Nadine Benjamin MBE

Helen Bailey

Marika Rauscher is a London based, Global Award-Winning Opera Crossover Soprano, Vocal Coach, Choir Leader, Breathwork Facilitator and Communication/Presentation Coach.

As a performer she works as a Soloist, Session Singer and Bespoke Entertainment Specialist for Corporate and Private Engagements offering bespoke Entertainment packages for all types of Events.

Amongst her performance credits, Marika represented her motherland Austria in singing the National Anthem for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 opening match (England v Austria) at Old Trafford Stadium, has sung for the Royal Family accompanied by the Band of Scot Guards (a performance that was recorded as the official Christmas Concert, and broadcast globally on Christmas Day 2015 by BFBS Radio), made her operatic debut at The Royal Opera House: Covent Garden in Robert Carsen’s award winning production of ‘Dialogue of the Carmelites’, and has performed (as well as conducted her Choirs), at The Royal Albert and Royal Festival Halls, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall and countless churches/cathedrals/castles throughout the UK and abroad (has tonsils, will travel!) and was the in-house opera singer at Harrods of London from 2008-2014.

Marika’s vocals can also be heard on numerous Hans Zimmer film soundtrack recordings and trailers, including Madagascar 2, Spiderman 3, The Fantastic Four, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, King Kong, War of the Worlds, The Da Vinci Code and The Island and features on the original west-end cast recording of Cameron Macintosh’s production ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Flashdance: The Musical’. Amongst her recording credits are clients such as Xbox, the BBC, and the English National Opera and numerous independent films that have gone to high acclaim at Edinburgh, Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals.

Her Vocal Coaching ranges across all ages and abilities, as a Choir Leader and delivering workshops: in Schools, one-to-one vocal coaching and singing lessons, Lecturing as a Personal and Professional Development Coach at Universities (Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, University of York, Imperial College London, University of London), through to Communication and Presentation Skills on a Corporate Level with clients including: Forbes, Coca Cola, TX Maxx, BP, The Institute of Directors, UCD UK Conferences and as a member of the Professional Speaking Association London. Her clients enjoy high success rates on both the Singing and Professional Speaking platforms, and has Coached at Carnegie Hall in New York, in Latvia, in Europe and with clients as far as the Middle East.

Marika is also an experienced Choir Leader having worked with the Military Wives Choir and multiple Community Choirs around London. After leaving her position as the Musical Director of The London Stroke Choir, Marika started up 2x NHS Staff Choirs during lockdown, covering 10 Boroughs of London and Hertfordshire, specialising in Singing for Wellbeing (including Singing for Lung Health, Breathing, COPD, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Dementia) Marika expanded into facilitating Breathwork, delivering sessions online and in-person, in and around London.

www.marikarauscher.com

Lucy Wakeford

Elizabeth Bass

Richard Alsop took up the double bass aged 13 and later studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London with Robin McGee.  He was a member of English National Opera before joining the BBC Symphony Orchestra over 20 years ago.

Richard loves the orchestra’s varied repertoire and discovering new places on tour.

Away from the orchestra Richard enjoys playing the bass guitar and is a woodworker who has exhibited at the Borough of Ealing Art Trail.

Prof. Matej Lehocky was born in Prague and started playing the piano at the age of four.

He was later admitted to the prestigious Prague Conservatoire, where he studied under Professor Radomir Melmuka and gained three diplomas, one in each of piano (performance), composition and conducting.

In 2001 he won the International Gustav Mahler Competition in Eglau, Czech Republic. In 2003 Matej embarked on his professional career tour with the North Bohemia Philharmonic of Teplice, performing in major cities across Europe to huge numbers of classical music fans, including Golden Hall in Vienna.

Matej moved to the UK (Plymouth) in 2005, and soon acquired a name in the South-West for his virtuoso recitals. After relocating to Windsor in 2008, he repeated his success as a solo pianist at premier venues in the South, including several invitation-only performances at Vicars’ Hall, Windsor Castle.

Prof. Lehocky is now a keen adjudicator and also an educator of young musicians, which includes teaching piano, composition and arrangement at the helm of TVPS – his students are enjoying local, national and international acclaim.

Active as a soloist and chamber musician Ashley is the director of Florilegium, and much of his time is spent working and performing with this ensemble that he founded in 1991.  They have a busy touring schedule and each year perform at major international festivals and concert series throughout Europe as well as the Americas, Far East and Australia.  Florilegium have been recording with Channel Classics since 1993 and have to date made 37 recordings, many of which have garnered international awards.  They have given over 1,600 performances over the years.

As a soloist, he has performed worldwide, including concertos in the Sydney Opera House, Esplanade (Singapore), Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Konzerthaus (Vienna), Beethoven-Haus (Bonn), Handel-Haus (Halle) and Frick Collection (New York).

Combining a successful career across both theory and practice, Ashley Solomon is Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music, having been appointed a professor in 1994. In 2014 he was awarded a Personal Chair and in July 2017 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music (FRAM) which was conferred on him by HRH Duchess of Gloucester.  In 2019 he was also elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Music (FRCM) which was conferred on him by HRH Prince of Wales.  Both Fellowships are in recognition of outstanding services to music.  Since 2014 Ashley has been working closely with the Royal Collection Trust to curate musical performances in their Royal venues including Buckingham Palace (Queen’s Gallery, Ballroom) at Windsor Castle and in the Queen’s Chapel.  To listen to Ashley talking about and playing a porcelain flute click here.

Janice Gillard Studied the violin at the Royal Academy of Music with Trevor Williams and then with Ralph Holmes.

She has always been passionate about teaching and set up and directed a string scheme in a local school, teaching 30 young string players in each session.

Janice was also the musical director of a string orchestra in Blackheath for many years.

In 2003 she was awarded an ARAM by the Royal Academy of Music for services to the profession.

Currently, she has a large, private teaching practice, leads a tango orchestra and is the specialist string examiner for Trinity College London.

Sarah Kaznowski has recently retired from the BBC Symphony Orchestra, where she was a cellist for nearly for nearly 40 years.

Sarah initially studied at the RCM, and then went to Vienna for 2 years to study with the great French pedagogue Andre Navarra. On returning to the UK she took up a position in the CBSO, where she met her late husband Michal Kaznowski who was then the Principal Cello.

She joined the BBC and had a wonderful career, playing under great conductors, playing in the Proms and travelling the world.

Sarah has always enjoyed teaching and with her husband set up a thriving Children’s Orchestra which lasted many years.

Since retiring from the BBC Sarah plays in many chamber music ensembles and continues to teach extensively.