David began his music education aged 5, learning the drum kit; he also studied trumpet up to Grade 8. Since the age of 14 David has focused solely on percussion, which he studies at Chetham's School of Music. He gained an A in A level Music aged 15 and hopes to become a professional musician. David is a member of the National Youth Orchestra, and has performed at the BBC Proms and Proms in the Park. He also enjoys football and basketball and would like to travel to Brazil, Cuba and Ghana. His favourite comedians are Bill Bailey and Ricky Gervais.
From an early age Katy displayed a love of percussion, hitting and tapping everything at home, so her parents decided to let her have formal percussion lessons in addition to her recorder lessons. Katy is now studying for her GCSEs and hopes to go to university to study Architecture, Italian or French, or Music. She also enjoys exploring the countryside, art and design, working on the farm and travelling.
A percussion demonstration day at school inspired Daniel to learn to play and at the age of 10 he began formal lessons. He is now a member of the Royal Northern College of Music Junior Department and also the National Youth Orchestra. Daniel loves performing and hopes to go to university or music college to read Music. He also plays piano, guitar and drums, and enjoys playing tennis, golf and squash.
Toby comes from a musical family and was encouraged by his mother to learn to play. He was also keen to join in with his older brother who played percussion, so began percussion lessons at school at the age of 10. He is now a member of the Royal Northern College of Music Junior Department and the National Youth Orchestra. Following his A levels in Further Maths, Music and Physics, Toby would like to study at music college. He also enjoys cycling, hockey and spending time with friends.
Oliver showed enthusiasm for percussion as a small child making kits out of pots and pans. He began playing piano when he was 7 and was given his first drum kit aged 9 by a family friend who had an old '60s kit in his loft. Oliver is now a member of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Junior Department and plays with the National Youth Orchestra. He hopes to go to music college following his A levels in Maths, Physics, Music and Music Tech. Oliver also enjoys computers and designed and maintains his band's website www.something-simple.co.uk
Paul Clarvis brings his unique style to all musical genres and has worked with musicians ranging from Mick Jagger, Nina Simone, Steve Swallow, Harrison Birtwhistle and John Dankworth to Paul McCartney, John Taylor and Moondog. He has recorded with Gordon Beck; Brian Ferry; Marc Ribot; Sam Rivers; Richard Thompson; The Orb, John Adams; Michael Nyman; Loreena McKennitt; Mark Anthony Turnage and Michel Legrand.
He works with many London orchestras, plays ethnic percussion on TV and film sessions, and was the late Leonard Bernstein’s preferred percussionist in London. He was featured as a soloist at the Last Night of the Proms in 1996 in a concerto for saxophone and drum kit by Sir Harrison Birtwistle. He has recently performed with Nina Simone, Fred Hersch, Kenny Wheeler and Herbie Hancock and recorded with Mick Jagger, John Harle; Paul McCartney; Maurice Jarre; John Williams; Viktoria Mullova; Elton John; Andy Sheppard; Damon Albarn and Elvis Costello. He has also played on numerous films including Star Wars, Thunderbirds, The Passion, Kingdom of Heaven, Lord of the Rings and Madgascar.
Paul co-leads Orquestra Mahatma which specialises in improvisations on folk tunes from all over the world. He also leads an improvising trio “For All the Saints” with Stan Sulzmann and Tony Hymas. He has travelled widely researching and studying music from other countries and is a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, recently made an Hon RAM.
Percussionist Colin Currie is one of the leading young artists of his generation, and a committed developer of new repertoire for percussion in its widest form – orchestral, solo and in chamber music. He was awarded the RPS Young Artist award for his outstanding role in contemporary music-making. At the age of fifteen, Colin Currie won the Shell/LSO prize and subsequently was the first percussion finalist in the BBC Young Musician competition. Currie was selected as a BBC New Generation Artist from 2003-2005, and as part of the scheme performed a variety of concerto and recital engagements with the BBC orchestras and in major festivals and concert halls. This season, Colin Currie premieres new concerti written for him by Steven Mackey (with Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and Residentie Orkest) and Jennifer Higdon (with Philadelphia Orchestra, Dallas Symphony and Indianapolis Symphony orchestras). He also premiered a concerto by Thea Musgrave in January 2005 and appears this year with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Essen Philharmonic, among others. He gives solo and chamber recitals with artists such as Hakan Hardenberger, the Labèque sisters and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Colin Currie has recorded MacMillan’s Veni, Veni Emmanuel and Michael Torke’s Rapture for Naxos, as well as a solo recital disc for EMI.
After graduating from the Lyon Conservatoire in 1989 with the Premier Prix,
Eric Sammut was born was immediately appointed principal percussionist at the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon. In 1995, Eric won first prize in the Leigh Howard Stevens international marimba competition held in New York which led to a series of recitals and masterclasses throughout the USA. He regularly gives recitals in Europe, Japan and the USA.
Since 1998 Eric has held the post of principal solo timpanist with the Orchestre de Paris. In addition, he is assistant professor at CNSM in Paris and professor of marimba at both the CSP de Paris and the CNR de Toulouse. In September 2004 he became Marimba teacher at the Royal Academy of London.
Eric has written several pieces for marimba and percussion. In 2001, one of his pieces was commissioned by the Stratford English Music Festival and another one by the Festival de musique en Bugey. In October 2002, he gave the world premiere of the Concerto pour marimba et cordes de Jean-Pascal Beintus in Paris with the Orchestre de Paris. In 2003 he recorded his first CD of marimba solos including his own arrangements of opera arias and also french songs. In 2004 he made an arrangement of the 4 Seasons of Vivaldi with the Symblema Group and recorded it. He is currently preparing a new CD including compositions with string quintet and jazz musicians.
Elizabeth Burley won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music with John Barstow and Ruth Dyson. Further scholarships from the Myra Hess and Countess of Munster Trusts enabled her to study later with Paul Hamburger. She now enjoys a busy and varied career in several different roles - chamber musician, orchestral player, soloist and accompanist. She has given concerts throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and North America with many leading soloists including Håkan Hardenberger, Michael Collins, Isabelle van Keulen, Robert Cohen and Philippe Graffin. She has appeared with the Nash Ensemble, London Sinfonietta, Britten Sinfonia, Endymion Ensemble, the Nyman Band and London Saxophonic and for several years was a member of the Lowbury Piano Trio who were prizewinners in the 1st Osaka Chamber Music Competition. She has broadcast regularly on BBC Radio and Television, and was official accompanist of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition and associated masterclass series from 1982 to 1992. She has made numerous chamber music recordings, most recently a disc of piano duets with Kathryn Stott. As an orchestral pianist Elizabeth has performed in concerts, tours and recordings with many major orchestras, including the Royal Scottish National, City of Birmingham Symphony, London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, London Symphony and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. In her work with the BBC SO she has collaborated with many of the 20th century's leading composers, including Boulez, Berio, Knussen, Adès, Adams and Maxwell Davies. In the 2004 Proms season she made her debut as a solo artist in a performance of Colin McPhee's Tabuh-tabuhan with the BBC SO. Future engagements include a European tour with the Philharmonia Orchestra, concerts in the Middle East with cellist Timothy Hugh and recitals in Europe with violinist Philippe Graffin.
David began his music education aged 5, learning the drum kit; he also studied trumpet up to Grade 8. Since the age of 14 David has focused solely on percussion, which he studies at Chetham's School of Music. He gained an A in A level Music aged 15 and hopes to become a professional musician. David is a member of the National Youth Orchestra, and has performed at the BBC Proms and Proms in the Park. He also enjoys football and basketball and would like to travel to Brazil, Cuba and Ghana. His favourite comedians are Bill Bailey and Ricky Gervais.
A percussion demonstration day at school inspired Daniel to learn to play and at the age of 10 he began formal lessons. He is now a member of the Royal Northern College of Music Junior Department and also the National Youth Orchestra. Daniel loves performing and hopes to go to university or music college to read Music. He also plays piano, guitar and drums, and enjoys playing tennis, golf and squash. 
Toby comes from a musical family and was encouraged by his mother to learn to play. He was also keen to join in with his older brother who played percussion, so began percussion lessons at school at the age of 10. He is now a member of the Royal Northern College of Music Junior Department and the National Youth Orchestra. Following his A levels in Further Maths, Music and Physics, Toby would like to study at music college. He also enjoys cycling, hockey and spending time with friends.
Oliver showed enthusiasm for percussion as a small child making kits out of pots and pans. He began playing piano when he was 7 and was given his first drum kit aged 9 by a family friend who had an old '60s kit in his loft. Oliver is now a member of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Junior Department and plays with the National Youth Orchestra. He hopes to go to music college following his A levels in Maths, Physics, Music and Music Tech. Oliver also enjoys computers and designed and maintains his band's website 
Paul Clarvis brings his unique style to all musical genres and has worked with musicians ranging from Mick Jagger, Nina Simone, Steve Swallow, Harrison Birtwhistle and John Dankworth to Paul McCartney, John Taylor and Moondog. He has recorded with Gordon Beck; Brian Ferry; Marc Ribot; Sam Rivers; Richard Thompson; The Orb, John Adams; Michael Nyman; Loreena McKennitt; Mark Anthony Turnage and Michel Legrand.
He works with many London orchestras, plays ethnic percussion on TV and film sessions, and was the late Leonard Bernstein’s preferred percussionist in London. He was featured as a soloist at the Last Night of the Proms in 1996 in a concerto for saxophone and drum kit by Sir Harrison Birtwistle. He has recently performed with Nina Simone, Fred Hersch, Kenny Wheeler and Herbie Hancock and recorded with Mick Jagger, John Harle; Paul McCartney; Maurice Jarre; John Williams; Viktoria Mullova; Elton John; Andy Sheppard; Damon Albarn and Elvis Costello. He has also played on numerous films including Star Wars, Thunderbirds, The Passion, Kingdom of Heaven, Lord of the Rings and Madgascar.
Percussionist Colin Currie is one of the leading young artists of his generation, and a committed developer of new repertoire for percussion in its widest form – orchestral, solo and in chamber music. He was awarded the RPS Young Artist award for his outstanding role in contemporary music-making. At the age of fifteen, Colin Currie won the Shell/LSO prize and subsequently was the first percussion finalist in the BBC Young Musician competition. Currie was selected as a BBC New Generation Artist from 2003-2005, and as part of the scheme performed a variety of concerto and recital engagements with the BBC orchestras and in major festivals and concert halls. This season, Colin Currie premieres new concerti written for him by Steven Mackey (with Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and Residentie Orkest) and Jennifer Higdon (with Philadelphia Orchestra, Dallas Symphony and Indianapolis Symphony orchestras). He also premiered a concerto by Thea Musgrave in January 2005 and appears this year with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Essen Philharmonic, among others. He gives solo and chamber recitals with artists such as Hakan Hardenberger, the Labèque sisters and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Colin Currie has recorded MacMillan’s Veni, Veni Emmanuel and Michael Torke’s Rapture for Naxos, as well as a solo recital disc for EMI.
After graduating from the Lyon Conservatoire in 1989 with the Premier Prix,
Eric Sammut was born was immediately appointed principal percussionist at the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon. In 1995, Eric won first prize in the Leigh Howard Stevens international marimba competition held in New York which led to a series of recitals and masterclasses throughout the USA. He regularly gives recitals in Europe, Japan and the USA.
Elizabeth Burley won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music with John Barstow and Ruth Dyson. Further scholarships from the Myra Hess and Countess of Munster Trusts enabled her to study later with Paul Hamburger. She now enjoys a busy and varied career in several different roles - chamber musician, orchestral player, soloist and accompanist. She has given concerts throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and North America with many leading soloists including Håkan Hardenberger, Michael Collins, Isabelle van Keulen, Robert Cohen and Philippe Graffin. She has appeared with the Nash Ensemble, London Sinfonietta, Britten Sinfonia, Endymion Ensemble, the Nyman Band and London Saxophonic and for several years was a member of the Lowbury Piano Trio who were prizewinners in the 1st Osaka Chamber Music Competition. She has broadcast regularly on BBC Radio and Television, and was official accompanist of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition and associated masterclass series from 1982 to 1992. She has made numerous chamber music recordings, most recently a disc of piano duets with Kathryn Stott. As an orchestral pianist Elizabeth has performed in concerts, tours and recordings with many major orchestras, including the Royal Scottish National, City of Birmingham Symphony, London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, London Symphony and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. In her work with the BBC SO she has collaborated with many of the 20th century's leading composers, including Boulez, Berio, Knussen, Adès, Adams and Maxwell Davies. In the 2004 Proms season she made her debut as a solo artist in a performance of Colin McPhee's Tabuh-tabuhan with the BBC SO. Future engagements include a European tour with the Philharmonia Orchestra, concerts in the Middle East with cellist Timothy Hugh and recitals in Europe with violinist Philippe Graffin.