Degree with Distinction, Sophie completed the RNCM International Artist Diploma in Solo Performance where she performed with the Manchester Camerata. Sophie went on to further her studies by traveling to America where she has been mentored by Midori Goto, Miriam Fried and Donald Weilerstein as well as attending several international festivals including the International Musicians Seminar Prussia Cove 2013 with Gerhard Schulz.

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As well as her frequent solo appearances, notable collaborations have included performing Korngold Sextets with Nobuko Imai at Apeldoorn International Music Festival and chamber music collaborations with members of Ensemble Deva at the MBNA Chester Music Festival. Sophie also plays with the award winning Nemtsov Piano Trio and with the Swedish based Camerata Nordica where she works closely with musicians including Gordan Nikolich, Terje Tonnensen and Gilles Apap.

 

Sophie's talent was recognised and kindly supported by award foundations including, the Philharmonia Orchestra Martin Music Scholarship, The Manchester Graucob Award, the Leverhulme Scholarship, The High Sheriff of Cheshire Prize for Music, The Stephen Bell Charitable Trust, The Lauriston School Trust, The Stanley Picker Trust and is a recipient of the Musicians Benevolent Fund Ian Fleming Charitable Trust Award. Sophie has also received awards from the Solti Foundation and the Hattori Foundation.

Sophie is grateful to the Stradivari Trust for their ongoing assistance with setting up a syndicate trust in order to acquire a fine violin for her career.

 

Duncan Glenday  enjoys a busy and varied performing career as a recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician and teacher. Since completing his studies at the RNCM, he has performed extensively throughout the UK, appearing at venues such as St James’ Piccadilly, Imperial College, London, the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, and at the Lowry, Salford Quays.

 

For over 15 years he has given solo recitals for music societies around the country, and in addition to his active solo career, Duncan also enjoys collaborating with other instrumentalists. Recent engagements have taken him to Royal Over-Seas League House, London, the Lake District Summer Music Festival, Cambridge University, Buxton Opera House, and Londonderry Arts Centre. He has also recorded for BBC Radio, and has worked with singers from Glyndebourne, Opera North, ENO and Welsh National Opera, whilst next month he will be appearing with baritone David Kempster in recital at the Bridgewater Hall.

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Duncan trained at the RNCM with Renna Kellaway, and John Gough, on the double degree course with Manchester University, and graduated with first class honours and the prestigious RNCM Diploma in professional performance. He is now a tutor of piano at Manchester University and Junior RNCM, and is the Artistic Director of the Uppermill Coffee Concerts Series in Saddleworth.