Alexander is internationally known as one of the foremost cellists and teachers of his generation. He began playing the cello aged twelve inspired by the BBC film about Jacqueline du Pre. He studied at London’s Royal College of Music and then in Vienna with Andre Navarra, and later with du Pre. ••• Following his studies he played extensively as soloist with all the BBC orchestras and as a recitalist and in chamber music. ••• As a member of the London Sinfonietta and Peter Maxwell-Davies group "The Fires of London" he was involved with a many first performances of contemporary music. ••• He appeared regularly at the "Proms" and premiered cello concertos by Colin Matthews, Hans Werner Henze, Takemitsu, in addition to standard repertoire such as Schumann, Delius, Beethoven. ••• A new chapter begins now that he is moving back to the UK following the end of his time as Professor of Cello at the Hochschule für Musik in Bremen, Germany. Since 2018 he is part of the team building the successful new Dynamo cello school based in England.

Joely Koos has established herself as a versatile and compelling performer, pursuing a varied musical career as soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player. ••• She has appeared as soloist with several orchestras including broadcasts with the London Sinfonietta, BBC Concert Orchestra and City of London Sinfonia. In the last year she has performed the Dvorak, Elgar and Brahms Double concertos and played at several chamber music festivals. She is joint Artistic Director with Roderick Williams for the St Endellion Summer Music Festival. ••• Joely is principal cellist with the English Symphony Orchestra, co-principal with the City of London Sinfonia, and regularly appears as guest principal with many UK orchestras. ••• Enjoying an active teaching career as professor of cello at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and as teacher at Eton College, Joely is delighted to have taken on the role of Artistic Director for “Cello Dynamo”.

Currently Professor of Cello at the Guildhall School of Music, Tim has led the cello sections of all the London orchestras. He is also in demand as a soloist and chamber musician. ••• Having studied in Paris, Cambridge and London, he first drew critical acclaim for his concerts in the South Bank’s Park Lane Group Series, following which he made two CDs of music for cello and piano on the Guild label. He has since toured the world as a soloist, appearing frequently with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Sinfonietta. Recent solo engagements include appearances at the BBC Proms, the MiTo international music festival in Turin, and “Cello Unwrapped” at Kings Place London. ••• Just before lockdown Tim recorded a new concerto written especially for him with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has recorded a further CD of cello and piano music with pianist and composer David Gompper which will be released this autumn. In addition, Tim is a member of the Fidelio piano trio and principal cellist of the London Sinfonietta, with whom he will play Ligeti’s cello concerto this October at London’s Southbank.

Leandro Silvera is Head of Strings and Chamber Music at Eton College, Chamber Music Tutor at the Royal Academy of Music and Cello Tutor at the Royal College of Music Junior Department (London). ••• After studying in Argentina, he came to the UK on a British Council scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music with Eduardo Vassallo, Emma Ferrand and Hannah Roberts; he also participated in masterclasses with Karine Georgian (Dartington International Summer School) and Ralph Kirshbaum (IMS Prussia Cove). He has worked as a cellist with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, English National Opera, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Golden Age (on baroque cello) and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. ••• He developed a passionate interest for teaching soon after graduating; since then he has given cello masterclasses for European String Teachers’ Association, the Violoncello Society of London and the Oxford Cello School, and worked at Bowdoin Summer Music Festival (USA) as Performing Assistant to Steven Doane. Between 2000-05 Leandro taught cello and coached young chamber ensembles at Chetham’s School of Music. He was Course Director for Pro Corda and also conducts youth orchestras including the National Schools Symphony Orchestra, the National Children’s Orchestra and Eton College Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.

Sophia Rahman has recorded piano concertos with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Scottish Ensemble and has made more than forty chamber music discs. ••• Sophia has appeared in recital with cellist Steven Isserlis, distinguished singers Mark Padmore and Roderick Williams and regularly works with the violinist/violist and conductor Andres Kaljuste. She is Artistic Director of the Whittington Festival in Shropshire, which has just completed a successful third year under her leadership. ••• Sophia has coached at several top Scandinavian music schools and masterminded a course for young Estonian chamber musicians at the Arvo Pärt Centre, where she regularly appears as a recitalist. Also known for her work as a class pianist, Sophia has played for Steven Isserlis’ class at IMS Prussia Cove since 2011. Her interest in this field began as a class pianist for the legendary William Pleeth at the Britten-Pears School. ••• After early tuition with Antonietta Notariello, Sophia studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School under Peter Norris, with guidance from Vlado Perlemuter and Louis Kentner. ••• She took a first-class honours degree in English from King’s College, London and continued her studies at the Royal Academy of Music with Alexander Kelly and Malcolm Martineau, winning the Royal Overseas League’s collaborative and chamber music piano prizes in consecutive years.

Emily has enjoyed an exciting, varied career to date, as both a collaborative musician and teacher. In 2018, she was the John Wilson Junior Fellow in Piano Accompaniment at the Royal Northern College of Music having previously gained a Masters of Music with distinction under the tutelage of Dina Parakhina. This followed undergraduate study at the Royal College of Music, London, where, in 2011 as a major prize winner, she graduated with a first class honours degree. Emily has given many recitals at major London venues, including the Southbank Centre, Steinway Hall, and St. John’s Smith Square. She has also collaborated with orchestras in highly acclaimed performances of the Schumann, Grieg, Saint-Saëns 2nd, Mozart 24th and Beethoven 3rd and 4th piano concertos. In 2019, she was invited to perform in Moscow in a series of concerts celebrating the complete piano sonatas of Nikolai Medtner. ••• Aside from solo performance, Emily has always been extremely involved in chamber music, developing her skills under the guidance of distinguished tutors at Pro Corda, an International Chamber Music Academy for piano and strings in the UK. In 2019, Emily was also awarded a place to study as a répétiteur at the National Opera Studio on their Young Artists Training Programme, where her studies were generously supported by Help Musicians UK. ••• Emily has over fifteen years of teaching experience and in September 2022 she was delighted to be appointed as Head of Keyboard at Warwick School. Life in Warwick has so far been extremely busy and she is thoroughly enjoying the varied nature of her work, from organising fun piano days for the Junior boys, to inspiring and developing the most advanced musicians for performances. She is looking forward to taking up an additional post as Head of Music Scholars from next year.

Nicki Pearce studied cello at the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music and then taught at Westminster School, London and worked as a freelance cellist. ••• Nicki lives in North Wales and plays principal cello for Ensemble Cymru, Welsh Chamber Orchestra, Mid Wales Opera, Opra Cymru, North Wales Orchestra and Aberystwyth Choral Society. Nicki teaches all levels and ages privately, at Bangor University and at the Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias, where she also conducts the community adult orchestra and runs chamber music coaching. ••• When Nicki moved to North Wales in 2003 she decided to do her outdoor qualifications in First Aid, climbing, mountaineering, kayaking, canoeing, and gorge scrambling. Alongside her cello playing and teaching she then spent many years coaching groups of children and adults in these activities. Nicki has extensive experience looking after young people of all ages in relation to both the above activities and teaching. Nicki holds a current enhanced DBS certificate and a current First Aid certificate. ••• Nicki lives with her husband, two sons and two dogs and enjoys mountain walking, visiting castles and growing their own fruit and veg! ••• Nicki is looking forward to leading the pastoral care team on “Cello Dynamo” this year.

Rebecca is principal cellist of the London Symphony Orchestra. She studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Royal Northern College of music where her teachers included William Pleeth, Melissa Phelps, Moray Welsh and Ralph Kirschbaum. She also spent some summers studying in America where her tutors included Bernard Greenhouse, David Geringas and Claude Frank. Rebecca completed her formal studies in Basel with Thomas Demenga studying mostly contemporary music. ••• Rebecca’s wide-ranging career combines solo playing with chamber music, orchestral work and teaching. Early success in both national and international competitions led to critically acclaimed recitals in both London, Wigmore Hall and New York Carnegie Weill Hall, and she has played extensively as a recitalist ever since appearing in festivals such as Bath, Bergen and the Manchester International Cello festival. ••• Rebecca has performed concertos with many of the U.K.’s leading orchestra, including the LSO, the Halle, the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields. She is much in demand as a guest principal, having performed with most orchestras in the UK, and many abroad including the Australian Chamber orchestra, New Sinfonietta Amsterdam and the World Orchestra For Peace. ••• As a chamber musician Rebecca has performed with the Nash ensemble and for many years was a member of the innovative Scottish ensemble. She has collaborated with many acclaimed artists and has recorded for BBC Radio 3 with pianist, Ian Brown. She is a regular participant at Prussia Cove’s International Musicians seminar, where musicians of the highest level, gather together in Cornwall to study great chamber music works side-by-side with the most talented students of the next generation. ••• Outreach is extremely important to Rebecca and she works regularly with the LSO discovery program. She has created her own local musical outreach program, “World’s End music”, which puts on concerts by local professional musicians for both children and adults in Chelsfield Kent. A professor at the Guildhall School of music and drama, Rebecca is much sought after teacher. She has previously taught at the Junior Academy and the Purcell school and has given master classes at the Royal Academy, Royal College and Trinity Laban.