Soloists and Guests 2016 -2022
2021-22
Alexandra Stemp (Violin)
Alexandra Stemp was born and grew up in Blackpool and began playing the violin aged 6. She had lessons formerly with Louise Latham and Clare Macfarlane and was a member of the Lancashire Students Training and Symphony Orchestras. Alexandra was leader of the Lancashire Students Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra for several years undertaking many foreign tours and performing as soloist on a number of occasions. She was also a soloist with various local amateur orchestras including the Blackpool Symphony Orchestra which she had been a member of since the age of 12.
Alexandra attended St Mary’s RC High School. After successfully auditioning for all the major music conservatoires, she accepted a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where her teachers were David Takeno and John Glickman. Whilst studying there she won a special commendation in the first year Concerto Prize and won first place in the Bach Prize.
After completing her degree Alexandra was invited to perform Messiaen’s St Francois D’Assise at the Salzburg Festival with the Halle Orchestra. She then went on to play with many other UK orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic, Ulster, BBC Welsh, Welsh National Opera,Birmingham Royal Ballet and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras before taking a full time first violin position with the Halle in 2001. She was also a founder member of the Lancashire Sinfonietta where she was a principal player and more recently leader on several occasions.
In 2009 Alexandra left the Halle to resume her freelance career. She was leader of the Manchester Symphony Orchestra in their performances with the Imperial Ice Stars at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the most recent of which was Swan Lake on Ice. She is regularly invited to play principal 2nd Violin with the Halle and Royal Northern Sinfonia and is the 1st violinist of Mercury Strings, a string quartet who give recitals in the North West and are currently performing candlelit concerts in both Manchester and Liverpool Cathedrals over the summer months.
Over the years Alexandra has performed many solo recitals and chamber recitals both in Lancashire and across the country and also enjoys recording sessions and educational work.
Alexandra lives in Bacup in East Lancashire with her husband and family.
Jane Irwin (Soprano)
Jane Irwin is from Lancashire and studied music at Lancaster University and singing at the Royal Northern College of Music as a mezzo. In 2009 Jane moved into a soprano repertoire.
As a concert and recital singer Jane has appeared regularly in Britain, Europe and America. Highlights have included appearances at the Carnegie Hall, New York, the BBC Proms, the Wigmore Hall, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Berlin Festival, the Concertgebouw, Boston Symphony Hall, and the Musikverein, Vienna. She has collaborated with the Deutsche Symphony Orchester, Orchestre de Paris, San Paolo Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Zurich Tonhalle and many more, with such conductors as Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Andrew Davis, Donald Runnicles, Antonio Pappano and Sir Mark Elder. Jane has given recitals at the Chatelet, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Geneva , Aix-en-Provence and Japan.
Operatic appearances have included Ring Cycles at Bayreuth, ROH and Scottish Opera, and other leading roles with Deutsche Oper, Berlin, San Francisco Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera and the major British companies.
2019-20
Alexandra Stemp (Violin)
Alexandra Stemp was born and raised in Blackpool. Having led the Lancashire Students' Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra she went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. During her time there she won the Bach prize and also became a member of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. She is an experienced musicain who has played with many of the UK's leading professional orchestras. Since leaving the Halle she is now a freelance musician. She performs with the Acceso String Quartet in recitals across the North West and is the leader of Blackburn Symphony Orchestra.
Esther Harriot (Cello)
Esther Harriot studied at the RNCM with Moray Welsh and Antonio Lysy. She was a founder member of the Royal Seville Symphony Orchestra before returning to the UK where she performs regularly with the Halle Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Opera North and Manchester Camerata. She is also keen chamber musician, currently a member of the Acceso String Quartet.
2018-19
Tim Jackson (French Horn)
Tim was brought up in Lancashire and gained valuable early playing experience in Blackpool Symphony Orchestra.
Tim was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 15. He was a member of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for five years and now performs with orchestras throughout the UK and Europe.
Tim is also a tutor in French Horn at the Royal Northern College of Music and Composer-in-Association with Onyx Brass. He commissions include the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields, British Telecom and the Halle Orchestra.
Tim has delivered a wind and horn master class for BSO in 2012, 2017 and 2019.
2017-18
Claire Shipway (Clarinet)
Claire is originally from Sheffield and began playing clarinet at the age of 8. On completing her A Levels Claire studied music at Huddersfield University, specializing in performance and also undertook courses in concert management and conducting.
After graduating Claire began working as a peripatetic music teacher, firstly in Sheffield and then in Lancashire.
Outside of her teaching, Claire has over 25 years experience as both a multi-instrumentalist in the pit and more recently as assistant MD.
Claire joined Blackpool Symphony Orchestra in 2013 and became principal clarinet in March 2017.
Ed Rugman (Composer)
Ed was appointed as Blackpool Symphony Orchestra’s first Composer in Residence with the premiere of his ‘Space Armada Suite’ in September 2013. The Orchestra were delighted to premiere Ed’s second commission for Blackpool Symphony Orchestra, ‘Cityscapes – Three Cultural Scene for Orchestra’ in September 2017. Both commissions thrilled players and audiences alike. Ed's also wrote the beautiful arrangement for our Over the Rainbow virtual performance.
Ed studied music, specialising in Organ, Piano and Conducting, at the RNCM gaining a Masters degree and was awarded organ scholarships at Manchester and Blackburn Cathedrals. He pursued a career in Cathedral Music and worked alongside some of the world's finest professional choirs, including the BBC Singers.
Alongside his classical upbringing he always had an avid interest in live musical theatre and Jazz. In September 2017, Ed became the Musical Director for Collabro - the world’s top selling musical theatre vocal group and has performed with them at over 200 venues including performances at the Royal Albert Hall.
Ed has also worked as the Musical Director for Russell Watson. Ed performed, arranged and orchestrated all the music for tours travelling the length and breadth of the UK with three record-breaking tours performing to over 250,000 people as well as BBC Proms 2016 and select shows in Italy.
During his time with Russell, the pair were asked by NASA to record a new acoustic version of Faith of the Heart (Star Trek Enterprise theme). This recording was then transmitted to the New Horizons Pluto Probe as its wake-up call and forms part of the probe’s continuous radio/audio transmission out into deep space. This makes Edward officially the first pianist to be heard out of our solar system!
Ed has written extensively for concerts, stage and screen and has arranged for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, written orchestrations for songs on an album for Chelsea Pensioners ‘Scarlets Appeal’ and music score preparation for recent ‘Madness’ concerts with full orchestra.
With the Ten Forward Music Productions, formed with his colleagues Claire Shipway and Chris Carter, he has co-created orchestrations, band scores and tracks for Collabro’s two most recent tours, as well as recording and producing the fourth commercial studio album, ‘Road to the Royal Albert Hall’, which made it into the top 20 album charts. More recent projects include work with Marisha Wallace the well-known Broadway and West End star.
2016-17
Jane Irwin (Soprano)
Jane Irwin is from Lancashire and studied music at Lancaster University and singing at the Royal Northern College of Music as a mezzo. In 2009 Jane moved into a soprano repertoire.
As a concert and recital singer Jane has appeared regularly in Britain, Europe and America. Highlights have included appearances at the Carnegie Hall, New York, the BBC Proms, the Wigmore Hall, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Berlin Festival, the Concertgebouw, Boston Symphony Hall, and the Musikverein, Vienna. She has collaborated with the Deutsche Symphony Orchester, Orchestre de Paris, San Paolo Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Zurich Tonhalle and many more, with such conductors as Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Andrew Davis, Donald Runnicles, Antonio Pappano and Sir Mark Elder. Jane has given recitals at the Chatelet, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Geneva , Aix-en-Provence and Japan.
Operatic appearances have included Ring Cycles at Bayreuth, ROH and Scottish Opera, and other leading roles with Deutsche Oper, Berlin, San Francisco Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera and the major British companies.
James Nash (Trumpet)
James began playing the trumpet at the age of 8 as part of the Wider Opportunities Programme in schools. At 11 he joined the Blackpool Music Service Concert Band and later the Lancashire Schools Jazz Orchestra, Lancashire Youth Jazz Orchestra and Lancashire Youth Symphony Orchestra.
After achieving his grade 8 distinction at age 14, James became one of the peioneering participants inteh National Youth Orchestra of GB 'NYO Inspire' Programme and a year later was selected as a full member of the main orchestra. He was also a member of the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
James loves to play all genres of music, playing Piccolo Trumpet in NYOGB 2017 and Soprano Cornet with Freckleton Brass Band. He is also an accomplished drummer and pianist.
He achieved his ABRSM Diploma in Performance and at just 16, he became a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM).