YMF Showcase, 2004
![[Ruth Hollick and Kathryn Eves]](images/2004sc/hollickeves240.jpg)
Ruth Hollick and Kathryn Eves formed their duo partnership in the year 2000 whilst they were both undergraduates at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where they received duo coaching from Helen Krizos. In March 2004 they were awarded the RNCM's highest performing qualification, the prestigious Professional Performance Diploma with Distinction. In August this year they were awarded second prize in the Concours Grieg International Two Piano Competition in Oslo and were given a special mention for their performance of Britten's Introduction and Rondo alla Burlesca. They have also been the winners of the RNCM Schubert Prize (2002) and the Piano Duo Prize (2003).
The duo have performed at various venues across the UK, including a recital as part of the Bridgewater Hall's Piano 2003 festival. In 2003 they gave performances of Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos in Manchester (with the University of Manchester Sinfonietta) and at The Anvil, Basingstoke (with Hampshire County Youth Orchestra). They were invited to perform in the RNCM's Holloway Resonances weekend in October 2003, where they were fortunate enough to be able to work with the British composer Robin Holloway, and in June 2004 they were selected to perform in the RNCM's McCabe Resonances festival.
Ruth is currently studying as a postgraduate accompaniment scholar at the RNCM, having gaining her postgraduate diploma with distinction last year and her degree with first class honours in 2003. She now studies with Carole Presland, having learnt for five years with Mark Ray. In 2004 she was awarded the pianists prize in the RNCM Bessie Cronchaw Song Cycle Prize and in 2003 performed Prokofiev's 7th Sonata as part of the Manchester Prokofiev Festival. In July this year she broadcast on BBC Radio 3 as part of the Proms Composer Portrait of John Casken. She has participated in masterclasses with Alexander Melnikov and Paul Crossley, and, as well as performing in the MendelssohnFest 2003, has been a finalist in the RNCM Piano Recital Prize.
Kathryn was a student on the Joint Course between the RNCM and the University of Manchester, graduating from the University in July 2002 with first class honours. She has just completed her studies on the Masters course at the RNCM, where her piano tutor was Paul Janes. During her time at the RNCM she has been awarded the Peter Donohoe Prize, and in 2003 as a member of the Akoka Quartet won the Granada Prize for Chamber Music. This summer Kathryn was awarded a bursary to attend the Lake District Summer Music Festival where she performed in a public masterclass with Leon McCawley. She has formed a violin and piano duo with her sister Rebecca, and in 2004 they gave recitals as part of the Bath Fringe Festival, Winchester Festival and the Lake District Summer Music Festival.