Elliot Kempton [Violin]
Equally in demand as a violinist and violist, Elliot Kempton regularly performs as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe; recent appearances include Wigmore Hall (London), Auditorio Sony (Madrid), Museo del Violino (Cremona), and the Palacio de Festivales, (Santander). As a chamber musician, he has had the privilege of participating in music festivals such as the Scheirmonnikoog International Chamber Music Festival, Netherlands; Arte Amanti International Festival, Belgium; as well as major music festivals across the UK. Elliot is currently a scholar at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he studies with Matthew Jones. Previous to this, he studied with Bartosz Woroch at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, as well as recieving lessons from Itzahk Rashkovsky. Aside from performing, Elliot enjoys composing music, drawing pictures for friends and family, and long walks in the Wye Valley.
Jessica Meakin [Violin]
Jessica Meakin is recognised as a dynamic and sought-after young artist. Her versatility as a performer has seen her in orchestral, chamber, session, and musical theatre settings, bringing exceptional poise and musicality to every performance. She is a graduate of the Royal College of Music, studying her Masters in Performance degree with Sasha Rozhdestvensky, having previously graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with a Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree, studying with Bartosz Woroch.
Prior to this, she spent two years studying privately in Madrid with renowned pedagogue Sergey Fatkulin, ex-assistant of Zakhar Bron, travelling there every month for lessons. During this period, she was also regularly invited to perform in the Llanes Music Festival in North-West Spain.
As a passionate orchestral musician, Jessica is delighted to be the leader of the Cinematic Orchestra of London and she regularly co-leads the Fidelio Orchestra. Throughout her studies she frequently performed with RCM Symphony & Philharmonic Orchestras and GSMD Symphony & Chamber Orchestras under world-renowned conductors.
Jessica led the Cumbria Opera Group’s 2023 production of Don Giovanni. Additionally, she has both led and co-led the RCM’s productions of Orpheus in the Underworld and Hansel and Gretel under Michael Rosewell. An experienced pit musician, Jessica has performed with multiple Musical Theatre groups, as well as recording first violin for the original cast soundtrack for a new musical ‘Between’.
A devoted chamber musician, Jessica is the 2nd violinist in Quartet Draig, and also performs alongside 97 Ensemble, an ensemble dedicated to championing works by underrepresented composers. During her time at the RCM, she led the New Perspectives Orchestra conducted by Gabriella Techenné, performing chamber works such as Six tempi for 10 Instruments by Elisabeth Lutyens and Januaries by Lisa Illean. Jessica attended the Maiastra Chamber Course (2022) where she performed as part of the Maiastra Piano Quintet alongside Bartosz Woroch. She was also a founding member of The De Kooning Ensemble, recipients of the Guildhall School’s Ivan Sutton Prize 2021.
Jessica is passionate about outreach and is committed to music education. Alongside being a Violin Mentor and a regular member of Social Staff and with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, she has delivered workshops to children in multiple London primary schools throughout her studies. She has also coached students at Bryanston School, Trull Primary School and CYM Taunton with The De Kooning Ensemble. Additionally, Jessica is the violin teacher at the Langley Hall Music Academy in Slough.
Jessica plays on a Bernadel violin dated 1844.
Ben Norris [Viola]
From the town of Barnstaple, Ben Norris is a Junior Fellow at the Royal Northern College of Music having studied there with Vicci Wardman as an ABRSM postgraduate scholar. He previously studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with Alex Thorndike. Ben has won multiple prizes for solo and chamber playing throughout his time as a student, including the RNCM viola prize in 2023. He has appeared on BBC Radio 3 as a chamber musician and on BBC Four multiple times as an orchestral musician. Ben has performed with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Concert Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru and the Lindow Ensemble. Ben is a very active chamber musician and has recently performed at Cowbridge Music Festival, Delft Chamber Music Atelier in the summer of 2023 as well as a String Quartet tour around Wales with Sinfonia Cymru. He has played multiple times at Wigmore Hall and is part of the Hans Keller Chamber Forum for 2023/24. Ben currently plays on a 1788 viola by Benjamin Banks, and is grateful to the ABRSM, Benslow Trust and the Stephen Bell Trust for their support.
Tabitha Selley [Cello]
Tabitha Selley enjoys a busy freelance life as a cellist. As an orchestral musician she has worked with Welsh National Opera, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Sinfonia Cymru, and is a regular extra player with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. She also was a ‘Foyle Future First’ with the London Philharmonic Orchestra 2022-2023, with whom she still works in an education and outreach capacity.
Tabitha has performed solo twice for HM King Charles, has enjoyed multiple TV appearances with BBC and S4C, and has played for several film and television soundtracks. She is a founding member of Quartet Draig, a Welsh string quartet with whom she has performed at the Wigmore Hall. As a quartet they are committed to commissioning and performing works by Welsh composers.
Equally dedicated to inspiring the next generation of young musicians, Tabitha has a busy private teaching practice, and is a teacher, orchestral tutor and conductor at ‘Cardiff and Vale Music Education’. She holds a Bachelor’s degree, two Master’s degrees and an international PGCE specialising in whole class teaching.
Outside of music Tabitha has a keen interest in literature and is passionate about veganism.
Quartet Draig 