Philip Dukes FGSM, HonARAM: Artistic Director

"Great Britain's most outstanding solo viola player" The Times

As a concerto soloist, Philip Dukes has appeared with the BBC Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Hallé, The Philharmonia, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony, London Mozart Players, Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra of St John's Smith Square, BBC Scottish Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

In 1995 Philip made his BBC Promenade Concerto debut returning again in 1999, 2005 and 2007. His latest solo CD for Naxos featuring the complete works for viola by Rebecca Clarke was released in 2007 to unanimous critical acclaim and a debut recording for Deutsche Grammophon of the Triple Concerto by Sir Michael Tippett recorded live at the 2007 BBC Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis has recently been released.

Philip is also Professor of Viola at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Artist-in-Residence at Queen's University Belfast, Artistic Director of Marlborough College and Artistic Director of the Festival International de Musique de la Hague in France.

In 2006, Philip Dukes was unanimously elected a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in recognition of his success as an international viola soloist, and was awarded an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2007.

Philip Dukes is widely recognised as a musician of immense versatility and flair, be it as a viola soloist, conductor/director or teacher. Since making his recital debut at London's Southbank Centre in 1991 (described by The Strad as 'world class') Mr Dukes has appeared as a concerto soloist with the BBC Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Hallé, The Philharmonia, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony, London Mozart Players, Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra of St John's Smith Square, BBC Scottish Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In 1995, Philip made his BBC Promenade Concerto debut returning again in 1999, 2005 and 2007. Philip has recorded a wide range of chamber and solo CDs, most notably the complete works for viola by Rebecca Clarke for Naxos and a debut recording for Deutsche Grammophon of the Triple Concerto by Sir Michael Tippett recorded live at the BBC Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. The complete box set of Mozart Viola Quintets for Hyperion Records with the Nash Ensemble has also recently been released to critical acclaim.

Philip is also Professor of Viola at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Visiting Professor of Viola at McGill University in Montreal, Artistic Director of Marlborough College and, in 2011, he celebrated the 20th anniversary of his London recital debut in 1991 with a gala concert at the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre with Julian Lloyd Webber and Piers Lane, Classical Music/The Classical Source remarking that "everything Dukes produced, be it arabesques, dignified phrases, and a wide range of dynamics, and not forgetting silences, was of special quality".

Mr Dukes is also in increasing demand as a Conductor/Director. Highlights for the 2011/12 season include conducting engagements in Bolivia (La Paz), Armenia, and with the London Mozart Players, the City of London Sinfonia and Southbank Sinfonia in the UK.

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Clare Toomer GGSM: Deputy Head of Music

Clare studied piano at the Guildhall School of Music before embarking on a successful career as accompanist and vocal coach (winning awards at the Royal Over-Seas League, Maggie Teyte and Classic 2000 competitions). She has performed at all the major recital venues in London (Q.E.H, Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room and St John's Smith Square), throughout Europe, Japan and Malaysia (where she has given lecture recitals).

Clare is a founder member of the Norwegian contemporary music group "Trio Tonus" and has performed and recorded regularly throughout Scandinavia. She has recorded for the BBC and Classic FM and has recorded a CD of French songs for "Lontano".

She is an experienced piano and vocal examiner for the GSMD and has served on their elite diploma panel. She is also an A2 Music examiner for Edexcel (Performance and Anthology analysis). Clare is Head of Academic Studies and Keyboard at Marlborough College and lives in Mildenhall with her husband and two children.

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Adrian Eales BMus: Head of Orchestral Studies

Adrian first made his mark as a national award winning violinist and before graduating was already a frequent recitalist on BBC Radio. He studied the violin with Alfredo Wang (Carl Flesch prize winner) and has had an extensive career with many distinguished orchestras such as LSO, RPO ; he has been assistant / guest leader of the BBC Concert Orchestra and chairman of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Since 1989, Adrian has been Artistic Director of the Wessex Sinfonia and is in great demand as leader and director. He has worked for Yehudi Menuhin on many occasions, conducted at his school and played at his memorial service in Westminster Abbey. In the education sphere Adrian is a successful author, examiner for Trinity Guildhall and mentor for the AB instrumental teaching qualification. Specialist publications have included The fundamentals of violin playing and teaching - Cambridge University Press, Mixing Technique and Music - European String Teachers Association and the ATCL, LTCL and FTCL Diplomas for violin and viola. Adrian is currently working as consultant for the 2009 Trinity Guildhall string syllabus.

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Alex Arkwright BMus: Head of Performance

Alex Arkwright was brought up in Blackburn, Lancashire and read music at Huddersfield and Leeds Universities. As a first study trumpeter and second study conductor he had lessons with Alan Stringer (RLPO), David James (BBCSSO) and the legendary Philip Jones. After a time freelancing and teaching at Oakham School he took up the post of Area Manager with Kirklees Music Service. Ensembles he directed during this period won a number of awards at the National Festival of Music For Youth and the Boosey and Hawkes National Concert Band Festival culminating in two performances at the Schools' Prom in London.

In 1995 he was appointed Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion at Marlborough College. As a conductor Alex has performed all over the world from the Far East to South Africa and up to Scandinavia in the Royal Albert Hall, the Festival Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Hall, encompassing a broad range of musical genres including classical, jazz, pop and film music.

In addition to teaching at Marlborough, Alex is also Principal Trumpet with the North Wiltshire Orchestra with whom he has performed the Neruda Trumpet Concerto and forthcoming engagements include a performance of the Arutunian Concerto. He is Guest Conductor with Aldbourne Band (Championship Section) and is the Musical Director of the IAPS National Concert Band and Senior Brass Tutor to the National Training Band.

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Simon Taranczuk MMus FRCO: Director of Chapel Music

Simon Taranczuk was born in Portsmouth and studied at the City of Portsmouth Boys' School. He was the Hampshire County Council Organ Scholar at St Mary's Parish Church in Portsmouth between 1991 and 1993 and studied the organ with Adrian Lucas. He studied music at the University of Hull where he was the Organ Scholar at Beverley Minster. During his time at university he was taught by Colin Walsh at Lincoln Cathedral. He was awarded the FRCO diploma in 2003.

Following the completion of his studies in Hull he studied for a Masters degree in English Church Music at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. He was tutored by the composer Peter Aston, and wrote a thesis on the development of congregational settings of the Mass in the Church of England. He was a Choral Scholar at Norwich Cathedral and directed three youth choirs in rural Suffolk. His first teaching appointment was as Acting Director of Music at Clayesmore School in Dorset before teaching at schools in Suffolk and Gloucestershire. Before taking up the post of Director of Chapel Music at Marlborough College in 2009, he spent four years as Director of Music at King's, Rochester, a Cathedral Choir School.

Away from music, his interests include taking his mischievous Jack Russell on long walks in the Cotswolds and surrounding areas, and supporting the greatest football team in the world - Portsmouth! He is married to Helen, a PE teacher and experienced hockey player.

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Ian Crabbe MA FRCO ARCM - Chapel Organist

Ian Crabbe was Organ Scholar at Clayesmore School, Dorset and later went on to Oxford to study Music at Magdalen College under Dr Bernard Rose and David Wulstan. Whilst at Magdalen, he accompanied the Chapel Choir on three LPs featuring the music of Stanford, Wood and Stainer as well as occasional broadcast Choral Evensongs on Radio Three. After obtaining a PGCE teaching certificate at Westminster College, he was appointed on to the staff of Lord Williams' School, Thame, where he taught music under the Director of Music, Robin Nelson. On leaving Thame, he spent 11 years as Head of Music at Chiltern Edge School, Sonning Common and was appointed Head of Keyboard Studies at Marlborough College in 1990.

Since arriving at the College he has held several roles, and in addition to being College Organist since 1996, he is now the Assistant Director of Studies and Database Manager. Having been born in Swindon, Ian has accompanied a variety of local groups on many occasions and, last May, accompanied the Swindon Choral Society in a major recording made in the Chapel of a wide range of choral music. He also played a significant role in the planning and rebuilding of the Chapel Organ in 2006.

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Marius Baldrey BMus: Music Technology and Accompanist

Marius was born in England but raised in the Zimbabwean bush on vast cattle ranches from the age of two. He began learning the piano aged eight at REPS boarding school in Bulawayo at the insistence of his mother, enduring the first year under the severe regime of the infamous 'Mrs Scott.'

Moving back to the UK after finishing secondary school at Plumtree High School on the Botswana border, Marius studied piano at the Birmingham Conservatoire under John Humphreys, followed by teacher training in Gloucestershire. Marius developed an interest in Music Technology whilst working at Herne Bay High School as HoD (Music) and has worked with rock and pop groups as a drummer, part-time vocalist and keyboardist.

He is also passionate about classical music and the piano repertoire in general, maintaining a busy performing schedule as an accompanist and occasional soloist. He performed Beethoven's 'Emperor' concerto with Tauranga Civic Orchestra in New Zealand during a recent extended working holiday there.

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Aileen Thomson BA LRSM: Graduate Music Assistant 

Aileen graduated with a BA in Music from St. Peter's College, Oxford where she was a choral scholar. During her three years in Oxford, she played a prominent role in the university operatic scene, taking leading roles in six operas, including playing the Countess in a production of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro at the Sheldonian Theatre, as well as producing two operas at St. Peter's.

She was in demand as an oratorio soloist, performing Haydn's Creation, Bach's St. Matthew Passion and Mozart's Requiem, as well as regularly performing solo recitals in college chapels and the Holywell Music Room. As well as being a singer, Aileen is also a viola player, and played in the University Orchestra. Aileen was also a member of both the college and University Women's Rugby teams for the duration of her time at Oxford, playing in three Varsity matches and gaining her Blue in her last year. After this year, Aileen hopes to continue her vocal studies at one of the Conservatoires in London.

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Mrs J Spath BSc: Music Secretary and PA to Artistic Director

Janet studied at the University of Surrey, gaining a degree in Russian and International Studies, and subsequently a postgraduate bi-lingual diploma in Secretarial Studies (French) from the City of London Polytechnic. She worked for an international hotel company and a London merchant bank before taking a career break to have a family.

After some years at home bringing up the children she returned to work, firstly as administration assistant to the modern languages department at Devizes School and then in the General Office at St John's School, Marlborough, where she was personally responsible for running the school's website as well as for sixth form UCAS applications.

Janet is married to Tony who she met at the University of Surrey where he was studying Music. They have three grown-up children who all play and enjoy music. She has been Music Department Secretary since October 2003.

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