Monet Quartet

The Monet Quartet is made up of Nicholas, Amelia, Alex and Geraint. Nicholas (Violin 1) studied violin at the Juilliard Pre-College programme and at Yale School Music while completing his undergraduate degree at Yale College. His most recent studies have been with Itzhak Rashkovsky in London. Nicholas is currently active as a chamber musician and soloist in Cambridge, where he has performed this year with the Collegium Musicum and in chamber ensembles through the Instrumental Awards Scheme. He is in the second year of his PhD in medieval Musicology as a Cambridge International Trust Scholar. Amelia (Violin 2) recently completed an MSci studying Physics at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. She maintains a busy performance schedule, most recently leading the Falcon Ensemble, a symphony orchestra comprised of some of the best young musicians in Cambridge, in a performance of Sibelius Symphony No. 2 and Mendelssohn’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in Trinity Chapel. She has been a member of the Cambridge University Chamber Orchestra for two years and is a College Instrumental Award Holder. Amelia has performed in several prestigious venues as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, including a televised performance in the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms, has worked with conductors including Peter Stark, Vasily Petrenko and Vladimir Jurowski. Amelia currently learns with John Crawford at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Alex (Viola) is an enthusiastic composer, violinist and violist with a keen interest in arts administration. He has studied with composers such as Robin Holloway, Richard Causton, Christian Mason and Jeremy Thurlow, had works performed in venues such as Kings College Chapel and the Royal Albert Hall and worked with musicians such as Gerry Cornelius, Hugh Brunt and Patrick Bailey. In 2014 Alex held the position of Cambridge University Music Society Joint-Composer-in-Residence which culminated in a premiere at the Harrison Birtwistle 80th Anniversary Secret Theatres Festival. Last April Alex was announced as winner of Britten Sinfonia's Cambridge Composition Workshop. During his time at Cambridge Alex has played with the Cambridge University Chamber Orchestra, the university Symphony Orchestra, but now prefers the company of chamber musicians! Geraint (Violoncello) began studying the 'cello aged five in Cardiff, South Wales. After spending his sixth form studying at Chetham's School of Music, he gained a place at Downing College, Cambridge, where he later became a scholar of music. Alongside his academic commitments in Cambridge, Geraint performed in various musical ensembles and settings, including the university instrumental award scheme and the university chamber orchestra, as well as solo appearances with Trinity College Choir, Jesus College Choir, and Selwyn College Choir. He has accumulated considerable playing experience in solo, orchestral, and chamber settings, and has performed in many of the UK and Europe's most prestigious venues. When he is not playing the 'cello, Geraint also enjoys jazz piano, and is an avid follower of rugby union and tennis.