Meet the Players

Leader	Anne Dales Anne was a music scholar at Roedean School. She continued her studies at the Royal College of Music (RCM ) aged 16 with Marie Wilson (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), Jack Steadman (London Symphony Orchestra) and John Barstow, piano. During her time at the RCM she played first violin in the College First Orchestra under conductors such as Sir Adrian Boult, Sir David Willcocks and Norman Del Mar and in the Twentieth Century Ensemble directed by Edwin Roxburgh. Following a 4th year of advanced study, she completed a PGCE in Streatham, studying violin with Jurgen Hess (then leader of the English Chamber Orchestra ) and viola with Max Gilbert. Anne normally leads Boston Sinfonia and has lead for various orchestras and operatic societies in the locality, as well as solo work. After teaching violin, viola, cello and double bass at Skegness Grammar School and cello and double bass at St Hugh's School in Woodhall Spa she has now moved to France, with her husband Michael, still leading the orchestra when possible.
Violin	Lucy Phillips Lucy is originally from Boston and has performed in Boston Sinfonia on and off since 1999. In 2003 she completed a degree in music at the University of York and she went on to do a Masters in Classical String Performance at the University of Limerick in Ireland. She now lives in York where she is a freelance violinist and teaches privately. She is one half of the duo York Barbican Players with pianist David Hammond and they have had a concert series in St Helen's Church in York for the last two years. In recent years Lucy has also performed with Sinfonia Bucureºti in Romania and in venues in Bath, Worksop and Gateshead.

Violin	Rohan Wilson Aged 8, the only one of his junior school group to get a Merit in Grade 1, Rohan was told he had talent for the violin. He later entered Rugby School as Music Scholar, and led the school orchestra for two years. At Cambridge he did scant practice, but played Violin 2 in CUMS for nearly four years, under some distinguished conductors. After a lapse of ten years in London he moved to Peterborough, brought out his fiddle and discovered the joys of playing in just about every local show which needed a violin or viola. He became Treasurer of the original Peterborough Symphony Orchestra. Following a period with orchestras in Merseyside and Tyneside he returned to Peterborough, had tuition with Jeremy Sampson and continues to play in CPSO and other classical ensembles. With degrees in Social Anthropology and Transport Studies he has worked in tour operation, as a lecturer in travel and tourism studies, and now for Sustrans, promoting cycling and cycle routes in Cambridgeshire.

Principal Cello	Jeremy Ard Jeremy began his career in 1968 with the BBC Scottish Symp hony Orchestra and continued as a freelance with orchestras including the London Symphony, the London Philharmonic and London Festival Ballet. He has a keen interest in Early Music playing Viola da Gamba with the Elizabethan Consort of Viols and directing the Farnaby Consort of Voices. He also enjoys directing MusicTheatre, productions range from Nabucco & Macbeth through Camelot, the Merry Widow, Gilbert and Sullivan to the likes of Godspel and Grease. His cello repertoire includes the concertos by Elgar, Saint-Saens, Haydn and Brahms, the major sonatas and a vast list of concert pieces. Now living in Necton with his wife, Lisa, and two children, he is a member of the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra and director of the Chanot Ensemble. Twelve years ago Jeremy started a business making and restoring violins, cellos, violas da gamba and guitars. He plays a French 'cello made by Georges Chanot in 1870 - an instrument he has owned since 1960.

Cello	Roy Phillips Roy studied music at Durham University. He worked for many years as an instrumental teacher with the Lincolnshire Music Support Service. Although now retired, he is still very active in the musical life of this area. As a cellist he has played regularly with the Boston Sinfonia since its inception. He is a member and former conductor of Boston Orchestra. One of his special interests is Baroque music. He plays cello and viola da gamba in the recently formed Fenland Consort. He is also an experienced piano accompanist and plays regularly for Boston Choral Society. He has, on occasion, accompanied professional singers and instrumentalists. He is organist of Wyberton Church and his hobbies include gardening, walking and reading.

Bassoon	Trevor McDonald

Principal Horn	Susan Shorland Susan was born in Devon and began studying music at the age of 10. She was introduced to brass playing by the Salvation Army and by the age of 17 was the principal Euphonium for the Woman’s Royal Army Corps Staff Band where she was regularly featured as a soloist in concerts and on recordings including a live performance on BBC’s Friday Night is Music Night. In 1986 she transferred to French Horn and studied under Denzil Floyd at Knellar Hall, obtaining an ARCM Performers diploma. She subsequently joined the Royal Air Force serving with the Central Band, winning the Valentine soloist award in 1992. She is currently the Principal Horn of the Band of the Royal Air Force College in Lincolnshire holding the rank of Chief Technician (Specialist Performer). She has travelled the world extensively to places such as the USA, Singapore, Europe and Hong Kong performing at many highly prestigious venues including many British Embassies and Royal Residences. Her most recent being at the Wings Graduation of HRH Prince William. Susan added conducting to her skills at the Salvation Army in Guildford where she held the position of Songster leader for several years. In 1995 she qualified as a Bandmaster in Military Music. She has recently taken up the post of Director of Music of the Lincolnshire Hospitals Band. She moved to Lincolshire in 1997 and has been the Principal horn for Boston Sinfonia for the last 7 years. She is also a member of the players committee and is involved in the organisation and running of the orchestra. Susan is also a competent pianist and has worked as an accompanist for various choral societies and choirs. She also has a busy teaching schedule as a brass and piano teacher in the local area.

Principal Double Bass	Andrew Marshall Andrew has two passions in his life – music and Esperanto. Following piano lessons from about 8, he took up the violin at 11 and taught himself the cello at 14. The viola slotted in somewhere along the line, but the double bass didn’t arrive on the scene until much later, after he’d secured a peri post teaching the cello and double bass in Grimsby. He eventually became County Head of Strings for Humberside until that county was abolished. Beside the Boston Sinfonia, Andrew also plays double bass in the Grimsby Symphony Orchestra, the City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, and the Lincolnshire Philharmonia Orchestra. He finds time for all this orchestral work having left teaching after 29 years! He now works part-time as Office Manager with an Asphalt Company near Grimsby. Away from double bass playing and office work, Andrew speaks Esperanto fluently. His wife is Japanese, and Esperanto remains their home language after 30 years of marriage. One of his proudest achievements is that he was the chief editor of musical terms for the revised 1,264-page Fully Illustrated Esperanto Dictionary, published in 2002.

Harp	Helen Orford Helen first became interested in playing the harp when she was seven years old at a concert featuring her older brother and sister (all her family are musical.) When asked what instrument she would like to learn she immediately chose the harp as it ‘looked the prettiest.’ At first it was difficult for her to find a local harp teacher and so she settled for learning the piano. She moved on to playing a small Celtic harp, being taught by a local folk fanatic. At the age of eight Helen finally found a teacher and a full-size orchestral pedal harp on which to learn. She first played professionally at a local wedding when she was nine years old. Since then her playing has developed under the teachings of Georgina Wells and she has played with several ensembles including Lincoln Pro Musica, Doncaster Concert Band and has been a member of Lincolnshire Youth Symphony Orchestra for five years. She has accompanied theatre works and large choirs such as Hallam Choral Society. Helen has also performed often as a soloist and regularly plays at weddings, christenings and other formal functions.

Percussion	Oli Butterworth Oli is a music student at The Royal College of Music, London, on Saturdays and a scholar at Lincoln Minster School during the week. He has toured Italy, France, Poland and many other European counties with County Orchestras plus having performed in China as a member of the National Children’s Orchestra and played in Carnegie Hall, New York with The Northampton Wind Band. He was a semi finalist in the Young Musician of The Year, percussion section in 2008. He also played in The Royal Albert Hall in November 2008 with Jazz Vehicle.