Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
![[RWCMD Wind Ensemble]](images/2004/rwcmd240.jpg)
Helen Pierce, flute
Graham Jones, clarinet
Thomas Jackson, clarinet
Elizabeth Major, oboe
Howard Dann, bassoon
Helen Fisher, horn
with
Arisu Nakao, piano
HOWARD DANN (bassoon) was born in Ipswich in 1982 and started learning the bassoon at the age of 10 with his father. Howard joined the Suffolk Youth Orchestra as principal bassoon in 1996, visiting Hungary, Spain, Poland, Italy and France. They also performed in some of England's major concert venues including the Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and Snape Maltings.
Howard began his studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2000, receiving tuition from Steve Marsden of the Welsh National Opera and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales's Robert Codd. Howard has always had a keen interest in chamber music and he hopes to promote the French bassoon in this genre.
HELEN FISHER (horn) is currently studying horn at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She was principal horn of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales in 2002 and 2003, winning the Goronwy Evans Prize for most promising brass player. She has been accepted onto the BBC NOW placement scheme which will take place in March 2003.
Helen enjoys playing in the College wind quintet which gave her the opportunity to take part in a pre-prom concert for BBC Radio 3 in September 2003.
HELEN PIERCE (flute) grew up in Cheshire and started the flute at the age of 7 under the tuition of Catherine Evans. In Cheshire she was involved in many orchestras and groups around the county, including the Cheshire Youth Orchestra and Kings Woodwind Ensemble. She went on to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she graduated with a BMus (Hons).
To further her performance ability she is now studying for a Post Graduate Diploma, where she is taught by the principal flautist of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Kathryn Baker.
THOMAS JACKSON (clarinet) studies clarinet with Leslie Craven, E-flat clarinet with John Cooper, and saxophone with Lee Goodall. As well as orchestral and chamber music, Thomas also has an interest in contemporary, jazz, electronic, world and explorative music.
GRAHAM JONES (clarinet) was born in 1981 in Essex and began studies in clarinet and piano at the age of 8. After receiving the ATCL, he attended Hull University for two years, playing and singing in the various ensembles there. He then transferred to the RWCMD and obtained a first-class honours degree in 2003.
He is currently studying with John Reynolds and Robert Plane on the Post Graduate Diploma course, and enjoys performing with the RWCMD Symphony Orchestra and various ensembles. He also enjoys singing with the BBC Chorus in Cardiff.
ELIZABETH MAJOR (oboe) was born in 1981 in Aberdare in the South Wales valleys and began playing the oboe at the age of 11. Studying with Sophia McKenna, Elizabeth graduated from Cardiff University in July 2002 before being awarded a scholarship to study for a Post Graduate Diploma at RWCMD with David Cowley. She also studies cor anglais with Sarah-Jayne Porsmoguer and Baroque oboe with Sophia McKenna.
Elizabeth is a former principal oboe of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, with whom she toured throughout the UK and Ireland. She was also principal oboe of the Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and Contemporary Music Group, and currently plays with the various RWCMD ensembles as well as many orchestras across South Wales. On leaving the College, Elizabeth hopes to join a professional orchestra and continue to perform as a chamber musician.
ARISU NAKAO (piano) was born in Osaka Japan. She studied with Akiko Tamura at Musashino Academia Musicae, from which she graduated and obtained a Masters degree. She also received tuition from Amadeus Websersinke, a renowned Bach specialist. Arisu went on to study at the Moscow Conservatory with a number of outstanding pianists and teachers, including A. Nasedkin, V. Kastelsky and R. Roshina. In October 2002, she moved to the UK to further her studies with M. Schreider and R. McMahon. In 2003, she won the Julian Jacobson Prize.
Arisu performed Mozart's D major concerto no. 26 K. 537 ('Coronation') at the age of 11. In March 2003, she appeared in one of the concerts in the St. Martin-in-the-Fields concert series.