LEADER

ANNEKA SUTCLIFFE

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Growing up surrounded by classical music, Anneka Sutcliffe started learning the violin and joined her first orchestra aged 7. She has since continually played in orchestras her whole life and developed a deep love for symphonic works.

She studied violin with Richard Crabtree at Clifton College, led the school’s symphony and string orchestras and took the string quartet to National Competition level. There she also obtained Grade 8 distinctions in violin and voice, singing in all the choirs and operas the school had going. Staying in Bristol for university, she got a first-class honours degree in Philosophy and Theology then a foundation diploma in Psychotherapy, keeping music as a keen hobby. During a year travelling through Africa in 2013 she missed her violin so much that on her return, devoted herself to music.

Now a well-established face on the Bristol music scene, she works as a freelance violinist, teacher and fixer. She manages and leads two outfits of her own set-up: the Brunel Quartet and Insight Ensemble. This latest project is the culmination of a long-awaited dream of combining her love of theatre and circus with classical music, and reaching out to an entirely new audience base: An alternative orchestra performing sell-out, immersive, theatrical shows in the Loco Klub Tunnels.

Available for solo performance and recordings, she is regularly in the studio with Echoic Audio and has worked with bands such as This is the Kit, Future Dub Orchestra, Mad Apple Circus, Slamboree and The Transpersonals.

Passionate about sharing her love of classical music, Anneka regularly presents on Bristol Community Radio talking about upcoming concerts in the city with other enthusiasts.

SARA STAGG

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Sara was born and grew up in Kenya, where she first started the violin at the age of 8. Having been heavily involved with music at Christ’s Hospital, Sara graduated from Manchester University with Honours in Music. She has also achieved a LRSM Diploma and masterclasses with both the Lindsay Quartet and Hugh Bean. She has subsequently studied with John Ludlow and most recently, Dennis Simons.

She makes frequent solo appereances with many different Orchestras, most recently performing Malcolm Arnold’s Double Violin Concerto, Vivaldi’s Winter and a Mozart Violin Concerto in Bath and The Lark Ascending and Beethoven’s Romance in London. In addition to leading the Bath Concertino, Sara is also the leader of the North Wiltshire Symphony Orchestra, lead violinist of the Bath Spa Quartet, leader and joint conductor of the Argyle Orchestra in Bath and gives regular masterclasses to local orchestras, Previously she has led the Bristol Chamber Orchestra,Tessitoura, a touring Opera Company, Worthing Philharmonic, the Horsham Symphony Orchestra on tour and Leader of the Dorking Chamber Orchestra.

Sara also currently teaches violin and viola at Westonbirt School and privately and has been involved in creating a book – Stringbabies for teaching very young pupils.