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. 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 plays for many of the leading British orchestras, including the London Symphony, BBC Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and has been a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra. In 2000 she was awarded the Royal College of Music Tagore Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution to the College.

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 Thorneloe is a graduate of the RCM, where she studied with Martin Gatt and Sarah Burnett. Throughout her time there she was a Scholar and winner of the Fanny Hughes Bassoon Prize for two consecutive years. She played Principal Bassoon in all the orchestras and ensembles, whilst also gaining considerable experiencein 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. Through this, she had the experience of playing in all the major concert venues in the UK and Europe. In 1998, Alex was asked to join the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove as guest bassoonist, playing alongside a number of highly acclaimed musicians including Stephen Isserlis and several members of the Nash Ensemble.

Since leaving College, Alex has embarked on a successful freelance career that sees her playing with orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, London Opera Players, London Concertante, RTE National Symphony Orchestra, Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Project.