Biography
Sophie Rosa
Sophie Rosa was awarded the Second Prize and Audience Prize at the 2nd Manchester International Violin Competition 2011. She has performed across the UK as a recitalist in venues including the Royal Festival Hall, the Purcell Room and Bridgewater Hall as well as performing live on air for BBC Radio 3. Sophie has recorded at Champs Hill Records and appeared with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Manchester Camerata.
Sophie's debut album, 'Reve d'Enfant' was released in 2016 on the Champs Hill Records label. It was described in Musical Opinion as, '....a very fine disc, containing uniformly excellent performances in great style and played with complete musical understanding....a very desirable record of the year'. The disc has also received excellent reviews from Fanfare Magazine, Music and Vision and it was selected as one of the highlights of the year in the Manchester Evening News. Sophie is currently working on a disc of violin duets for EM Records with Midori Komachi and Simon Callaghan, which will be released in April 2017.
Sophie has performed at the MBNA Chester Music Festival, The Manchester Midday Concert Society, The Aurora Festival, Sweden, Musique Cordiale Festival, France, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and the International Musicians Seminar, Prussia Cove. As a chamber musician Sophie has collaborated with notable musicians including Martin Roscoe, Nobuko Imai, Hannah Roberts, Giovanni Guzzo, Craig Ogden and James Gilchrist. Sophie is a member of classical and contemporary music collective, Pixels Ensemble and also performs with Psappha contemporary music ensemble
Sophie has performed regularly throughout the UK and internationally from a very young age. An early highlight was a solo concerto for HRH Princess Margaret when she was just seven years old. In 2006 she was a finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition and was the First Prize winner of the Lions European Music Competition, Cannes. Sophie studied at Chetham's School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music with Wen Zhou Li. She was a recipient of the RNCM Gold Medal and was also awarded the Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal in recognition of her musical achievements. Sophie was also a recipient of the prestigious MBF Ian Fleming Charitable Trust Award. After completing her Masters Degree with Distinction, Sophie completed the RNCM International Artist Diploma in Solo Performance and furthered her studies in America where she has been mentored by Midori Goto, Miriam Fried and Donald Weilerstein.
Sophie was kindly supported by several award foundations including, the Philharmonia Orchestra Martin Music Scholarship, The Solti Foundation, The Hattori Foundation, The Manchester Graucob Award, the Leverhulme Scholarship, The High Sheriff of Cheshire Prize for Music, The Stephen Bell Charitable Trust, The Lauriston School Trust, The Stanley Picker Trust and Help Musicians UK.
Sophie is grateful to the Stradivari Trust for their assistance with acquiring a fine Gagliano violin for her career through a syndicate trust.
You can follow Sophie here: http://www.sophierosa.com/biography_of_sophie_rosa.asp
Duncan Glenday
British concert pianist Duncan Glenday enjoys a busy and varied performing career as a recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician and teacher. Since completing his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, he has performed extensively throughout the UK and has appeared at venues such as St James’ Piccadilly, London, the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, and with the Northern Chamber Orchestra at the Lowry, Salford Quays.
For over 15 years he has given recitals for music societies around the country, and he has also made many concerto appearances including Beethoven’s second piano concerto with the Northern Chamber Orchestra, and works by Dohnanyi and Copland with the RNCM Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to his active solo career, Duncan is also in great demand as an accompanist and chamber musician, with collaborations recently taking him to the International Lake District Summer Music Festival and the Buxton and Ryedale Festivals. He has recorded for BBC Radios 2 and 3, and more recently has been privileged to partner numerous exceptional vocalists in recital, including David Kempster (at the Bridgewater Hall), Katherine Broderick (Cardiff Singer of the World, 2013 finalist and winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Prize in 2007), and Kathryn Rudge (the Sunday Times Rising Star of 2o12).
Duncan is currently a tutor of piano at Manchester University, Chetham’s School of Music and at the Royal Northern College of Music Junior Department. He is also the President of Leigh Music Society and Artistic Director of the Uppermill Coffee Concerts Series in Saddleworth.
Duncan has enjoyed success in various prizes and competitions, including first prize in the 1994 John Ireland Competition. He trained at the Royal Northern College of Music with Renna Kellaway and John Gough, where he followed the joint degree course with Manchester University, graduating with a first class honours degree, the RNCM graduate and postgraduate Diplomas, and the prestigious RNCM Diploma in professional performance.