Piano
Patrick Hemmerlé
Piano
Patrick Hemmerlé is one of Europe’s foremost and most enigmatic pianists. Refusing to follow musical traditional conventions, he has forged a unique path in the musical world which leaves him free to immerse himself with singular dedication into the repertoire and musical expression resonating with his profoundest convictions. The results are interpretations of startling insight and originality. By dauntlessly performing all 24 Chopin Etudes or 24 of Bach’s Preludes and Fugues in a single concert, as well as championing lesser-known composers he feels a deep affinity for, he has developed a reputation as an original with something out of the ordinary to say.
A charismatic speaker, he is able to elucidate the musical concepts close to his heart with unapologetic candour in a manner that both mirrors and complements his piano playing. Not comfortable with compromise, he engages with his audience from the keyboard with an energy and integrity that leaves no-one in the room in doubt as to his musical intentions.
French born and trained at the Conservatoire de Paris under Billy Eidi, and laureate of many international piano competitions, he now lives in Cambridge, England, where he has built up a staunchly loyal following. He also performs all over the world and recent engagements have taken him to New York, Berlin, Paris, Vienna and Prague and China. He has published 5 CDs. Patrick is a member of Clare Hall, where he is in charge of the concert programme.
Marie-Noëlle Kendall
Piano
Marie-Noëlle Kendall is a pillar of the Cambridge musical community. Not only is she one of that rare group of local musicians with an active performing career, she has also made her mark on the city by touching countless aspiring musicians from all walks of life. She has a deep passion for chamber music and takes great pleasure in collaborating with fellow musicians.
Marie-Noëlle was a Cambridge undergraduate before going off to further her studies in Hungary. She later returned to settle here and has delighted local concert goers ever since. She is a founding member of the Cambridge Chamber Academy where she coaches chamber music and gives masterclasses.
Irina Lyakhovskaya
Piano
Irina Lyakhovskaya is a highly regarded pianist performing as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist. She has given many performances at leading international venues including the Southbank Centre, Wigmore Hall, Symphony Hall, Cadogan Hall, Kings Place and St John’s Smith Square, St Petersburg Philharmonic, Smetana Hall and Porto Coliseum and at concert clubs and festivals across the UK. As a concerto soloist, she has performed works by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann, Grieg, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Scriabin and Rachmaninov. Born in St Petersburg, she studied with Alexander Sandler at the St Petersburg Conservatoire and with John Bingham in London. As an active chamber musician, Irina is a member of the City Soloists Ensemble and Libre Piano Trio, and.has performed cycles of complete violin works by Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann and Schubert. She has also recorded the complete Mozart sonatas with violinist Eleanor Percy for the Melodiya label as well as sonatas by Brahms and Prokofiev for the IMLab label.
Irina is one of the most sought-after accompanists in London, working regularly with all the London music colleges, and is an official pianist at Trinity Laban and Royal Academy of Music. She has also worked as an official accompanist for orchestral auditions for the Royal Opera House, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Opera. She has also been the pianist for masterclasses with Ivry Gitlis, Tasmin Little, Raphael Wallfisch, Leonid Gorokhov, Matthew McDonald, Andrew Marriner, and Chi-Chi Nwanoku amongst many others. She lives in London and is a faculty member at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Violin and Viola
Simon Song
Violin and Viola
Simon Song is an Australian violinist and violist based in the UK. He has toured with orchestras across Europe, Asia and Oceania, performing in such venues as the Vienna Musikverein, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Hamer Hall. He has worked under eminent conductors such as Sir Mark Elder, Barbara Hannigan, Trevor Pinnock, Ryan Wigglesworth and John Wilson.
While Simon enjoys a broad range of performance ranging from solo repertoire to orchestral repertoire to the occasional jazz session, his true passion lies in chamber music. The desire to fully experience the nuanced possibilities of its collaborative spirit eventually led to a transition from the violin to the viola, and is what lies behind his passion for teaching. In the same spirit, Simon also frequently works in collaboration with composers and enjoys premiering new works.
Before coming to London to complete a Masters Degree and a Professional Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music under violist Martin Outram, Simon graduated from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. He has recently embarked on a professional freelance career.
Cello
Brian O'Kane
Cello
Irish cellist Brian O’Kane enjoys a busy career as both soloist and chamber musician. Since winning first prize at the Windsor International String Competition in 2008, he has made his debuts with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra under Ashkenazy and in recital at the Wigmore Hall. Brian is a former "Rising Star" of Ireland's National Concert Hall and he recently recorded his debut CD for the Champs Hill label.
An avid chamber musician, Brian enjoys playing as a member of the Cappa Ensemble and Navarra Quartet. He has collaborated with a wide variety of artists such as Michael Collins, Aleksandar Madzar, Anthony Marwood, Pekka Kuusisto, Lawrence Power, Antoine Tamestit and Sir James Galway. Brian has also performed at concert halls and festivals throughout the world such as Sydney Opera House, Suntory Hall Tokyo, Seoul Arts Centre, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, West Cork, Radio France-Montpellier, Lockenhaus and the Weesp Chamber Music Festival, Holland of which his quartet are the artistic directors.
A graduate of both the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, Brian‘s biggest influences have come from Louise Hopkins and at Prussia Cove, Aldeburgh & Chamber Studio from studies with Ralph Kirshbaum, Steven Isserlis, Ferenc Rados and Eberhard Feltz. Brian currently plays on a Rugieri cello made in Cremona c.1690.