ABOUT US
CAROLINE WATERS
Caroline Waters was born in Jersey and began violin lessons at the age of 7. Caroline continued her studies from the age of 14 at Chetham’s School of Music. Continuing at the Royal Northern College of Music, she studied with Richard Deakin; throughout her time in Manchester she enjoyed opportunities to lead orchestras and perform chamber music.
Since moving to Bedfordshire, Caroline has divided her time between performance work and teaching violin and viola. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and also regularly plays with a number of orchestras, leading Bedford Sinfonia and Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra. Caroline has also enjoyed working with the London-based, King’s Chamber Orchestra; she has played on tours in Italy, Germany, France and the Channel Islands. She plays on a specially commissioned violin made for her in 2022 by Spanish Luthier, Marc Paguin.
ALEX COLLINS
Alex Collins started learning the violin at the age of 8 and soon after, he won numerous local competitions and a music scholarship to Bedford School to study with Martin Hughes. This started to sculpt Alex’s musical identity and after which, he gained a place at The Royal College of Music. During his time at the RCM, Alex played under Sir Antonio Pappano, Vladimir Jurowski, and Thomas Zehetmair. He also formed part of the Vesta Quartet, who gave concerts in and around London and received regular coaching from the Chillingrian quartet. Alex was then given a scholarship to complete his Masters at Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Stephanie Gonley, graduating this year.
Closer to home, Alex enjoys performing as a soloist with the Bedford Sinfonia and other highlights have included performances at the Royal Albert Hall, and at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. He performs regularly with the Element String Quartet and the London Firebird Orchestra too.
MARIA DERVISH
Maria studied at the Purcell School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she was awarded the Dudley Cooke’s Chamber Music Prize. Maria’s orchestral career has included playing with mainly London-based orchestras including the London Mozart Players, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Concert Orchestra. Maria is an experienced chamber music recitalist, and has played both as a soloist and with many ensembles.
Maria’s love for chamber music started at an early age whilst in school, which was nurtured by her then teacher, Phyllis Ebsworth, and later inspired by her other teacher, Csaba Erdelyi who was a member of the Chillingirian Quartet. Maria currently teaches at Hertfordshire Music Service and plays the Kings Chamber Orchestra and Sinfonia Verdi.
LUKE HOWARD
Luke Howard was educated at Magdalen College School, Oxford before going on to the Royal College of Music to study the ‘cello with Christopher Bunting, piano with Peter Element and academic music with Jeremy Dale Roberts and Roderick Swanston. Since then he has performed as a ‘cellist and pianist in the UK and Europe. Luke is an experienced chamber musician and has worked freelance with other professional ensembles, before forming The Element String Trio with Caroline and Martin McNicholas. In the UK, he has performed at venues including the O2, Royal Albert Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London as well as at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall broadcasted on Radio 3.
He also currently directs several choirs, and previously led choirs for the Military Wives Choirs Foundation, appearing at Ely Cathedral and also in a performance with Lulu! He has played and conducted at venues from Liverpool to Berlin, as well as Notre-Dame in Paris and St.Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
(photo courtesy of nataliadark.com)
MORE MUSICIANS WITH ELEMENT STRINGS
KATE LEIGH
Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2004, with a first-class honours degree, Kate has enjoyed a varied career as a session, chamber and orchestral musician. During this time, she has performed in many prestigious venues including The Royal Albert Hall, Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, National Theatre, Kings Place, Wembley Arena and the London Coliseum. She loves jazz and pop music and has performed on the Parkinson Show, Top of the Pops, the X Factor, and has also toured with Sir Elton John.
KATHERINE COLLISON
Katherine grew up in Bedfordshire and at aged 12, attended Trinity College of Music Junior Department. She then continued her studies at the Royal College of Music. Since her graduation, Katherine has divided her time between performing and teaching violin, viola and piano. She has played in, and led a number of orchestras including the Milton Keynes Sinfonia, the Rutland Sinfonia, the East Anglia Chamber Orchestra, Bedford Sinfonia, Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra, and the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra. She has also played in a series of concerts with the International Film Orchestra.
RACHAEL WALKER
Rachael began to play the viola at the age of 8, and early success led to her becoming the principal Viola of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and was awarded the Bulgin Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. After graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she studied with Roger Chase, Rachael moved to Ireland where she worked as principal Viola with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Following her time there, she became a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Rachael has spent the last few years working as a freelance chamber musician, teaching, and playing in West End shows - including Oliver! and Evita.
KAYLEIGH TIR
As a teenager, Kayleigh played as Sub Principal viola in the National Youth Orchestra. Later, she graduated from the Royal Academy of Music where she was awarded the Maurice Loban Viola prize. Kayleigh has worked in Portugal and in London as a freelance viola player. She has performed at many major London concert venues, and played in the opening ceremony for the Millennium Dome as Principal Viola of The Belmont Ensemble. She regularly performs in Baroque concerts. She has also played at Sadler’s Wells and The Coliseum, making recordings for radio and CD.