The Tailleferre Ensemble is a new chamber collective founded by Nicola Hands and Penelope Smith, with the aim of promoting women in music. The group is a flexible chamber ensemble, offering varied recitals of differing instrumentation and genre. Today’s recital forms part of their debut programme, and comprises works for two oboes, flute and bassoon, both classical and more recent. Today’s performers are Nicola Hands, Penelope Smith, Emma Halnan and Christina Marroni.
Nicola Hands graduated with Distinction from the Royal Academy of Music Masters programme, where she won the Evelyn Barbirolli prize for oboe and the Grimaldi prize for cor anglais. Nicola was the 2nd oboe/cor anglais player for the Orquestra do Norte from 2015-2017. She also plays regularly with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Chameleon Arts Orchestra and the Orpheus Sinfonia. She played oboe and cor anglais for ‘The Light Princess’ at the National Theatre in 2013-2014, and has played for other shows including ‘Miss Saigon’ in the Prince Edward Theatre. As a recitalist Nicola has performed in venues including St. James Piccadilly, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St. Mary’s Perivale, Peterborough Cathedral, St. George’s Hanover Square and Waltham Abbey.
Penelope Smith has worked with orchestras throughout the UK and Ireland such as the RTE Concert Orchestra, English Festival Orchestra, and Brandenburg Sinfonia. Her concerto performances include JS Bach’s Concerto for Oboe d’amore with the Exeter Symphony Orchestra, Haydn’s Concerto for Oboe with the Orchestra of Situation Opera, Agrell’s Oboe Concerto with the Amadè Players, Marcello’s Concerto for Oboe in D minor and Holst’s Fugal Concerto with the Astor Palm Court Orchestra.
In 2005, Penelope was awarded a full scholarship to Trinity College of Music, where she studied under Josephine Lively and Christopher O’Neal. After graduating from Trinity College of Music with a BMus(Hons) degree in performance, Penelope went on to study at the Royal College of Music under the tutelage of David Theodore, Christopher Cowie and Christine Pendrill. She gained her Masters in Orchestral Performance (MPERF) in 2012 and was the recipient of the Evelyn Rothwell Oboe Prize in 2011.
Emma Halnan first came to prominence as the woodwind category winner of BBC Young Musician 2010. She has since appeared at major venues worldwide, and has performed concertos with orchestras including the London Mozart Players, the European Union Chamber Orchestra, and the BBC Concert Orchestra. Other competition successes include first prize in the Sir Karl Jenkins/Arts Club Classical Music Award 2016, and selection as a “Making Music” Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artist 2018-20. Emma also won the 2014 Kenneth Loveland Gift, and is a City Music Foundation Artist.
Emma was principal flute of the European Union Youth Orchestra 2014-16. She has also performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and English National Opera. In recital, Emma has worked with pianist Daniel King Smith since 2008. Together, they have performed at venues including St. David’s Hall (Cardiff), Gower Festival, St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the “La Côte” International Flute Festival 2016 (Switzerland).
Christina Marroni is a busy freelance bassoonist and contra-bassoonist, working across the UK and further afield. After graduating from the RCM, she was a member of Southbank Sinfonia and has since been guest principal with orchestras such as the BBC Concert Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of India. She also regularly performs with the London Mozart Players, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra amongst others. Solo appearances include concertos with the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra and RCM Symphony Orchestra, and chamber recitals with Holloway Winds, the Heath Street Ensemble, Tafelmusik of London and the Gelachter Trio.
Free recital (retiring collection)