Hannah Roberts – ’Cello

HANNAH ROBERTS is one of the outstanding 'cellists of her generation. She feels privileged to have worked closely with the late William Pleeth at the Yehudi Menuhin School, and with Ralph Kirshbaum at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Hannah has won many awards, including prizewinning finalist in the BBC TV Young Musician of the Year, and Silver medal for a performance of the Elgar Concerto with the LSO at the Barbican during the Shell/LSO Competition. She was also declared joint winner, with composer and pianist Simon Parkin, of the International Morley College Centenary Concerto prize, playing a concerto written for her by the composer. Prestigious awards have also included the Jacqueline du Pre memorial award and the Pierre Fournier award, as a result of which she gave a highly successful debut recital at the Wigmore Hall. Among her competition successes have been the Tunbridge Wells Young Concert Artists Competition, and the Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year.

Since making her concerto debut aged 16 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Hannah has given numerous concerto performances with leading orchestras, including the London Mozart Players, LSO, BBC Concert Orchestra, and the Halle. She has also made frequent broadcasts for BBC radio. Festival appearances have included Chichester, Malvern, Beverley, ‘Beethovenfest’ and regular participation in the prestigious ‘Manchester International Cello Festival. In addition to her acclaimed duo partnership with husband Simon Parkin, Hannah has enjoyed working with the late Lord Menuhin, pianist Martin Roscoe and violinist Tasmin Little, with whom she has recorded for ASV.

Engagements for the forthcoming season include a performance at London’s Wigmore Hall, a recital in the Leeds international Chamber Series and the premiere of a new work for six ‘Celli by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in the 2007 RNCM Manchester International ‘Cello Festival

Hannah Roberts is internationally respected as a teacher whose past students include chamber musicians, international prizewinners and principal ‘cellists. She is frequently invited to give masterclasses in addition to her post at the Royal Northern College of Music . She is grateful for the use of a Giovanni Grancino ‘cello

Simon Parkin – Piano

Simon Parkin was born in Manchester and at the age of ten won a place at the Yehudi Menuhin School, where his teachers included Marcel Ciampi, Vlado Perlemuter and Nadia Boulanger.

Subsequent study was in Manchester, where he gained concurrent degrees at the University and the Royal Northern College of Music, where his composition teacher was Anthony Gilbert.

He secured a lectureship at the R.N.C.M. upon graduation, and has taught both composition and improvisation at the Menuhin School.

As a composer, Simon has had many broadcasts and performances in the U.K., on the continent and in the U.S.A. He has had pieces performed at the Park Lane Group series in the Purcell Room on three separate occasions, won an international prize with a 'cello concerto written for his wife, Hannah Roberts, and had a large-scale choral work broadcast twice on German radio.

He has also broadcast on BBC radios 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well as Classic FM, BBCTV, ITV and Channel 4, and has had articles published by BBC Music Magazine.

Concert experience started while still at school, and is now extensive, with a range of internationally respected partners. His duo with Hannah Roberts has been acclaimed in 'The Strad' for its 'rare ensemble and musical intelligence.' He gave a successful and highly praised performance of the Elliott Carter Piano Sonata in the 2005 Edinburgh Festival . Concerts in the coming season include a recital with Hannah Roberts in the Leeds International Chamber Concerts series and performances at the Manchester International Cello Festival.

He has released a recital disk with violinist Detlef Hahn on the ASV label.

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