Laura van der Heijden and Tom Poster are in demand as both soloists and chamber musicians. There previous performances for Cockermouth Music Society delighted audiences so we are very pleased to welcome them back to share the stage at this evening’s concert. ...

Louise Thomson’s early notable successes included winning the Harp Finals at the world renowned Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales Competition in 2003 and performing as a Finalist in the London International Harp Competition in 2005. Since then, she has performed with some of the country’s most respected ensembles: the Hallé Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra and Manchester Concert Orchestra. ...

The Haffner Wind Ensemble is one of Britain’s leading chamber ensembles and one of the most established wind quintets in Britain. Each member of the ensemble is a chamber musician and a soloist as well as a principal of the Britten Sinfonia; in addition, all are experienced teachers in the UK and abroad. The breadth of their musical experience as individuals and their extensive work together in the Britten Sinfonia combine to create a secure and fluent ensemble, one which plays with freshness and vivacity and which excels not only in the classics of the wind repertoire but also in contemporary music. ...

Regular performances in some of the world’s most prestigious venues have confirmed Florilegium’s status as one of Britain’s most outstanding period instrument ensembles. Since their formation in 1991 they have established a reputation for stylish and exciting interpretations, from intimate chamber works to large-scale orchestral and choral repertoire, working as an instrumental ensemble and also in collaboration with some outstanding solo singers and choirs. This performance brings together some of Florilegium’s principal artists to play a programme of early French music. ...

In great demand as a soloist and chamber musician, John Paul Ekins has performed all over the world, broadcast for the BBC and won 19 awards in national competitions. He played for Cockermouth Music Society in 2019 where he delighted audiences with his performance of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”. We are very pleased to welcome him back. ...

Violinist Mathilde Milwidsky began her studies at the Royal College of Music Junior Department where she was a Tsukanov Scholar taught by Viktoria Grigoreva and David Takeno. She then studied at the Royal Academy of Music as a full scholarship student under György Pauk, graduating in July 2017 with First Class Honours and the Regency Award for notable achievement, the Louise Child Memorial Prize for highest-achieving graduate and the Marjorie Heyward Fund for the highest violin mark of the year. She has been praised for her “rich velvety sound” (Crescendo Magazine) and is joined tonight by Annie Yim, a Hong Kong-born Canadian concert pianist whose performance has been described by The Times as "the most beautiful sounds, radiantly coloured, thoughtfully articulated”. This concert is supported by the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme. ...

An internationally renowned Anglo-Irish string quartet based in the UK, the versatile and award-winning Carducci String Quartet has performed everything from brand new quartets, classic works by Haydn, complete Shostakovich cycles, and even partnered with folk-rock icon Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. Founded in 1997, the ensemble has won numerous international competitions, including Concert Artists Guild International Competition USA 2007 and First Prize at Finland’s Kuhmo International Chamber Music Competition 2004. Described by The Strad as presenting “a masterclass in unanimity of musical purpose, in which severity could melt seamlessly into charm, and drama into geniality″, the Carducci Quartet is recognised as one of today’s most successful string quartets. ...