EMG Symphony Orchestra

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EMG Symphony Orchestra is a registered charity no.1064282

Profiles of other outstanding players from the South West
who have featured with EMGSO.

Professor Robin Stowell (violin).
Professor and Head of Department, Cardiff University and former soloist and Leader of EMGSO.

Robin Stowell, born in Exeter was the very first leader of EMG Symphony Orchestra and in his youth, worked closely with its founder Musical Director, Peter O'Brien (Exeter University) in developing the Group.

Robin and his parents played with the orchestra for many years before he moved on to begin his academic and playing studies in London. He has returned to Exeter on a number of occasions to play concertos with the orchestra and continues to be a great inspiration for many players.

Now, Professor Stowell, Robin joined the Music department, Cardiff University in 1976 on completion of advanced violin studies at the Royal Academy of Music (Leverhulme Scholar) and PhD research at Cambridge University. His career has since maintained a dual emphasis on performance and musicology. He is a specialist in performance practice, organology and music of the 'long' eighteenth century, and he has published numerous articles in a wide range of books, dictionaries (including New Grove II) and journals. He is co-editor (with Colin Lawson) of the Cambridge Handbooks to the Historical Performance of Music and has also served as editor of and principal contributor to three Cambridge Handbooks (Violin, 1992; Cello, 1999; String Quartet, forthcoming). As a violinist, he made his London debut at the Purcell Room in 1974 and has since made several solo appearances in London and other major cities. Commercial recordings and radio and television broadcasts have also featured prominently in his performing schedule, and he was for many years a regular member of the period-instrument ensemble The Academy of Ancient Music. For more information about Robin's work and publications click here.

Richard Leaver (violin).

As an undergraduate at Exeter University, Richard Leaver played with EMG Symphony Orchestra on a number of occasions and featured in performances of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola and orchestra and Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 He is currently a leading player in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
For more details click here.

Jane Gordon (violin ) - Exeter's rising star.

Things seem to have been very busy lately for Exeter violinist Jane Gordon. In between here advanced studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London, she has just played in Esterhazy Palace, Hungary and has made some recordings.

We also learn that she got her hands on a Joachim Strad recently for a special concert with Tamsin Little. Unfortunately, it was a temporary loan! Apparently someone called Vengerov has had his eye on it!

Jane has played with EMG Symphony Orchestra on a number of occasions including a most beautiful interpretation of the Brahms Concerto which featured in Exeter July 2002. She will be playing the Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams in the Tippett Centre, Bath in the spring before she embarks upon he final concerto piece - the Second Violin Concerto by Prokofiev. We hope to see Jane back in Exeter soon and will follow her career with great interest.

Jane Gordon is studying at the Royal Academy of Music (London) with Marianne Thorsen and Simon Standage, where she won a scholarship and holds an EMI award on the postgraduate course. She is a member of the highly acclaimed Royal Academy Soloists; an elite group of 13 string players directed by Clio Gould. Jane graduated from the Royal College of Music in July 2001 where she studied with Dana Lee Croft and Micaela Comberti on a foundation scholarship. There she won the 'Dove' and the 'Isolde Menze' violin prizes.

Jane is developing a diverse performing career incorporating solo and chamber music as a violinist and baroque violinist. She gave a stunning performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the EMG Symphony Orchestra ( Exeter Festival July 2001). At the RCM Jane formed a duo with pianist Jan Rautio. They give regular recitals in and around London and hope to record their first CD soon.

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