The Chetham’s Concerto Competition grand final will see the young musicians perform in one of the top concert halls in the UK to a panel of leading performers.
The panel
Chereene Price studied the violin at Chethams School of Music (1991-1993), RNCM and Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens NY. Upon her return to the UK, whilst living in Manchester, Chereene’s first job was Principal 2nd violin with Northern Ballet alongside her freelance work in and around Manchester. After living in Manchester for more than ten years, Chereene was curious about ‘the London scene’ and applied for extra work with various London based orchestras. After an audition and short trial, she was offered a tutti first violin position with the BBC Concert Orchestra where she has been for 20 years, now holding the position of Number 5 first violin, acting Number 4. Chereene also enjoys guesting as a numbered player with other orchestras. It’s not always ‘serious’ classical music in her life, the BBC Concert Orchestra covers most genres. Chereene also plays electric violin and was the soloist for ELO’s live comeback concert in Hyde Park, London in 2014. She has performed as a character violinist in pantomime and has her own show as a solo guest entertainer on cruise ships. Since COVID, she has written and home recorded string arrangements and violin solos, most notably for a prog rock album for a Spanish artist.She lives in Luton with her children, partner and little blue Staffie, Pixie. Chereene is delighted and excited to be invited back to Chets to enjoy the performances of a new generation of distinguished musicians.
Half English and half Venezuelan, Ruth Rosales grew up in the Lake District. After studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Hamburg Musik hochschule, Ruth now plays second bassoon and contra bassoon in the Birmingham Royal Ballet orchestra, and also freelances, mostly in London where she lives with her family. Orchestral work includes the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Alongside her career on the bassoon, Ruth is also a concert presenter for children, and has presented concerts for the Hallé, the Welsh National Opera and BBC National Orchestra of Wales, amongst others. She is an animateur, a teacher and an ABRSM examiner. Having such variety brings Ruth a lot of joy in everything she does!
Dawn Hardwick is one of the UK’s most versatile, committed, dynamic, and collaborative pianists. Based in London, she is widely known as the UK’s foremost interpreter of the music of Greek-New Zealand composer John Psathas. Hailing from the small town of Mountain Ash in the Welsh Valleys, Dawn’s musical journey took her from Chetham’s School of Music Manchester, to the Royal College of Music London, via an Honorary Associateship of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, to her current portfolio career of performance, mentorship, coaching, presenting, and conducting. Dawn performs globally as pianist for a wide range of ensembles and situations; as soloist and accompanist with Dame Evelyn Glennie, the Colin Currie Group, Conor Mitchell’s Belfast Ensemble, London Sinfonietta, Piandaemonium, and many more. Dawn spent thirteen years as a member, and ten years as Director of the renowned contemporary multi-piano group ‘Piano Circus’ commissioning new works and mastering the music of composers such as Steve Reich, Graham Fitkin, Colin Riley, Adrian Sutton, and Dave Maric. In addition, she regularly performs with the majority of the UK’s professional orchestras and chamber orchestras on piano, celeste, and synthesizer, as well as in London’s West End.
With John Psathas, Dawn has performed as a soloist in the UK, the Netherlands, Greece, and New Zealand, with future tours planned. She has recorded many albums including the recent Psathas’ ‘Voices at the End’, the piano music of Irish composer Graham Stewart, and music by UK composer Graham Fitkin with long-time collaborator, saxophonist Sarah Field. She has recently been named as Artistic Director of the newly-formed ‘John Psathas Group’ – a global collective of some of the world’s foremost musicians dedicated to performing Psathas’ music.
As an educator, Dawn is known for her energetic, detailed, and highly sought-after solo piano/multi-piano/percussion projects, workshops, masterclasses, and coaching sessions at institutions such as RWCMD, RNCM, Trinity College of Music, and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She is keyboard tutor for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and piano tutor and accompanist at Eton College.
Tim Rhys-Evans was appointed Director of Music at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 2020. He is a highly sought-after choral conductor, arranger, composer and TV presenter. After some years working as a professional opera singer, Tim realised that his real passion lay in the creation and facilitation of music specialising in choral music, opera and musical theatre. He is passionate about creating grassroots musical opportunities for all; ensuring that everyone with the talent, discipline and commitment has access to pathways into advanced study of music and performance.
