Professors
Flute
Susan Milan
Former Principal flute of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Chamber musician and recording artists. Member of the London Chamber Music Groups, Debussy Ensemble and Instrumental Quintet of London. Professor of Flute, Royal College of Music, London. Adjunct Professor of Flute Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London. Founder and Director of the British Isles Music Festival.
Clarinet
Anthony Pike
Clarinettist Anthony Pike is the principal clarinet of the English Chamber Orchestra (E.C.O.) and has performed concertos with them throughout the world. He has performed as obligato soloist with the Munich State Opera and in the Musikverein Hall in Vienna. Chamber music collaborators have included Christian Zacharias, Ralph Gothoni, the Medici Quartet, Joachim Trio Bekova Trio and E.C.O. Ensemble.
Horn
Timothy Jones
Timothy Jones is Principal Horn of the London Symphony Orchestra and Professor of the Royal College of Music London. He has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras in UK and abroad, including the Munich Philharmonic and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and is much sought after as a chamber musician.
Bassoon
Martin Gatt
Martin Gatt studied at the Royal College of Music with Archie Camden and was principal bassoon of the London Philharmonic Orchestra from 1958-66, of the English Chamber Orchestra from 1966-76, and of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1977-98. He taught at Guildhall School of Music and Drama from 1967-84. He is currently Professor of Bassoon at the Royal College of Music, London.
Violin
Philippe Honoré
Philippe Honoré was a principal player with the Philharmonia Orchestras from 2005–2011. After receiving top honours from both the Paris Conservatoire and the Royal Academy of Music in London, he was made Lauréat of the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation of France in 1992 and was awarded an Honorary Associateship by the Royal Academy of Music in 2001. He is professor of Violin at the Royal Academy of Music, London
Violin
Igor Keller
Igor Keller studied with Adelina Oprean in Basel, Sándor Végh at the Mozarteum Salzburg and at the International Menuhin Music Academy with Alberto Lysy. He completed his formation with Walter Levin, Hatto Beyerle, Sigmund Nissel, Yehudi Menuhin and Joseph Silverstein. In 1994 he founded the Ligeti String Trio. As a soloist, Igor Keller has performed with numerous famous European orchestras and as a member of the renowned Amar Quartet from 2006 till 2018, he performed in major concert halls and festivals internationally. Since 2010 first concertmaster of the St. Gallen Symphonic Orchestra.
Viola
Yuko Inoue
Winner of the 17th Budapest International Viola Competition, Yuko has performed as a soloist throughout Europe and Japan with many orchestras.She performs frequently with Britain’s most eminent string quartets and chamber ensembles. She is a member of the Fibonacci Sequence Ensemble and Professor of Viola, Royal Academy of Music, and RAM Junior Department, London.
Cello
Josephine Knight
Josephine is Professor of Cello and Alfredo Piatti Chair of the Royal Academy of Music, London. She studied at Yale University and Juilliard School before launching a career as soloist and chamber musician collaborating with many leading international performers. She has recorded for EMI Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, Chandos and Blackbox/ASV.
Piano
Ian Brown
Ian is a musician of great versatility whose career embraces chamber music, solo and duo playing and conducting. His musical life began as a bassoon player, eventually concentrating on the piano when he became pianist-in-residence at Southampton University. He became pianist with The Nash Ensemble in 1978 and during this long association has played at all the important British music festivals. he is currently Professor of piano, Royal Academy of Music, London.
Harp
Gabriella Dall’Olio
Gabriella Dall’Olio was born and grew up in Bologna, Italy. She trained in Italy, France and Germany with Anna Loro, Pierre Jamet. Jacqueline Borot, Fabrice Pierre and Giselle Herbert. She is committed to teaching and is Head of Harp Studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She recently recorded Arturo Marquez Harp Concerto with Shakespeare Sinfonia.
Harp
Valeria Kurbatova
Valeria Kurbatova has performed as a soloist and with her chamber music groups across the world and has won numerous awards and scholarships, notably a full ABRSM scholarship to support her studies at the Royal College of Music in London. She is a principle harpist of the London Electronic Orchestra and a member of London Contemporary Orchestra. She frequently records for labels such as Decca and AMF records.
Resident pianists
Jill Morton
Jill is much in demand as both soloist and collaborative pianist. She spent a season as Pianist in Residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, Canada and has given masterclasses at universities and specialist music schools throughout Britain. She currently holds the position of Head of Keyboard at the Perse School in Cambridge.
Francesca Carta
Francesca is currently professor of piano at the G. P. da Palestrina Conservatory of Cagliari. She is member of the Hofmannsthal Ensemble, with whom has recorded for Radio Suisse Romande, Riverberi Sonori Recordings and Radio France. Francesca is regularly invited as collaborative pianist for competitions, courses and master classes.
Admin
Gillian Ure – Personal assistant to the Director. Finance. Former CEO Countess of Munster Trust
Antony Bailey – Technical specialist and activities co-ordinator. Directors liaison. Consults as Blackdown Solutions, UK.
Elliott de Vivo – Concerts Manager. Clarinettist. Member of the Waldegrave Ensemble. Degree from Trinitylaban Conservatory of Music
Allison Conlan – Programme Manager, Sponsor and Scholar Liaison. Flautist. Outreach Manager for the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
Daniel Ephgrave – Promotions and Media Manager. Flute class assistant. Flautist. Degree from Trinitylaban Conservatory of Music
Sarah Waycott – Programme Manager Assistant. Liaison officer. Ticketing manager. Flautist. Teacher.
Gertrude Schmitz – Librarian. Director’s assistant. Runs a family business and lives in Detmold, Germany. Flautist
Sponsors
PATRON Philip Carne, MBE .
We are delighted to have as our Patron Philip Carne who is generously sponsoring a number of scholarships for applicants.
These scholarships provides financial support for gifted young musicians and will make it possible for a substantial number of those from financially underprivileged backgrounds to attend the festival.
- Philip Carne MBE
- Dan Eley Foundation
- Royal Overseas League Arts
- Spoff’s Scholarship Fund
- Hilary Jenkins
- Michael and Gay McCart
- Marley Common Friends of BIMF
- John Jeffrey MBE
- Shirley Jeffrey
- Paul Jeffrey
- Petra Jeffrey-Hofman
- Tarim Resources Recycling
- Master Classics Artists
- Leonard Heydenrych
Friends of the British Isles Music Festival
Mike and Gay McCart
Michael and Elizabeth Shaw
Hans and Micheline Norstrand
Nick and Kate Austin
Reidun Adams
Barry and Chris Bateman
Sarah and Duncan Bain
Jane Kaufmann
Sir Anthony and Lady Laughton
Board of Trustees
- Susan Milan – Festival Director
- Douglas Jack – Chairman
- John Jeffrey MBE
- Gillian Ure
- Kenneth J Hsu
- Christopher Jepson
- Martin Gatt