Francis Gallagher is an award-winning viola soloist, string quartet and orchestral performer currently established in London. He holds first prizes in both the Max and Peggy Morgan Viola Competition at the Guildhall School of Music this year and the Cecil Aronowitz Viola Competition at the Royal College of Music in 2013. He has been invited to play at many venues across London and the U.K including Waltham Abbey, Milton Court Hall in Barbican, King’s Place, St John’s Smith Square, and the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall at the Royal College of Music, London. Francis’ orchestral experience includes principal seats for the Royal College of Music Orchestras, Lake District Academy Orchestra and the newly student formed Ensemble Orquesta. He has worked with world-renowned conductors such as Leif Segerstam, Sir Roger Norrington, Sir Antonio Pappano and the late Lorin Maazel. In July 2014 he travelled to Virginia in the United States to participate in the Castleton Festival; there he performed as a backstage soloist in performances of Madame Butterfly directed by Maestro Maazel. Francis is a founding member of the Sattler String Quartet and they have been performing regularly across London since their formation in 2010. Their training includes guidance and collaborations with the Sacconi, Chilingirian, Vogler, Fine Arts, Kuss and Navarra Quartets. In January 2014 they performed Sir John Tavener’s ‘Hidden Treasures’ for string quartet at the late composer’s memorial concert at St John’s Smith Square. Francis is currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Kzrysztof Chorzelski and he is grateful to the Albert and Eugenie Frost Trust for supporting his studies at the school. Throughout his training he has received guidance from Jennifer Stumm, Ivan Vukcevic, Carol Rodland, Garfield Jackson, Predrag Katanic and Paul Coletti. Ultimately Francis wishes to pursue a career in orchestral playing.