LEADER
Paula Kempton
FLUTE
Catherine Handley
VIOLIN
Julia Watkins
VIOLIN
Aden Yip
Paula Kempton studied at the Royal Academy of Music (1978-82) with Sidney Griller and joined the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 1982, playing Sub-Principal First Violin. Such a wonderful experience to play with CBSO under Sir Simon Rattle, Chief Conductor at that time.
In 1989, she joined Orquestra do Porto in Portugal following a desire to live and work abroad.
Returning to Britain three years later Paula free-lanced with CBSO, BSO, London Musici, Ballet Rambert, WNO, Welsh Sinfonia, St. Woolos Sinfonia and Orchestra de Cymru.
She performs regularly in local chamber music concerts as well as playing for weddings and corporate events.
Paula teaches the violin and piano privately at home.
She is a keen walker and a lover of the beautiful Welsh countryside. She is also a member of the U3A and continues to pursue her interest in languages, having completed an Open University BA in French and English in 2014.
Catherine Handley studied the flute at the Royal Academy of Music and the National Centre for Orchestral Studies.
Catherine has a freelance career playing chamber music, including flute and harp duos and small ensembles.
In recent years her orchestral work has been with the English Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra de Cymru, Ensemble Cambrica, Mid Wales Opera & Ensemble Cymru.
Catherine score-reads for televised concerts, mostly for BBC Classical Music productions including the Proms and Cardiff Singer of the World.
Catherine teaches at Cardiff University & regularly coach youth orchestras.
For over 35 years Ishe has been privileged to experience the effect of music through taking projects to preschool & primary children, teaching, performing and playing music in care homes and hospitals.
Solo recordings include 'Ariel'- flute & piano music by members of 'The Composers of Wales'; the Flute Concertino & 'Spirit of the Mountain' by Christopher Gunning with the RPO & 'Isca' & 'Mearc' by Ian Lawson. ‘In the Tradition’ & 'A Journey' is folk music old & new.
Julia Watkins studied at the Royal Academy of Music. On leaving she joined the BBC Concert Orchestra where she stayed for 4 years.
Julia went on to freelance with orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and more recently the orchestra of Welsh National Opera.
In her spare time Julia enjoys walking in the Brecon Beacons and spending time with her family.
OBOE
Catherine Tanner Williams
CELLO
Sonia Hammond
Catherine Tanner-Williams studied music at Cardiff University and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, winning a Countess of Munster Award.
As a soloist she has recorded three albums of oboe and piano music on Willowhayne Records, including the core French repertoire, the world première recording of Richard Elfyn Jones' Oboe Sonata, and her own compositions and arrangements.
She has freelanced with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and played Principal Oboe with English Symphony Orchestra, Welsh Sinfonia, Chamber Orchestra of Wales, Bath Philharmonia, St Woolos Sinfonia and Hereford Sinfonia.
When not busy scraping oboe reeds, she enjoys surfing and art.
Sonia Hammond studied at the Birmingham School of Music (now the Birmingham Conservatoire) and the Royal College of Music in London.
While still in Birmingham, Sonia was invited to play for the Eurythmy School in Botton Village, North Yorkshire. Thus began an enduring association with Camphill Communities.
Later as a freelance player in London she recorded and toured with Barb Jungr, Ennui, Philip Kane and Babysnakes.
Solo recordings include Bach's Suite No 1 for Solo Cello, and album of improvisations “Science of Snow” with Charlie Beresford. 2019 the new quartet What? was formed and the album of the same name released on Bandcamp.
Principal Cellist of both the Brecknock Sinfonia and St Woolos Sinfonia. She is also a key member of Radnor Improvisers.
In 2017 Sonia was invited to join the London Cello Orchestra and went to South Korea with 19 other cellists.
Since in 2006 Sonia has given recitals with pianists Roger Nichols and the late James Joseph. She is cellist with the Castalia and Peregrine String Quartets & is Principal Cellist of both the Brecknock Sinfonia and St Woolos Sinfonia and is also a key member of Radnor Improvisers.
TRUMPET
Stuart Paul
VIOLA
James Drummond
James Drummond was born in Scotland and educated in Shropshire. He began playing the violin at an early age and studied with his father Hamish, before progressing to the viola, studying with Keith Lovell, Gwyn Williams, Rosemary Sanderson and Rivka Golani. Graduating in 1985, James began his professional career freelancing with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra da Camera and the English String Orchestra, before joining the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 1987, with whom he spent 35 very happy years, before taking early retirement in June 2022. As well as his commitments with the BBC, James is very active as a freelance musician, playing with ESO, Bristol Ensemble, Welsh Concert Orchestra, BSO, Orchestra de Cymru, Brecknock Sinfonia and the Chamber Orchestra of Wales. James also has a keen interest in chamber music, playing with groups in South and Mid Wales. James plays on a 1942 ‘Tertis’ model viola, made by the English luthier, Arthur Richardson.
A recent scholarship graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Aden Yipalso received a full scholarship to the Junior Conservatoire and eventually received the Principal’s prize for outstanding contribution in 2018. He performs on a violin loaned from Jonathan Sparey’s private collection since 2021 and also on a gold mounted Bow made by John Stagg which was partially funded by a Royal Philharmonic Society Grant.
In his final year as a student, he was the only violinist at RWCMD to be awarded the Harrison Frank Family award in November 2023 and at the beginning of 2024, Aden performed as the soloist and leader of Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Baroque Ensemble in the ‘Genius of the Baroque’ concert and also as Concertmaster in the RWCMD Symphony Orchestra in March, leading the orchestra with a programme which included Debussy’s La Mer and Borodin Symphony no.2.
Having worked at RWCMD in different roles including teaching many pupils at the Junior Conservatoire, he hopes to inspire and encourage the younger generations to pursue music in particular, early music. Aden has recently purchased a Pardessus and mainly rehearses and performs on the Treble Viol and Baroque Violin in early music and renaissance groups such as the Harmonius Murmur Consort and the Ensemble Ordinario. He has also performed in the festival orchestra at the Brecon Baroque festival led by Rachel Podger over the years.
PERCUSSION
Graham Bradley
HORN
Martin Davis
Stuart Paul is a graduate of The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He holds teaching positions at King’s College, Queen’s College, Taunton School, Blundell’s and Richard Huish College. As a performer he works throughout the south west with leading orchestras, choral societies, opera companies and brass bands including Orchestra West, Bath Philharmonia, Southern Sinfonia, Orchestra De Cymru, Dorset Chamber Orchestra, Bridport Chamber Orchestra, Taunton Sinfonietta and Somerset Opera. He is also a member of Bristol Brass Consort. He is a member of the function band Doctor Chocolate and the James Bond tribute band ‘The Name is Band’. He has also worked with other leading bands including The Man From Funkle, Area 52, DT8, Agent Funk and Session One. He works regularly with leading theatre companies throughout the south west. He has given many solo recitals and has performed several concertos in recent years.
Stuart Paul is a graduate of The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He holds teaching positions at King’s College, Queen’s College, Taunton School, Blundell’s and Richard Huish College.
As a performer he works throughout the south west with leading orchestras, choral societies, opera companies and brass bands including Orchestra West, Bath Philharmonia, Southern Sinfonia, Orchestra De Cymru, Dorset Chamber Orchestra, Bridport Chamber Orchestra, Taunton Sinfonietta and Somerset Opera.
He is also a member of Bristol Brass Consort. He is a member of the function band Doctor Chocolate and the James Bond tribute band ‘The Name is Band’. He has also worked with other leading bands including The Man From Funkle, Area 52, DT8, Agent Funk and Session One. He works regularly with leading theatre companies throughout the south west. He has given many solo recitals and has performed several concertos in recent years.