About

We’re thrilled to be hosting the inaugural concert of the Wild Arts Ensemble, formed to explore romantic music on gut strings. We welcome back Roman River Festival favourites Sijie Chen, Will McGahon and Richard Lester, together with newcomers to RRM Rebecca Chambers and Hannah Shaw, and our Artistic Director Orlando Jopling.

We’re thrilled to be hosting the inaugural concert of the Wild Arts Ensemble, formed to explore romantic music on gut strings. We welcome back Roman River Festival favourites Sijie Chen, Will McGahon and Richard Lester, together with newcomers to RRM Rebecca Chambers and Hannah Shaw, with our Artistic Director Orlando Jopling.

Like many early nineteenth century composers, Brahms struggled to emerge from the shadow of Beethoven. At 27, Brahms lacked the confidence to risk the comparison by writing string quartets. Instead, he embarked on the composition of his first string sextet – a relatively unfamiliar combination of instruments at the time. After its first performance in October 1860, Clara Schumann wrote in her diary “It was even more beautiful than I had anticipated, and my expectations were already high”.

Dvořák’s String Sextet (1878) was written at a period when the composer was profoundly influenced by Slavic folk tunes. Its gorgeous melodies and dancing rhythms have endeared it to audiences ever since.

 

Sijie Chen violin

Sijie is the co-leader of the London Mozart Players and she has appeared as leader and co-leader with the Academy of Ancient Music, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Dunedin Consort, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Welsh National Opera, and she tours with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Sijie was born in China and moved to the UK when she was 5 years old. She studied at Chetham’s School of Music and at the Royal College of Music and reached the string finals of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition. She is a founding member of the Raeburn Quartet, who play on gut strings. She regularly takes part in the Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music sessions, and has also performed chamber music in the Edinburgh International Festival as well as festivals in the USA, Canada and Israel. She made her debut with Roman River Music in 2021.

 

Will McGahon violin

Will McGahon enjoys a varied musical life as a historical performer, chamber-musician, recitalist and orchestral musician performing in the UK and across Europe. He is currently a Monteverdi Apprentice with the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, joining the orchestra in numerous projects throughout their current season.

Will was chosen as Britten-Pears Baroque Young Artist 2018. He has performed with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg in Baden-Baden and with members of the Manchester Camerata as well as the BBC Philharmonic as part of RNCM’s String Festival 2019. In September 2020, William was invited to take part in the Collegium Vocale Gent Academy in Belgium where he performed with Philippe Herreweghe around Belgium.’

 

Rebecca Chambers viola

Rebecca Chambers studied at Chethams School of Music and as an ABRSM scholar at the Royal College of Music. Soon after leaving college she became a member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and then the Philharmonia Orchestra where she was co-principal viola. Rebecca has also been a member of the John Wilson Orchestra and has played as a guest principal with the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and English Chamber Orchestra. In 2014 she joined the orchestra of English National Opera and in July 2016 was appointed principal viola.

 

Hannah Shaw viola

American-born violist Hannah Shaw enjoys a career spanning a wide variety of musical styles. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Hannah has performed throughout Europe and the USA, both as a chamber musician (with The Hague String Variations, Trio De Kooning, the Eusebius Quartet and others) and an orchestral player. Hannah has served as guest leader with a number of orchestras, including BBC National Orchestra of Wales and The Hague Philharmonic. Her interest in contemporary music has included collaborations with notable composers such as Eliott Carter, Louis Andriessen, Sofia Gubaidulina, and James MacMillan.

 

Richard Lester cello

Leading chamber-musician, solo-cellist, orchestral principal and renowned teacher, Richard appears regularly at the world’s foremost concert venues and festivals.

He was for many years principal with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and has been principal cello with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe since 1989. Richard was a member of the award-winning Florestan Trio, a founder member of the ensemble Domus, a member of Hausmusik and the London Haydn Quartet. He has also appeared as director and soloist with Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London Mozart Players, Irish Chamber Orchestra, and in Montreal and Quebec with Les Violons du Roy.

He has made over 40 highly acclaimed recordings, twice winning the Gramophone award for best chamber-music.

 

Orlando Jopling cello

Orlando read music at Trinity College Cambridge and studied conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the London Mozart Players and the Irish Chamber Orchestra among many others, both on the concert platform and in the recording studio. He was principal conductor and artistic advisor of the Royal Orchestral Society for ten years.

Orlando Jopling works as guest at the Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet,and was Associate Conductor of English National Ballet until 2020. He has conducted numerous opera productions with Savoy Opera, Carl Rosa, Independent Opera, British Youth Opera and with the opera companies he co-founded: the contemporary opera company Tête à Tête, and Stanley Hall Opera.

He has been artistic director of the Roman River Festival for twelve years.