The Alauna Ensemble was originally formed to give a performance in Chichester Cathedral of a piano quintet by the late Robert Stewart, composer, pianist, repetiteur and organ scholar.
The ensemble was reformed six years ago and has performed concerts in England and Wales,
including concerts in Oxford and London.

Thomas Watmough (clarinet) was a student at the Purcell School and the Guildhall School of Music. Since leaving the Guildhall in 1993 he has worked with many of the British orchestras both at home and abroad. Thomas has also worked as a soloist.
‘an electrifying clarinet soloist’ – Edward Greenfield, The Guardian
‘eloquent and agile in the lead role’ – Barry Millington, The Times
‘an outstanding young player’ – The Independent

Marcus Bates (horn) started his varied career by spending five years playing as principal horn in symphony orchestras in Gran Canaria, Majorca and Malaga in Spain, returning to London in 1993. Since then he has played with most major British symphony and opera orchestras and worked extensively in London's West End Theatres. He is currently playing in South Pacific at the National Theatre.

Peter Morgan (bassoon) studied with Roger Birnstingl and Martin Gatt at the Guildhall School of Music and with Mordechai Rechtmann in Tel Aviv. Peter has worked with many of the country's leading orchestras and ensembles and for twelve years, until 1996, was principal bassoon with the Orchestra of English National Ballet.

Gabrielle Painter (violin) has performed throughout Europe, Canada and the United States as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. Her concerto engagements have included performances of Szymanowski’s First Violin Concerto at the Staller Center, New York, performances of Lou Harrison’s Violin Concerto and a performance of the Triple Concerto by Beethoven in Germany, recorded for German National Radio. Gabrielle has also been a guest artist at venues including the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine Chamber Music Series (NY), the Miller Theatre (NY), the London Festival of Chamber Music (UK), and with the Mark Morris Dance Group. Dedicated to the performance of music of our time, she is a founding member of the New York based furious band who can be heard on CRI and New World Records.
Gabrielle holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studied with Diana Cummings and a Master of Music Degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where she will also receive her Doctorate of Musical Arts. She was a scholarship student of and Teaching Assistant to Mitchell Stern, who sadly died last year. Gabrielle is currently teaching at the junior department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Winner of the Montgomery Violin Competition 2001(US), Gabrielle has also won awards from the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, the Ackerman Awards and the Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Awards.

Annette Morgan (viola) comes from Cambridgeshire and studied at the Royal College of Music with Roger Best and Frederick Riddle. She pursues a busy career teaching and works with many orchestras and ensembles in London and elsewhere. 

Martin Thomas (‘cello) studied at the Royal Academy in London where he became a founder member of the Coull Quartet. After eleven years playing with the quartet he left to pursue a freelance career playing with orchestras in London.
Martin now enjoys a busy life playing in orchestras, teaching and performing chamber music. He is currently a member of the Archaus Quartet.

Antonia Bakewell (double bass) read history at University College, London, then studied as a post-graduate at the Royal College of Music.
As a freelance musician based in London she works with a wide range of orchestras including the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Royal Ballet Sinfonia, London Philharmonic and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.