An opportunity to hear the recently re-formed Quartet Pro Musica, with the peerless Pat Halling, founder of the original quartet in London over a half century ago.
The quartet will play a delightful programme including Vaughan Williams's 'The Lark Ascending', Schubert's sublime 'Rosamunde' quartet, and a Haydn masterpiece, Opus 76 No 5, the 'Largo' quartet.
Patrick Halling (violin) has had an extraordinarily varied musical career. Born in Tasmania, he was a soloist for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the age of 10. On arrival in England he studied in London with Max Rostal, played with the Hirsch Quartet, before starting Quartet Pro Musica. Over a period spanning twenty five years, the quartet toured extensively and played on numerous recorded concerts with the BBC. During the 1960s and 1970s, Pat was involved in a wide variety of music outside the classical world, including film, television, popular music and musical theatre. He is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
Gosia Kuznicki (violin) graduated from Trinity College of Music in 2008 with a BMus(Hons) and from Christchurch University in 2013 with an MMus. She also studied in Vienna with Joanna Madroszkiewicz and joined Gordan Nikolitch’s and Goran Gribajcevic’s class at Codarts, in Rotterdam. She has held the role of Musician in Residence at St Edmund’s School in Canterbury, and has also worked alongside members of the English Chamber Orchestra and The English Pocket Opera Company in outreach projects in schools. She has performed with various chamber ensembles and orchestras in the UK and Europe. In 2011, she took part in the award-winning contemporary music festival, Sounds New, performing works by George Crumb and Anton Webern and has also taken part in festivals in The Lake District, Wired Up Festival of Contemporary Music and has attended masterclasses in the UK, Poland, and Sweden.
Dominica Hallstead (viola) studied at the Royal College of Music under Jonathan Barritt, and held the principal position in several projects during her studies; such as the highly acclaimed Symphony Orchestra, Opera Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. Dominica also had the privilege of working with the Sacconi Quartet as a part of the Dolina Quartet, whilst at the College and prior at Chetham’s School of Music under Graham Oppenheimer. She now teaches at many schools across the Richmond borough as a part of the Richmond Music Trust, and enjoys inspiring the next generation of young musicians, as well as participating in a number of chamber ensembles across London.
Francesca Cull (cello) attended Chetham’s School of Music from the age of 10, where she was awarded the Arthur Kolbert Prize for Outstanding Progress in cello playing two years running, and is currently in her third year at the Royal Academy of Music studying with Josephine Knight. Throughout her studies, Francesca has had masterclasses with many distinguished cellists including Guy Johnston, Hannah Roberts, Korean cellist Sung Won Yang, and most recently American cellist Alisa Weilerstein. She has performed solo recitals at various venues around the UK {including a previous recital at St James’s in 2016} and has also performed across Europe including France, Germany, Norway and Italy. In 2016 she had the opportunity to play Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the Chester Philharmonic Orchestra. Francesca is an active chamber musician performing around the UK with The Melete Quartet. They have recently performed at the beautiful Draper’s Hall in London with Leeds International Piano Competition finalist Anna Geniushene and in Lincoln Cathedral along-side pianist and broadcaster David Owen Norris and tenor Marke Wilde. In March 2018, The Melete Quartet were awarded second prize in the Wolfe Wolfinsohn String Quartet Prize at the Academy. Francesca’s previous quartet, formed at Chetham’s, played together for 7 years. They were regularly invited to perform around the UK, including a performance of Ravel’s String Quartet at Wigmore Hall. In 2014, they were invited to play for Richard Ireland in his masterclass program at Kings Place, being the first school aged group to be accepted for the scheme. In March 2016 the quartet won the Fiona Ord String Chamber Music Competition and were awarded the Mozart Scholarship for quartet playing. They also collaborated with the prestigious London Russian Ballet School performing at the London Palladium and Cadogan Hall. Francesca has performed major orchestral works at the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican and Bridgewater Hall working with world-renowned conductors such as Sir Mark Elder, Paul Mann and Jac Van Steen. Fran was also lucky enough to be involved in James Newton Howard’s 3 Decades of Music for Hollywood tour performing at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Academy Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer.