NCO Members (Players)

Paula Smart, violin

Paula Smart, violin

Nicholas Ward, violin / artistic director

Nicholas Ward was born in Manchester in 1952, the son of parents who met when they became members of the...
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David Routledge, violin

David Routledge chose the diversity of a freelance career and juggles his commitments between a number of ensembles.  He is...
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Simon Gilks, violin

Simon Gilks started playing the violin at the age of three and quickly progressed through the Suzuki discipline of violin...
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Louise Latham, violin

Louise Latham studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, gaining a teaching diploma with distinction and a performing diploma...
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Rebecca Thompson, violin

Rebecca was inspired to play by Nancy Elderkin, her Granny, who had played violin in the local cinema orchestra.  Her teenage...
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Richard Muncey, viola

Richard Muncey was the violist of the Guadagnini Quartet, which won several international prizes and was the resident quartet at...
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Mike Dale, viola

Mike Dale has enjoyed a very varied career since coming to Manchester to spend a ‘brief’ period with the Hallé....
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Jennifer Langridge, cello

Jen studied at the Royal Northern College of Music with Eduardo Vassallo and went on to become a Junior Fellow...
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Barbara Grunthal, cello

Barbara Grunthal was a pupil at Chetham’s before going to the Royal Northern College of Music, where scholarships from the...
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James Manson, bass

James Manson started playing the double bass at age 14, and he went on to study at the Royal Northern College...
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Conrad Marshall, flute

Conrad Marshall studied at the Royal Northern College of Music with Roger Rostron and Trevor Wye. He graduated, winning the...
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Nichola Hunter, flute

Nichola was born in Southport, Lancashire and started her musical studies at Chethams School of Music, Manchester, initially playing the...
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Kenny Sturgeon, oboe

Born in Liverpool in 1983, Kenny Sturgeon started playing the oboe aged 15 and studied privately with Ruth Davies and...
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Jane Evans, oboe

Jane studied at the Royal College of Music, where she was awarded several scholarships and prizes. Whilst there, she was...
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Elizabeth Jordan, clarinet

Elizabeth Jordan studied at the Royal College of Music and then at the Royal Northern College of Music, assisted by...
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Daniel Bayley, clarinet

Originally from Hull, Daniel Bayley studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Flemish Conservatoire Antwerp, Belgium. Returning to...
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Llinos Owen, bassoon

Llinos Owen was born in Pwllheli in North Wales, where she found an old bassoon in a school cupboard.  At...
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Rachel Whibley, bassoon

Rachel Whibley is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, and has worked extensively with many of the top UK...
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Naomi Atherton, horn

Ever since Naomi Atherton won the Brass final of Young Musician of the Year in 1984, she has been in...
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Jenny Cox, horn

Jenny began learning the Horn at the age of 11 before continuing her studies at the RNCM with Lindsey Stoker,...
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Tracey Redfern, trumpet

Tracey Redfern was born in Stirling, Scotland, and began her musical education at the Music School of Douglas Academy in...
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John Melbourne, timpani

John Melbourne is the principal timpanist of the NCO.  He is also principal percussion of the Northern Ballet and Manchester Concert Orchestra.  He freelances...
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Bernard Robertson, keyboards (harpsichord, organ & piano)

Bernard Robertson enjoys an international career as keyboard player and, increasingly, as conductor.   He has played principal keyboard (piano,...
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