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Meet The Devonshire Players
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Liz Menezes |
Liz Menezes, Leader (Violin)
Liz read Classics and French at St John's, Oxford and then studied singing at Trinity College of Music, London. Liz now devotes her time to opera, and has toured as a soloist with the Carl Rosa Opera Company to Australia & New Zealand, America, the UK (including Hull, Preston...) and Ireland. She recently sang Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme to acclaim in London for Minotaur Opera. Liz also teaches violin and musicianship for the Da Capo Foundation. |
Monica Esslin, Musical Director (Cello)
Monica read Classics at Keble, Oxford and studied Clarinet with John Davies at the RAM. After pursuing a career as a chamber musician and BBC Producer, she moved into communications consultancy and took up the cello. Monica is currently co-leader of the cello section at Fulham Symphony Orchestra, and a founder member of the Devonshire Players. |
Monica Esslin
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Hattie Jordan |
Hattie Jordan (Violin)
Hattie studied Music at the University of Birmingham, where she led the University Orchestra, as well as performing as a soloist. Following graduation, Hattie did an internship in Concert Planning with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Hattie is now working with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in the touring department. Hattie is a co-leader of Fulham Symphony Orchestra. |
Elizabeth Spencer (Violin and Viola)
Eizabeth read music at Southampton University, where she studied violin, viola and voice. She led the Southampton University Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta, was a founder member of the Contemporary Music Group and also performed with the Chamber Choir and Light Opera Society. Since then, she has been principal violin/viola in several orchestras, has performed the Bruch and Mendelssohn violin concertos, and is developing her vocal technique. |
Elizabeth Spencer |
Laura Clayton |
Laura Clayton (Violin and Viola)
Laura was born in Oxford, Laura studied violin, viola and piano at school, winning the Recital Prize and the Duffield Strings Prize. She led the Thames Vale Youth Orchestra. In Kenya, she taught Music and Geography for a year before returning to read Geography at King's College London, where she was principal viola for the University of London Symphony orchestra. She now plays regularly with the Corinthian Chamber Orchestra.
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Sally Robinson (Viola)
Sally read Music at Edinburgh University and studied viola with Mike Beeston and Alan George. After working and playing in Central and Eastern Europe for nine years, she returned to the UK and is currently working with the long-term unemployed. Sally is principal viola with ESO (Ealing Symphony Orchestra) and plays regularly with chamber groups and orchestras in London.
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Sally Robinson |
Beth Scott |
Beth Scott (Viola)
Beth graduated from Durham University and now focuses her working life around hygiene and sanitation promotion in developing countries, based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and still plays in Fulham Symphony Orchestra, the Devonshire Players and occasional chamber groups. As a teenager, she attended the Junior Royal College of Music and the local Ealing Youth Orchestra initially on violin, then as a violist. |
Helen Fishwick (Cello)
Helen studied cello with David Smith at the RAM and with Hannah Roberts at the RNCM, where she also focused on string teaching and Dalcroze Eurhythmics. She now combines cello teaching and playing in London, performing regularly at Hampstead Music Club events, as principal cello with Fulham Symphony Orchestra and as a freelance orchestral musician. |
Helen Fishwick |
Rosie Ward |
Rosie Ward (Piano and Violin)
Rosie read English at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. She has an LRAM in piano accompaniment and has played in ensembles in Spain, Kenya and London. She has also played violin in Nairobi Orchestra, Oxford Symphony Orchestra and Fulham Symphony Orchestra. Rosie works in development and refugee education, most recently as ESOL lecturer at West Thames College, Isleworth. |
Peter McGowan (Mentor and Coach)
After study in violin and composition at the Royal College of Music, Peter worked for some 25 years as a classical orchestral musician, and latterly was violinist of ‘world music’ band The Penguin Café Orchestra. He also enjoyed success as a composer for dance in the late 1980s and continues to write the occasional score for ballet and chamber music. More recently, Peter trained as a Music Therapist and currently works with special needs children, in therapist training, and in research. Alongside this he maintains active music-making via chamber music, the occasional professional gig, and as the leader of Ealing Symphony Orchestra. |
Peter McGowan |
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Chris Demetriou,
Producer (Violin)
Chris studied Violin with Yossi Zivoni at the Royal
Northern College of Music in Manchester. Since then he has worked in New
York, Los Angeles and London as a Producer, Songwriter, String Arranger,
Programmer, Pro Tools Engineer and Session Player. He has worked on
various No.1 Albums and Blockbuster Movies (Shrek 2, King Arthur to
name a few.). Chris recently produced an Album for the Devonshire Players
which you can listen to here |
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