York String Quartet

Quartet Members

Fiona Love, Violin

Fiona started playing the piano aged 3½. At 10, she started having violin lessons, and had her first orchestral experience with Nottingham County Music Services. Fiona won a scholarship to study piano at the Royal College of Music. At her scholarship audition, she was asked what she wanted to do when she grew up; She said “Play the violin in an orchestra”’. This caused some amusement, but she still got the scholarship. After college she played with Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, and then with the Orchestra of Opera North for the next 10 years. She now freelances with many orchestras in the North of England, and is the leader for the York Guildhall Orchestra.

Nicola Rainger, Violin

Nicola took up the violin at the age of 8 and was a Junior Exhibitioner at the Royal College of Music from the age of 11. She led the Junior RCM Orchestra and was offered a place at the RCM, chosing to read music at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford University instead. She performed regularly with the Haydn Chamber Orchestra in London, and spent two years performing and teaching in Switzerland. Nicola now combines performing and teaching with regular concerts with the York Guildhall Orchestra, and the Amici Ensemble and she is the leader for the orchestra for York Musical Society.

Vince Parsonage, Violin, Viola

Vince was born and studied in New Zealand, playing with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra before going to Melbourne, Australia to further his studies at the Victorian College of the Arts.  He has had a number of Australian works written for him and in 1990 he received first prize at the Dandenong International Recital Competition, Australia. Vince has recorded as a soloist for Radio New Zealand, and is now a member of the Orchestra of Opera North. His freelance career includes concerts with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, RLPO, and the Northern Sinfonia.

Sally Ladds, ‘ Cello

Sally studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. Since graduating in 1991 she has established herself as a freelance ‘cellist in much demand, and has worked with Northern Ballet, The Manchester Camerata, The Manchester Concert Orchestra, The Northern Sinfonia and the Orchestra of Opera North. Sally balances her extensive playing career with a teaching practice that includes teaching the ‘cello at Leeds Grammer School. Sally is principal ‘cello of the York Guildhall Orchestra.

Guest members

Maggy Lamb, Viola

Maggy was co-principal viola with the English National Opera Orchestra for nine years before spending eight years playing for the Philharmonia Orchestra. She moved to a teaching position in York in 1995, and now divides her time between freelance viola playing, teaching, singing, coaching orchestras and examining for Trinity Guildhall.

Sara Gilford, ‘Cello

Sara started her career as sub-principal ‘cello at English National Opera, moving some time later to join the BBC Symphony Orchestra. She then free-lanced for many years, primarily with the City of London Sinfonia and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, before becoming an associate member of The Philharmonia. She now teaches and plays in the York area.

Our Repertoire

We are an experienced quartet, equally at home on the recital platform or providing a unique ambience for your special event. We can put together a classical recital programme that is carefully chosen to reflect a range of classical and contemporary music. Our extensive repertoire includes a broad range of classical, pop, jazz, TV and film repertoire. We always aim to play a mixture of all types of music in order to cater for a wide range of tastes and ages.

If you have a request for a particular piece of music, check with us to see if it is on our full repertoire list. Music that is not on our repertoire list can sometimes be sourced or arranged for you at additional cost.

Here is a small selection from our repertoire list.