Alistair Kennedy, Principal 2nd Violin

Since graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Alistair has pursued a busy professional career, playing with many orchestras including Orchestra of the Swan, Orchestra da Camera, Moscow City Ballet Orchestra, English Symphony Orchestra, and is currently leader of both English Pro Musica and The International Film Orchestra.

Alistair has toured with “Phantom of the Opera” and has performed with a large number of “pop” artists including Chris de Burgh, Leo Sayer, Victoria Beckham, Wizard, Procul Harlem, and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. He has made numerous recordings for film and television. Solo engagements have included both Beethoven Romances with the English Philharmonic Orchestra, “The Lark Ascending”, “The Seasons” and the Beethoven Triple Concerto.

Jason Glover, Principal Viola

Jason began playing piano and violin from the age of eight. He studied viola at Trinity College of music obtaining a DipTcl and PGcert in performance . 

Over the last twenty years since leaving college, Jason has enjoyed a varied freelance career, encompassing most aspects of performing, including working on Cameron Mackintosh national touring productions of Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, My Fair Lady and Oliver. 

Other engagements have include arena tours with Jeff Wayne's musical version of War of the Worlds, the Carl Rosa Opera Company, Grange Park Opera, English National Ballet, London Concert Orchestra, Manchester Concert Orchestra and the National Gilbert and Sullivan Orchestra

Adrian Smith, Co-Principal Viola

Adrian studied at Royal Holloway College and Trinity College of Music. He is now much in demand as a freelance viola player.

Adrian has worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC and BBC Concert Orchestras, and has toured with them all over the world. In London’s West End he has played for ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Les Miserables’, ‘Miss Saigon’, ‘Sweeney Todd’, and most recently ‘The King and I’ at the London Palladium. Last year he toured the country with Nigel Kennedy.

Adrian is a busy session player and has recorded much for film and television including ‘Downton Abbey’, ‘The League of Gentlemen’, and currently ‘Vanity Fair’.

Jane Browne, Co-Principal Viola

Jane studied as a teenager with Lionel Bentley, and went on to study with him and Clarence Myerscough at the Royal Academy of Music.

Jane works as a freelance violin\viola player and teaches these instruments. She has also found time for a very successful career as an illustrator of children’s picture books.

Jane has played with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Concert Orchestra, in the West End with ‘Sweeney Todd’, and in international tours of ‘Les Miserables’ and Jeff Wayne’s ‘War of the Worlds’. She appeared in the orchestra in the film Mission Impossible 5 ‘ Rogue Nation’

Jane Tyler, Co-Principal Viola

Jane took a music degree at St Catherine’s College Oxford, followed by a postgraduate year at the Guildhall School of music, and she then trained at the National Centre for Orchestral Studies.

After college Jane worked for the Menuhin Foundation of Bermuda for a year, then played viola with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, and was later a member of the RTE National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.

Jane is currently a freelance viola player, teaches privately and for Bromley Youth Music Trust, and is a founder member of the Hammig String Quartet who have been giving recitals in the South East and beyond for many years.

Lorraine Deacon, Principal Cello

Lorraine's performing career ranges from West End theatre to the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, whilst recordings are as disparate as the haunting cello solo on Katie Melua’s cover of “Turn to Tell” and the string chamber works of David Osbon with the Anglo American duo for Albany Records. Recent solo engagements include Bernstein’s Three Meditations and the concertos of Elgar and Walton.

For many years Lorraine has taught the cello at Wellington College and is also very much in demand as a specialist string adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals.

Lawrence Durkin, Co-Principal Cello

Lawrence pursues an active freelance career as an orchestral and chamber musician and performs regularly in the UK. Prestigious performances include recitals at the Cheltenham International Festival, the Purcell Room, and Texas University.

Lawrence studied at the Royal College of Music and has participated in masterclasses with Alexander Baillie, Johannes Goritzki, Christoph Richter and members the Alban Berg and Keller Quartets. From 2004-6, he was an Artist-in-Residence at the Performing Arts Institute in Pennsylvania.

Lawrence teaches at St. George’s College, the Oxford Cello School and is a tutor for the National Orchestra for All. He is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Damon Burrows,

Principal Double Bass

Damon has a busy and varied career as a freelance double bass player. Since graduating from the Royal College of Music, he has continued to perform with many major London and regional orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic, the London Chamber and Concert Orchestras, Brighton Philharmonic and the English Symphony Orchestra. He has worked under the baton of many revered conductors such as Sir Georg Solti, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Barry Wordsworth.

Damon also performs regularly in West End and touring musical productions. He was the chair-holder for the Wicked tour, and deputised for the acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi Theatre.

Kenneth Knussen,

Co-Principal Double Bass

Kenneth Knussen joined the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1985 after a short period as a member of the Scottish National Orchestra. Deciding on a freelance career he left the BBCSO after seven years and was soon working regularly with the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic and English National Opera.

Kenneth is currently Principal Bass of the London Concert Orchestra as well as a frequent guest at the Royal Opera House.