Hailing from the Borders, Anthony Moffat was trained at the Royal Academy of Music, London by Armenian Soloist and Orchestra Leader, Manoug Parikian. He gained the highest award for violin on his graduation in 1987 winning the Marjorie Hayward Prize. His passion for Chamber music was encouraged and nurtured for many years by the members of the Amadeus Quartet but it is as devotee of the Piano Trio that he is best known outwith the orchestra. As member of the Da Vinci Piano Trio he has toured the breadth of the country and broadcast on BBC Radio3. His career as Orchestra Leader began as Co- leader of the Halle Orchestra until taking the post of Leader of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in 2000. He has appeared as Guest Leader with BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. He plays on a fine violin by C.G. Testore of Milan ca. 1705

Katie Hull grew up in Dorset, then studied violin in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with David Takeno. She was appointed Principal 1st violin with the Northern Sinfonia at the age of 21, and eight years later moved up to Glasgow where she worked with the Scottish Ensemble and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. She was appointed Assistant Leader of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in 1996. She works regularly with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and has been a violin tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for the last 14 years.

Angus Ramsay initially studied the violin with Leonard Friedman, before moving to the Bernese Conservatoire in Switzerland, where he was a pupil of Max Rostal for five years. In 1975 Angus was appointed principal second violin of the Wurtemberg Chamber Orchestra: the following year he was made associate leader of the prestigious Southwest German Chamber Orchestra, a post he held for nine years. Since 1985 he has been principal second violin of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, and in 1991, Angus founded the Glasgow Viennese Strings, subsequently touring all over Scotland. He was Artistic Director of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival between 1994 and 2000, and in 2001 Angus co-founded the Cantilena Festival on Islay with two close colleagues, Scott Mitchell and Adrian Shepherd. Angus has been violin teacher in both the senior and junior departments of the RCS[formerly RSAMD] in Glasgow since 1989. Angus plays on a violin made in 2010 by the celebrated violin-maker Roger Hansell of Yorkshire.

Frances trained as a classical violinist at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She has worked as a professional musician in Scotland for over 25 years and she is Principal First Violin with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera as well as playing with the other major Scottish Orchestras. Frances is an accomplished chamber musician, formerly playing with the Morley Quartet and more recently as leader of the Edington Ensemble.She is also a co-founder of Classical Soundwaves which introduces live classical music and instruments of the orchestra to pre-school children.

From Milan, Italy, Giulia has been playing in Glasgow since 2011. At 26 years old, she is one of the youngest members of the Orchestra of the Scottish Opera and brings a unique style and musical experience. Educated at the “Giuseppe Verdi” Music Conservatory in Milan, Italy, Giulia has performed in the USA, Russia, and Switzerland and amongst other places in Europe. Giulia’s vibrancy and enthusiasm make her not just a talented musician, but a passionate performer that brings her music to life.

Born in Budapest, Terez Korondi began playing the violin at the age of six. She received her early musical education at the Bartok Conservatory and at the prestigious Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest where her teachers included Peter Komlos,Eszter Perenyi and, for chamber music, Géza Németh. She also spent a year studying in Vienna at the Academy of Music under the supervision of Eduard Melkus and Klaus Maetzl. In 1995 Terez joined the Hungarian State Opera and worked with many world-class conductors and undertaken tours across Europe. Since 2002 she has been a member of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera holding the position of Sub-Principal First Violin.

Liz studied violin at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She graduated with a BA (music performance) and Certificate of Post-graduate Studies.
After leaving the Conservatoire, Liz freelanced with orchestras such as Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera. She has also performed in a number of chamber ensembles, performing concerts and background music for occasions ranging from weddings to corporate events.
Liz has been a member of The Orchestra of Scottish Opera for 12 years. Highlights of her career so far include performing Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet with New Zealand Ballet, and Wagner’s Ring Cycle at the Edinburgh Festival.

Gemma O’Keeffe was born in Belfast, and studied French and Music at Trinity College Dublin before completing a Postgraduate Performers course at the Royal Academy of Music, London.  She has played with numerous orchestras around the UK including BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, RSNO, Halle Orchestra, and Ulster Orchestra. She has worked with Ronan Keating, Russell Watson, Cliff Richard, Chris de Burgh and Rebecca Storm and on albums with Daniel O’Donnell and Shanaia Twain. Gemma is also a member of the Scottish Tango Ensemble which
 specialises in music by Piazzolla.

Sian Holding read Music at Trinity College, Cambridge and continued her studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with Wen Zhou Li. She has been a member of the First Violin section of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera from 1999. She has also played with a number of other orchestras including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra and the Scottish Ensemble. Aside from orchestral work, she performs regularly with the string quartet, Evoca.

Michael was born in 1957 in Glasgow and later moved to Cumbernauld. At what was previously called the Royal Scottish Academy of Music he studied violin with Peter Mountain and piano with Margaret Evans. After gaining the Dip. of the R.S.A.M. he undertook a year of post-graduate studies at the Guildhall school in London with Eli Goren. After qualifying Michael worked for two years in Bermuda with the Menuhin Foundation teaching violin and playing in a string quartet. On returning to the U.K. he trained in class teaching at Jordanhill College and spent the next five years teaching. In 1989 he joined the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and has been playing and teaching ever since.

Kirsty grew up in Edinburgh and began learning the violin in school aged 9. A year at St Mary’s Music School with Claire Docherty assured Kirsty a place at The Royal College of Music, studying modern violin with Dona Lee Croft and baroque violin with Micaela Comberti and Adrian Butterfield. This was followed by a post graduate year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland studying with Peter Lissauer where she was awarded a John McInulty Prize for orchestral playing, took part in the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s apprenticeship scheme, lead performances of Janacek’s Kreutzer Sonata at The St Magnus Festival and went on to participate in the Mendelssohn on Mull Festivals 2006/ 2007. Since completing her studies, Kirsty has toured internationally with The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, regularly records for both Grid Iron and Lyceum theatre companies, performed violin concertos by Mendelssohn and Prokofiev with the New Edinburgh Orchestra (March 2007/ June 2009) and most recently became a member of The Orchestra of Scottish Opera. When she is not playing the violin, Kirsty may be found having mini adventures around the southside of Glasgow with her young family.

Malcolm was born and brought up in Edinburgh and began learnig the violin at the age of eight with Winefred Gavine. He continued with Frederick Grinke while studying for a Music degree at the University of East Anglia and with Kenneth Sillito while at the Royal Academy of Music. He began his playing career in Rome, playing with the Teatro dell’Opera Orchestra there for three years, and has remained an enthusiast for all things Italian ever since. After some years of playing in various orchestras and various places (Italy, Oslo, London and Scotland) he joined the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in 1989 and continues to play with other groups and orchestras from time to time.

Lev Atlas has enjoyed an outstanding career as a classical musician in his native Russia, then USA and UK. He was a member of the international awards-winning Rostov String Quartet. Lev is currently Principal Viola of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera. A virtuoso Klezmer and Eastern European music performer, he is a living encyclopaedia of hundreds of traditional tunes and he has influenced many musicians across Europe. He is currently also a Senior lecturer in Strings at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Rachel Davis began her musical studies with the violin and attended Trinity College of Music as a Junior Exhibitioner. She entered the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 17, studying the viola with Martin Outram and was appointed No 2 Viola with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera at 21, a position she has held ever since. She has also enjoyed a varied freelance career including playing with all the major Scottish Orchestras including BBCSSO and RSNO and SCO. In addition to her orchestral life Rachel is also a co-founder of Classical Soundwaves, introducing live classical music and instruments of the orchestra to pre-school children.

Growing up in Ayrshire, music was always a huge part of Shelagh’s life but it was only after gaining an honours degree in Physiology and Sports Science from the University of Glasgow that she decided to follow a career in music. She then undertook a Postgraduate Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music where she studied with Martin Outram and in 2009 was a member of Southbank Sinfonia. She is currently No.4 Viola in the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and also works as a freelance viola player and teacher. Shelagh enjoys adventure sports and tries to escape to the great outdoors as much as possible.

Alison hails from Inverurie in the North East of Scotland, gaining B.Mus.(Honours) from University of Aberdeen, before heading to Goldsmiths College, London, where she studied with Trevor Williams. She first joined the Orchestra of Scottish Opera as violinist, changing to viola in 1993; and has helped design and deliver various educational outreach projects. She is a founder member of the Rosebery Ensemble, a string quartet/ trio which plays for weddings, banquets and celebrations, using her skills as arranger to create an extensive repertoire, and to respond to commissions. She teaches from home, and is also deputy tutor for Musicworks. Since October 2011, she has been Organist and Choirmaster at Polmont Old Parish Church. Her hobbies include quilt making, sketching and calligraphy.

Sarah Harrington was born in Lancashire but has been a resident of Scotland since the age of one. Sarah’s passion for the cello took hold at the age of 10 and after a little wait while her father made her first cello, she began private lessons and later studied with Tim Walden. In 1990 Sarah enrolled at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Derek Simpson and David Smith . Graduating in 1994, Sarah worked with various Orchestras including English Chamber Opera, Glyndebourne Touring Opera and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra before returning to Scotland in 1998 to join the Orchestra of Scottish Opera. The experience and enjoyment of performing many great Operas over the years has been a privilege and one never to forget is Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Sarah is also an active chamber player (as well as a full time Mum ) performing regularly with the Edington Ensemble , Eumelia Ensemble and the Cantilena Festival on Islay.

Aline Gow was born and brought up in Kent, studying cello at Kent Junior Music School. She went on to the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied with Raphael Sommer, Antonio Lysy and Eduardo Vassalo graduating with honours in 1990. She continued her studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with William Conway and gained her postgraduate certificate in orchestral studies. During this time she became a member of the Britten-Pears orchestra. After completing her studies she began freelance work with Scotland’s national companies and became a permanent member of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in 2007. She is also involved in chamber ensembles including the Strivelyn quartet. Aline also teaches cello in several schools, for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland musicworks and more recently with the Big Noise. For many years Aline has also worked for Artlink Central, a charity bringing the arts to hospitals, prisons ,schools and residential care facilities. She also works with the education department in Scottish Opera. She has been part of a team devising and delivering a variety of projects including a project in conjunction with the Scottish Refugee Council and one with the Citizens Theatre working with an adult community musical drama group.

Pete Fry studied at the Royal College of Music. In 1991 he joined Welsh National Opera, and in 2009 became a member of the Orchestra of Opera North, where he stayed for 3 years before being appointed principal bass of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in 2012. Pete also runs a chamber orchestra, the Serenata of Wales.

Born and raised in Manchester Tom was plucked from his usual life or death game of playground football because of his height and size of hands, and asked somewhat rhetorically if he’d like to play the double bass. 20 something years later he’s still playing. Having undertaken his undergraduate studies at RSAMD (now RCS) in Glasgow under the tutelage of Iain Crawford (Co-Principal Bass BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra) he continued his studies at the Juilliard School in New York with Tim Cobb (Principal Bass Metropolitan Opera Orchestra) graduating with a Master of Music in 2004. Since returning, Tom has been appointed Principal Bass with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera (sitting no.2) and regularly appears as a freelance player with the BBC SSO, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Further appearances have also included performances with the Scottish Ensemble. In 2009 he co-founded The Scottish Tango Ensemble, performing all styles of tango music from the classic Salon and Milonguera repertoire through to the Nuevo Tango associated with Astor Piazzolla.

I have been playing opera for 33 years now, and still get a real buzz playing to a live audience – I really feel a part of the performance despite often being out of sight from the audience. I am enjoying how the Co-OPERAtive is enhancing and expanding our musical future. I am also a trained driving instructor, to help fill any financial “gaps” – especially important now, as the first of my 3 children is about to go to university. I am looking forward to entertaining you!

Born in London, Saida’s early musical experiences started with recorder and piano lessons, subsequently the piccolo and flute. Accepted as a junior student at the RSAMD, she found that the flute was too easy to carry around and decided to make life more difficult and learn the harp! After leaving school Saïda studied at the RSAMD and the RAM London before embarking on a freelance career. Saïda worked with the SCO, BBC SSO, RSNO, taught at the RSAMD and privately, played for functions, weddings, music clubs etc. After playing at the opening of the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh, Saida was subsequently asked to work as the resident harpist in Oslo and Gothenburg. In 1988 Saïda was offered the position of Principal Harp at the Orchestra of Scottish Opera.