Royal Northern College of Music
YMF 2005
THE MALEHAM QUARTET was formed three years ago, studying with Christopher Rowland and participating in masterclasses with members of the Endellion, Sorrell, Allegri and Johnston Quartets. They were the recipients of the Hirsch Prize for Chamber Music 2002 for their performance of Beethoven. They performed in the 2004 RNCM QuartetFest and at the recent RNCM Schumann and Brahms Fest.
HOLLY MALEHAM (violin) is from Durham and is in her third year of study at the Royal Northern College of Music. She currently studies with Wen Zhou Li, having previously studied with Richard Deakin. Prior to this, Holly was a Sixth Former at Chetham's and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra for three years, co-leading the orchestra in her final year. Holly has participated in masterclasses with Emmanuel Hurwitz, Lewis Kaplan, Zvi Zeitlin, Ernst Kovacic, Atis Bankas and Kazuki Sawa. Summer Festivals have included the Cheltenham International Chamber Music Festival (UK), Hans Werne Henze Festival (Italy) and the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival (USA). Holly has played recitals across the North of England and recently performed Messiaen's Quartet for the end of Time in the Grange over Sands Chamber Music Series and in Durham with Kate Thompson (piano) from the Northern Sinfonia.
CATHY BESSANT (violin) is from Blackburn and is a third year joint course student at both the RNCM and Manchester University. She currently studies with Christopher Rowland but has also been a pupil of Richard Deakin. Cathy was a pupil at Chetham's School of Music for four years. She has participated in masterclasses with Zvi Zeitlin, Brian Hawkins and Mauricio Fuks. Cathy has taken part in the Aberystwith Summer Music Festival and has travelled to Italy with College on two occasions to play in the Hans Werne Henze Festival in Montepulciano, Tuscany.
BRIDGET SLATER (viola) was born in Sheffield and is in her fourth year at the RNCM. She entered the college to study violin with Steve Wilkie but transferred to Scott Dickenson's viola class in her second year. Bridget is now a pupil of Mark Knight. She has participated in a masterclass with Thomas Reibl and has regular Baroque lessons with Annette Isserlis. Within the college and back in Sheffield, Bridget performs widely in many different chamber ensembles.
DEBORAH CHANDLER (cello) began playing the cello at the age of 7 and currently studies with Emma Ferrand. She attended the solo course of the Lake District Summer Music Festival in 2002 and 2003, playing to Colin Carr and Stephen Doane. She has performed in string quartets and orchestras throughout the North East, in solo recitals, and with Graeme Danby and Valerie Reid of the ENO for the Northern Sinfonia Friends and the NSPCC. Deborah gained her performance diploma of the Associated Board in July 2001.
While studying English at Bristol University, Deborah took an active role in university music and led the cello sections of the chamber and symphony orchestras. She played continuo cello for the University Opera Society productions of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and Gluck's Orfeo and Uridice and was the Chamber Music Coordinator for the University Music Society. She performed the Haydn C major cello concerto with the Chamber Orchestra in July 2003 and gave a solo recital of Bach and George Crumb in October 2003. Outside the university, Deborah has played with the New Bristol Sinfonia and the Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra. Deborah is now studying for a PGDip at the RNCM with Emma Ferrand.