The Team
Emily Frith
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Emily started playing the violin at age 8, but really began to love music when she was old enough to join her local orchestra. First, sitting at the back of the violin section and then moving on to the viola, Emily found that all the individual work and practice came to fruition. This was when the joy of making music became her favourite pastime. She now plays in orchestras all over the country, for the BBC and ballet and opera performances. She presently teaches violin and viola in Surrey both privately and in local schools.
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Fiona and Emily met when studying in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. They have been friends and colleagues ever since, and now want to share their love of ensemble playing.
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Fiona Griffith
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Since leaving music college, Fiona has had a successful and varied career playing viola in west end shows and orchestras. She has travelled the world with pop bands (Madonna and George Michael among others) and been on tour with string quartets.
Alongside her playing work, Fiona has developed a keen interest in education work, teaching violin and viola in local schools, and setting up a year 2 string scheme where all pupils learn the violin. She ensures that all her pupils play in string ensembles and string quartets to experience the joy that chamber music can bring . She has also collaborated for many years with the London Mozart Players, with her pupils performing regularly at their concerts to the local community.
Shaun Thompson
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Originally from York, Shaun moved to London to study music several decades ago where he has remained ever since. He has carved out a busy working life playing with all the major orchestras on both clarinet and saxophone. He is a committed educator, working at a SEN school and is heavily involved with the London Symphony Orchestra’s education programme “Discovery”. He recently recorded and released his debut album Inhale, Exhale, Repeat and is still waiting for someone to listen to it...
Andy Grappy
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A freelance Tuba player since 1984. Andy has performed with most of the major London Orchestra’s and has a varied musical career that includes, west end shows, pop, jazz and folk gigs amongst other things.
Andy is a Music mentor for Music for Youth, workshop leader and sometime animateur. He is Head of Southwark “WAX” Music Centre for Young Musicians, and Deputy Head of Music at Notting Prep School.
