SOPHIE SILVERSTONE
Violin
Experienced in everything from orchestras and operas to string quartets and solo performances, Sophie is versatile and artistic.
She performs classical music, contemporary covers, church hymns, Jewish music and even Bollywood hits on acoustic and electric violin. She also currently plays with Matthew Clayton in a violin and piano duo.
A member of Cardiff Sinfonietta, Welsh Sinfonia, North East Wales Sinfonia and Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra (London) in recent years, Sophie was also Leader of the Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra 2016 - 2017. Sophie recorded with Sinfonia Cymru for the 10th anniversary celebration of the Wales Millennium Centre as well. During conservatoire training, Sophie was Leader of the Royal Welsh College Opera Orchestra under Simon Phillippo and Co-Leader of the Royal Welsh College Symphony Orchestra under Carlo Rizzi. Additionally, she earned positions on two orchestral placement schemes, the first with the Utah Symphony and the second with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Sophie was previously the first violinist of the Silverstone Quartet, who were semi-finalists in the McGrenery Chamber Music Prize 2015 and played in masterclasses with the Allegri Quartet, Elias Quartet and the London Haydn Quartet.
Sophie has performed solo violin in masterclasses with Itzhak Rashkovsky, Daniel Phillips, Rachel Podger, David Adams, John Stein, Leonard Braus, David Park and Simon Rowland Jones with a vast range of solo repertoire. Originally from Park City, Utah, U.S.A., she was a member of the Utah Youth Symphony Orchestra (2006-2010) and was Concertmaster in 2010. Sophie was also first violinist of the Silver Strings Quartet, which performed in Utah from 2006 until 2010.
Check out Sophie's personal website here.
claire edwards
Violin
Claire freelances on acoustic, baroque and electric violin for session work or live performances spanning classical, folk and pop repertoire.
Claire took up the violin with great enthusiasm at the age of 10. In her last few years of school, she accepted a place to study at Yorkshire Young Musicians (YYM) in Hull under Michel Gurevich and from there went on to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.
Since graduating in 2015, Claire freelances for various ensembles, orchestras and events, and has performed in many concert halls and festivals both in the UK and Internationally.
As well as Destiny's Strings, Claire is a member of Noxwode, The Kilpecks, Misted Hazel and performs regularly with ELO tribute band; Explosive Light Orchestra.
Highlights include: performing at the Presidential Palace for the last night of the Valletta International Baroque Festival, Weymouth Folk Festival, Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Rundfunkchor Berlin and performing with Harry Christophers and Genesis Sixteen.
ruth rose
Viola
Ruth is an accomplished and versatile violinist and violist who enjoys playing a diverse range of styles from classical, bollywood and jazz to rock. Educated at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, she has attained a wealth of experience as a soloist and in various ensembles including orchestras, chamber groups and theatre shows.
Ruth now plays electric and acoustic violin and viola throughout the UK and internationally as a soloist and with groups, in addition to touring as electric violinist with ELO AGAIN. She has performed at venues around the UK including St. Davids and the Usher hall, and has toured extensively around Europe. See more about her on her personal website.
izzy austin
Cello
Izzy undertook her training at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she was awarded the Bridgewood & Neitzert Bach Prize for Strings 2019.
Izzy has played in masterclasses taken by Raphael Wallfisch, Daniel Muller-Schott, Paul Watkins, Pieter Wispelwey, Narek Hakhnazaryan, Alice Neary, Adrian Brendel and Richard Tunnicliffe, amongst others. Izzy worked closely with Paul Patterson to perform the Welsh Premiere of his composition, Spider’s Web, for harp and string quartet.
During her time at RWCMD, Izzy was appointed Principal Cellist of both the Royal Welsh Symphony and the Royal Welsh Chamber Orchestras. As a member of the Royal Welsh String Soloists, Izzy has performed alongside Nicola Benedetti, Pieter Wispelwey and Leonard Elschenbroich.
Izzy regularly records for various artists, plays in live shows, enjoys chamber and orchestral playing, and performs as a soloist. Check our her website for more.
