Viktoria Grigoreva was born in Kharkov, Ukraine and began studying the violin at the age of seven at the Special Music School for Gifted Children. Four years later she made her performing debut playing Mozart’s Fifth Violin Concerto with the Kharkov Chamber Orchestra. Five years later she was accepted into the State Gnesin Music College in Moscow and while there performed the Bach Violin Concerto with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. Viktoria returned to Kharkov to continue her studies with Irina Grebneva and her competition successes in Eastern Europe led to major concert engagements. Her repertoire was rapidly enlarged with performances of the Shostakovich, Sibelius, Prokofiev, Berg, Mozart and Wieniawski concertos, as well as works by contemporary Ukranian composers. She also broadcast on both radio and television in Ukraine. Appearances with many leading East European orchestras, including the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and Kharkov Philharmonic Symphony was combined with an active participation in chamber music and a teaching role at the Kharkov State Institute of Arts.

Itzhak Rashkovsky internationally renowned Russian-Israeli violinist and pedagogue. Was awarded a Master's Degree by the Samuel Rubin Israeli Academy of Music, Tel Aviv, where he studied with Professor Yair Kless. He has appeared as a soloist and chamber music player in many countries. As Professor of Violin at the Royal College of Music, London, Itzhak Rashkovsky has come to be one of the leading and most sought-after teachers in the UK. His students, who come from all over the world to study with him, have been winners of many national and international competitions. He has given mastercalsses worldwide and has been juror of numerous international competitions, notably Vice chairman of the jury of the 12th Henryk Wieniawski, Poland and Sion Valais, Switzerland, Hannover, Germany, Lipizer, Italy and Yampolsky, Russia International Violin Competitions. One of the founders and Music Director of Keshet Eilon Violin Mastercourse, Israel, an international summer programme for exceptionally talented young violinists, located in Kibbutz Eilon, as well as Artistic Director of the London Music Masters. His articles and editions of violin pieces were published by “The Strad” magazine. In 1998, in recognition of his outstanding services to music, Itzhak Rashkovsky was awarded by The Prince of Wales a Fellowship of the Royal College of Music. He plays the 1831 J.F. Pressenda violin through the generous loan from the Elderberry Foundation.

Ani Schnarch, Romanian- Israeli- British violinist, winner of the prestigious Francois Shapira, Israel and Mozart Memorial Prizes, England, is internationally regarded as one of the most exciting and versatile violinists of her generation. Born in Bucharest, Romania, Ani started performing at the age of seven. In 1974 she moved to Israel and continued her studies with Felix Andrievsky at the Samuel Rubin Music Academy, Tel Aviv University, with whom she also studied later at the Royal College of Music, London. Among Ani Schnarch's recital performances have been a highly acclaimed programme of Bartok and Ysaye at the Purcell Room and her Wigmore Hall debut in 1989, where she was invited to return numerous times. Ani has broadcast for radio and television and on the web in Austria, France, Germany, Israel, Norway, Romania, the US and on BBC3 including a unique series of all Bartok's works for violin and piano. In concerto, Ani has appeared with major orchestras such as Israeli Philharmonic, Jerusalem Symphony, Jerusalem Chamber, Haifa Symphony, Israel Simfonietta, Oslo Philharmonic, London Mozart Players, Malaga Symphony, Seville Symphony, Cameratta Strumentale di Milan, London Bach, Covent Garden Chamber, Moscovia Chamber, etc. at the main venues in England, France, Israel, Italy, Norway, Romania, Spain, the USA and Russia. She has played at the Bath, Bergen, Bowdoin, Lake District, Moscow and Windsor Festivals, to mention but a few. In addition to her busy concert schedule, Ani is in great demand as a professor of violin at the Royal College of Music, London, gives Masterclasses in Europe, USA, Canada and Israel, and has been a Juror of numerous International Violin Competitions. She is one of the founders and faculty member of the Keshet Eilon Violin Mastercourse, Israel.

Krzysztof Smietana, was born in Poland and studied at the Cracow Academy of Music with Z. Szlezer, later moving to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Yfrah Neaman. He won most of the national awards in Poland and has been a prize-winner in several major international violin competitions. He appears as a recitalist and concerto soloist throughout Britain and abroad and is regularly heard on BBC Radio 3. Broadcasts include highly-acclaimed performances of the two Szymanowski's Concertos with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and his recording of the Panufnik Violin Concerto with London Musici for Conifer became the CD of the month in CD Review magazine. Krzysztof has played the Panufnik Concerto throughout Europe, prompting "The Strad" magazine to comment on his "beautifully controlled slow bowing and languorous vibrato". He has recorded Fauré's Sonatas for Meridian, the Brahms Sonatas for ASV and recently Stravinsky's Violin Concerto with the Philharmonia conducted by Robert Craft for Music Masters. Professor of Violin at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama since 1982, he has been given master classes throughout Britain as well as USA, Poland and Germany. He has been also guest leader of orchestras as the London Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe and London Sinfonietta. Adding to his activities as a soloist and chamber musician, Krzysztof has appeared as guest leader of several British orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as a soloist at the BBC Proms Festivals with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Rivka Golani, is recognized as one of the outstanding violists of modern times. Her contributions to the advancement of viola technique have already given her a place in the history of the instrument and have been a source of inspiration not only to other players but also to the many composers who have been inspired by her mastery to write for the viola. More than 300 works have so far been composed for Rivka, including 70 concertos: a record matched by no other violist in history. She has performed as a soloist with many of the world’s most prominent orchestras and has made countless CDs. A landmark among her many recital CDs is a set of the complete Bach Cello Suites which includes also performances of Bach’s Chaconne and Chromatic Fantasy. Rivka is also a painter. Exhibitions of her paintings have been held throughout Israel, Canada,UK, Holland, and in Berlin and Bad Kissigen (Germany). Born in Israel - Rivka trained at the Music Academy of Tel Aviv with the great violist and composer Oeden Partos. At the age of 23, she became a member of the Israel Philharmonic. She moved to Canada in the mid-1970s where she began her solo career. She now makes her home in London, England. An inspiring teacher, Rivka draws students from all over the world to her master classes at London’s Trinity College of Music, where she holds a professorship. She plays a viola made by the renowned maker Otto Erdesz. Rivka is the Artistic Director of Fort Maclaud Music Festival, Alberta, and Canada. She was recently honoured by the Canadian Music Centre as an Ambassador of Canadian Music. In 2011 she was nominated "musician of the year" by Artijus Music Foundation of Hungary.

Michael Hampton enjoys an international career as a chamber musician and vocal accompanist since graduating from the RCM in 1999 as a student of John Blakely, John Barstow and Roger Vignoles. As a Geoffrey Parsons Junior Fellow at the RCM he performed many of the song repertoire's major works, and gave concerts in Italy, Belgium, Holland, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. Michael is a regular guest at all the main chamber music venues in the UK, and his many critically acclaimed performances include Schubert's Winterreise at the Edinburgh International Festival and St George's Bristol, various BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime recitals at Wigmore Hall, the World premiere of Sir Richard Rodney Bennett's Songs Before Sleep with Jonathan Lemalu and Brahms and Schumann Liebeslieder with Roger Vignoles at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. He recently made his debut at Carnegie Hall. He works closely with Rivka Golani and her students at Trinity College of Music, and has recorded several well-received CDs of viola repertoire - three recently with Naxos.

Stephen Meakins is emerging at the forefront of young accompanists, and last year was awarded the accompanist’s prize at the Kathleen Ferrier Competition for Young Singers. As a pianist he embraces a wide range of repertoire from mainstream works, but is also a passionate believer in the unveiling of lesser-known works and composers. This year Stephen has performed at St Martin’s in the Fields (London), St George’s, Hanover Square (London), The National Gallery (London), Steinway Hall (London), St George’s (Bristol) and Dartington Hall (Devon). Stephen has worked with the London Symphony Chorus and will be accompanying the Hallé Youth Choir on their Venice tour later this year. Before studying in London Stephen was Organ Scholar at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, Australia. In September 2009 he was appointed Director of Music at St Mary’s Church, Apsley, Hertfordshire. Stephen has been fortunate to fall under the influence of many distinguished teachers and is currently studying at the Royal College of Music with Niel Immelman and Kathron Sturrock.

Luis Parés, Venezuelan/Italian pianist is in much demand as a soloist and chamber musician having performed in many countries. In the UK he has performed at prestigious venues such as the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall and St John's Smith Square. He has appeared with some of the most distinguished orchestras in Venezuela including the Caracas Symphony Orchestra and Maracaibo Symphony Orchestra. Luis has won First Prize at the XI Ricard Viñes International Piano Competition (Lerida, Spain), First Prize at the Silvia Eisenstein National Piano Competition (Venezuela) and was one of the winners of the 2006 Making Music Young Concert Artists Awards. He started his musical studies with Juan Antúnez and also studied with Sergio Cimarosti, the Trio di Trieste and Igor Lavrov. He obtained a First Class BMus Degree and an MMus Degree in Advanced Performance with Distinction from the Royal College of Music and studied with Gordon Fergus-Thompson and Andrew Ball.

Shiry Rashkovsky began playing the violin aged 5 under the guidance of her father, Itzhak Rashkovsky. Previously a student of Natasha Boyarska, Shiry is now undertaking her Masters with Ian Jewel at the RCM, where she is a member of the Amaryllis Fleming Quartet. Her performances have taken her across the globe and have included chamber collaborations with Vadim Gluzman, Ani Schnarch, Shlomo Mintz and Shmuel Ashkenasi. She has participated in master classes with Gyorgy Pauk, Atar Arad, Kim Kashkashian and Ida Haendel, at festivals such as the Keshet Eilon International Mastercourse and Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music Sessions. Shiry recently completed a BA in Social and Political Sciences at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, where she was concertmaster of the St Catharine’s College Orchestra, the University Symphony Orchestra ‘CUSO’, Principal Violist of the university orchestra ‘CUMS I’, and laureate of the University Concerto Competition. She is kindly supported by the MMSF, the Countess of Munster Trust, and the St Catharine’s Alumni Association.

Selina Wykeham began learning the violin at the age of 8. Initially educated in London, she continued her studies at the University of Bristol where she completed a BA in Music. During this time she also studied the violin in Poland under Professor Miroslaw Lawrynowicz (Warsaw Conservatoire) and for five years participated in the International String Masterclasses in Lancut (Poland). Selina continued her violin studies under the guidance of Professor Itzhak Rashkovsky and went on to gain a Performance based Masters Degree from Goldsmiths College. Also keen to sustain and develop her ties with Polish music she completed her final dissertation on the music of Karol Szymanowski. Selina has participated in Masterclasses and Festivals throughout Europe and has given solo performances at St. John’s Smith Square, Hereford Cathedral, Opera Comedie Montpellier, amongst others. She is currently a member of the Tresca Piano Trio. Selina is also an active teacher in London and holds positions at Francis Holland School and Hill House International Junior School.