Samantha Moore, Flute and Piccolo

By the age of 11 Samantha had already performed a flute concerto with a local orchestra. She played with the National Youth Orchestra and won a scholarship, prizes and a Senior Exhibitioner Scholarship at the Royal College of Music.

Since graduating, Samantha has developed a varied freelance career. She has worked with many opera companies, symphony orchestras and chamber groups, especially enjoying wind quintet projects to inspire the next generation of musicians with Chamberhouse Winds.

Helen Manente, Flute and Piccolo

Helen Manente studied flute and piccolo at the Royal College of Music in London. She graduated with her BMus(Hons) and MMus in 2005 and has since pursued a career as a freelance orchestral and chamber musician, as well as a keen flute tutor.

Helen lives in Kent with her husband and three sons, and aside from music-making, enjoys reading, yoga and running 

Laura Manning, Oboe and Cor Anglais

Laura was a Junior Exhibitioner at the Royal College of Music and continued her studies at Nottingham University and the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Holland.

Laura enjoys a varied freelance career, encompassing National and International tours. As an orchestral musician, Laura has performed at all of the major UK concert venues with established orchestras. She has played chamber music all around the country and her theatre work includes West End productions and national tours.

Louise Sprekelson

Oboe and Cor Anglais

Louise studied at the Royal College of Music in London. She was then invited to become Principal Oboe of Orquesta do Norte, Portugal then Principal Oboe of the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra at the age of only 26.

After five years of touring and weekly TV and radio broadcasts Louise returned to the UK and now performs freelance as guest Principal with orchestras including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Ballet Sinfonia and Orchestra of the Swan. 

Olivia Duque, Oboe

Olivia studied at the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music. She held a seat with the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra, Mexico, freelances with orchestras in London and Ireland, and toured Europe and America with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

Olivia’s work as a musician/performance artist includes the pop-arts orchestra The Irrepressibles, performing at Latitude Festival, Fabric, The Roundhouse and European festivals.

Olivia has recently recorded music for a project for the NHS, ‘The Texture of Air’.

Juliet Bucknall, Clarinet and Bass Clarinet

Juliet studied the clarinet at the Junior department of The Royal College of Music and then as a full-time student there with Thea King and Colin Bradbury.

Juliet has worked with many leading orchestras including the English Chamber Orchestra and Ballet Rambert as well as playing with the Chameleon Arts Orchestra for many years. She taught at Alleyns School in Dulwich for 21 years before recently returning to live in her home town.

Howard Legge, Bassoon and Contrabassoon

Howard studied bassoon at the Royal Academy of Music with Gwydion Brooke and was the first recipient of Florence Woodbridge Prize. He studied contrabassoon with John Burness.

Howard has been sub-Principal Bassoon with English National Ballet since 1986. He is a visiting music teacher at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Boys, Aldenham School and Quainton Hall School as well as Woodwind Tutor for the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra since 2004.