Conductor – Emma Kent
Emma Kent studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire with Janet Hilton (Clarinet) and Andrew Mogrelia (Conducting) gaining a first class honours degree. During her time at the Conservatoire she won the Ludlow Philharmonic prize and Conservatoire Concerto Competition with her performance of the Copland Clarinet Concerto. She was also awarded the exclusive clarinet placement on the prestiguous CBSO Woodwind Training Scheme (1996/97) working with Sir Simon Rattle and Parvo Jarvi amongst others. Although conducting was Emma's second study at music college, she was awarded joint conductorship of the Birmingham Conservatoire Sinfonietta; an orchestra that specialised in twentieth century repertoire.
Following her time in Birmingham, Emma then proceeded to take a Post-Graduate Diploma in Orchestral Studies at the Royal College of Music. This was a course that was run in collaboration with the RPO.
Since graduating in 1999 Emma has relocated to the South West and in September 2004 assumed the post of Director of Music at West Buckland School. Alongside the demands of full-time teaching, Emma still finds time to perform with ensembles such as the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Cornish Sinfonia and other professional orchestras in the South West.
Leader – Dan Kent
Born in 1976, Dan started to learn the violin at the tender age of 3 and went on to study at the Birmingham Conservatoire with Gabrielle Lester (CBSO & RPO), graduating in 1999. As well as playing with the college orchestras, he was a member of the Thallein Contemporary Music Ensemble, Avison Chamber Orchestra and New Mannheim Orchestra, as well as national Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra, Mid Wales Opera (where he met his wife Emma) and Britten-Pears Orchestra. He has worked with many distinguished conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Mark Elder, Genadi Roshdetsvenksy, Pinchas Zuckerman, Paavo Jarvi, Tadaki Otaka, and Oliver Knussen.
Since leaving college Dan has pursued a career path as a Management Accountant but has always played regularly with orchestras and ensembles, freelancing for a while in the London area and later playing as a member of the New Bristol Sinfonia and Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra. As well as being Leader of the North Devon Sinfonia since 2004 (and rather predictably, Treasurer too!), Dan also currently plays with the professional Taunton Sinfonietta and has played for Ten Tors Orchestra and Cornish Sinfonia. He is also 1st violin with the Exmoor String Quartet, and performs in many other concerts in the local area.
Name: Jude Colin
Instrument: Oboe
Length of service in NDS? Since 2004
Where’s Home? Exeter
Jude was born in Oxford and has played the oboe for 35 years, a fact she describes as scary! Her favourite orchestral work is Mahler 5 and she loves playing in NDS because of its‘light-hearted attitude with a determination to perform well’. The last book Jude read was ‘The Road to Timbuktu’ which is obvious really as she’s been there herself recently (yes really). An interesting fact about Jude that people might not know is that she spent five years doing post-graduate research on tapeworms in fish (flip, making oboe reeds must seem quite interesting after that!)
Name: David Taylor
Instrument: Violin
Length of service in NDS? 8 weeks!
Where’s Home? Stoke Rivers
David is a writer based in North Devon who has recently rediscovered his violin after years of disuse. Originally from Dartford in Kent he started playing the violin aged 10. His favourite orchestral work is Sibelius No. 2 . . . . . or 5 . . . . . or 4 (well he’s in luck this April then!). He thinks the best thing about playing in NDS is ‘rediscovering the pleasure of playing with other people’. The last book he read was ‘Tarka the Otter’ because he thought he ought to (don’t we all – what about Laura Doone?). If he could have three wishes they would be 1) to play the violin like Alfred Brendel 2) no, I mean the piano . . . 3) Like David Oistrach 4) can I have another wish? An interesting fact about David that people might not know is that he used to edit a magazine called ‘Cranes Today’ (sounds like fun).
Name: Matt Bale
Instrument: ‘cello
Length of service in NDS? Since 2005
Where’s Home? South Molton
Matt is a planning officer by day and asks not to be lynched for it! His favourite orchestral work is Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and he says the best thing about playing in NDS is the repertoire. Originally from Brighton he would chose Cambodia as his holiday destination of choice. If he were granted three wishes they would be 1) to visit as many countries as possible 2) to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic 3) to live happily ever after