The Musicians

Paul O'Connor  Violin

Paul O'Connor studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Emanuel Hurwitz and attended the national centre for orchestral studies at Goldsmiths College, London. Paul has been a member of the Scottish National Orchestra, the RTE Symphony Orchestra and has played with English National Ballet and the National Festival Orchestra. Paul was an Associate Fellow in Music at Bradford University and founded the City of Bradford Chamber Orchestra.

Eleanor Cooke  Violin

Eleanor Cooke studied violin and chamber music with Sidney Griller at the Royal Academy of Music, winning several prestigious prizes. On leaving, she joined the orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and subsequently became sub principal first violin in the CBSO under Sir Simon Rattle. Eleanor now leads English Pro Musica, plays regularly with the English String Orchestra, Orchestra of the Swan, teaches and enjoys playing as much chamber music as possible.

Carmen Flores  Viola

Carmen Flores grew up in San Diego, California and has lived and worked in a variety of locations throughout her musical career. Carmen received her masters degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and later studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Her principal teachers were Yizhak Schotten and Steven Dann.
Carmen has performed extensively as a chamber and orchestral musician throughout North America, Asia and the United Kingdom and she has been featured on CBC Radio broadcasts as a member of the ARC Ensemble (Artists of the Royal Conservatory). Carmen was Principal Viola with the Canadian Opera Company and has participated in the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan and was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Festival. Carmen was appointed Principal Viola of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia in 2007.

Graham Gillham  Viola

After an early start to his musical career as a Gentleman of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal, Graham has had a busy and varied life as a viola player. He performs with English Pro Musica, British Concert Philharmonic Orchestra and English Philharmonic. Graham was a founder member of the East of England Orchestra, and has appeared with Northern Ballet and opera companies in the midlands and the north along with regular festival appearences in Waterford and Las Alpujarras.

Nick Parry    Cello

Nick Parry studied cello and composition at the Royal Academy of Music from 1975 - 1978. Nick has played with the orchestra of Welsh National Opera, been co-principal cello with the Bath Philharmonia and in 1999 was soloist in a performance of Haydn's C major cello concerto with the mid-Somerset Orchestra at Wells Town Hall.Nick has a special interest in music technology and chamber music.

Sean Gilde   Cello

Sean Gilde was a founding member of the Astaria and Almira String Quartets and in that capacity has performed at many of the UK's major concert halls. Sean has performed at festivals, for music societies and has also broadcast live for Classic FM and BBC Radio 4 with both the Astaria and Almira Quartets. As a freelance player, Sean has also worked for amongst others the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford. He gave the UK premier of "Imago" for solo cello by F.M.Beyer, as part of a touring exhibition of the Blackboard Drawings by R.Steiner and  most recently has taken part in projects with Darkin Dance.