Soloists
2015-2016
Kevin Matthews (Tenor)
Kevin initially trained at the London College of Music as a baritone studying singing and piano. After gaining his honours degree he trained to be a teacher and moved to Blackpool where he taught music and drama for five years.
He returned to further training at the Royal Northern College of Music on the Advanced Studies in Performance, studying singing and changing from baritone to tenor.
Kevin has a wealth of experience as a freelance singer and is a vocal coach/Musical Director at Salford City College.
Tom Goff (Guest Conductor)
Tom read music at the University of Manchester and then went on to study a masters degree at the Royal Northern College of Music.
In 2014 he conducted the Manchester Univeristy Symphony Orchestra including a tour of Prague.
He is also a cellist and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra, performing at the BBC Proms.
He now lives in The Hague, Netherlands where he works as a conductor, composer and multi-instrumentalist.
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2014-2015
Helen Brackley-Jones (Violin)
Helen Brackley-Jones began studying the violin at the age of 3. At 16, she became a resident student the Chetham's School of Music. She subsequently studied on the joint course between the University of Manchester and the Royal Northern College of Music, graduating in 1998.
Helen became a member of the BBC Philharmonic in 2006, leaving in 2014. She now divides her time between her family, orchestral playing, teaching violin and examining at the RNCM. In 2017 she was appointed as Stockport Symphony Orchestra's new leader.
Chris Hodder (Guitar)
Chris Hodder first became interested in music at the age of 4 when he started playing the piano. At age 7 he found a new instrument, the guidtar.
At age 10 he was the 'Young Guitarist of the Year' for under 16s and at the age of 12 he became one of the youngest pupils at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music.
At 17, chris gained international recognition in the Bath International Guitar Festival under 21 world classical guitar contest, and was the highest placed UK entrant, 2nd place in the world.
Chris is a freelance guitarist and instrumental tutor of guitar and piano.
2013-2014
Hannah MacKenzie (Trumpet)
Whilst studying A Level music Hannah became a member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. She gained a Music BA (Hons) from Lancaster University and then continued her studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music studying a Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance (2012-13).
When Hannah performed with us she was studying at the Royal Northern College of Music (2014-16) where she completed a Masters of Music - Performance.
Hannah now works as a freelance trumpeter and brass teacher in the north west.
2012-2013
Thomas Rowan-Young (Violin)
Thomas was born in Japan but spent his childhood in Dubai. It was there, at the age of 6, that he first began playing the violin.
In 2007 thomas and his family moved to Manchester and he spent the next five years at Chestham's School of Music and in 2010 he gained a place in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
In 2012 Thomas began studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, graduating in 2016.
He founded the Arcana String Quartet with friends from school and the NYO in 2010 and the Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra in Manchester in 2013.
His performance with Blackpool Symphony Orchestra was his second concerto performance.
Tom is a freelance violinist based in London.