Biographies

Ilid Llwyd Jones from Colwyn Bay, is a graduate of the Royal College of Music. During her studies she received many awards and prizes, including an Associated Board Scholarship, an exhibition for performance and the Joy Boughton Oboe Prize. She was also awarded the prestigious Royal College of Music Tagore Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution to the College at the end of her studies there. As a result of her success as a soloist she has had the opportunity to play for various music societies and festivals throughout England and Wales. Ilid has given solo recitals at St. Martin in the Fields and St. David's Hall, Cardiff to name but a few, and recently she performed the Strauss Oboe Concerto at Cadogan Hall, and the Vaughan Williams Concerto at the Purcell Room, London with London Soloists Chamber Orchestra. She regularly plays for most of the leading British orchestras, including the London Symphony, BBC Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra.

Esther Sheridan is a graduate from the Royal College of Music where she studied with Timothy Lines, Colin Bradbury and Michael Harris. During her studies she was awarded several prizes and awards including a Foundation Scholarship, the Stephen Trier Bass Clarinet Prize, and the Hilda Deane Anderson Prize. She played principal clarinet and principal bass clarinet in all of the Colleges orchestras smaller ensembles, including concerts conducted by Bernard Haitink and recorded for BBC Radio 3. Through college she also had the opportunity to play with the RPO. As a freelance clarinetist, Esther has played with RTE Radio Orchestra, South Bank Sinfonia, New Professionals Ensemble, New London Soloists Orchestra regularly for many free lance orchestras and ensembles across the UK.

Esther is involved with Education and Outreach Work and works regularly for Wigmore Hall, London Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra. She is an associated musician for the Chance for Children Trust and has led many projects for them. In 2002 she was awarded an assistantship in Education and Community music as part of the RCM's Junior Fellowship programme.

Alex Callanan is a graduate of the RCM, where she studied with Martin Gatt and Andrea di Flammeneis. Throughout her time there she was a Scholar and winner of the Fanny Hughes Bassoon Prize for two consecutive years. She also played Principal Bassoon in all the orchestras and ensembles, whilst gaining considerable experience in opera companies and orchestras elsewhere including, through College, both the RPO and LPO. Before starting College, Alex was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in which she played Principal for two years.

Since leaving College, Alex has embarked on a successful freelance career that sees her playing regularly with orchestras including the BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert, City of Birmingham Symphony, RTE National Symphony and Brighton Philharmonic Orchestras, London Opera Players, London Concertante, and Opera Project. Since 2009, she has also become a regular guest 2nd Bassoon in the Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona I Nacional de Catalunya.