Holly is a founding member of the Vesuvio Wind Quintet, which formed in 2006 when its members were all students at Trinity College of Music. They have given many acclaimed performances in London and the UK. Past and future highlights include a performance for the Aramco Expats International Concert Committee in Saudi Arabia, a recital at the Horniman Museum celebrating British woodwind instrument making, and an evening concert as part of the 31st Chiddingly Festival 2009. They will be performing in the 5th Henri Tomasi International Wind Quintet Competition in Marseilles in February 2011.

The Vesuvio Wind Quintet is focused on performing contemporary quintet repertoire by living British and Irish composers. They like to combine these works with standard repertoire of both European and British works from early 19th century onwards, alongside solo, duo, trios and quartet works in order to add more colour and interest to their programme. The group has an impressively wide range of repertoire including music in a huge variety of styles, from light-hearted arrangements of popular classics to the more substantial works for wind quintet.

They are also committed to music education and bringing music to a wider audience, and have enjoyed performing many school and family concerts, workshops and demonstrations. The Vesuvio Wind Quintet is grateful for support from the Fidelio Charitable Trust.

Holly Cook, Katharine Carter, Jennifer Raven, Missy Mills, Rebecca Coker, Kathy Batchelor, Emma Price, Marielle Way, Fiona Kelly, Sarah Desbruslais

Ayre Flutes are a refreshing and dynamic flute ensemble who specialise in pioneering contemporary works and commissions. 2010 has been an exciting year for Ayre, with new ventures taking the group in many different directions. Following three highly acclaimed performances at the British Flute Society Convention in 2008, Ayre were invited back as artists at the 2010 BFS Convention in Manchester. Ayre were also shortlisted for the 2011 Park Lane Group Young Artists Series.

Recent performances at the BFS Convention, St Martin-in-the-Fields (September 2010) and Cheltenham Town Hall (March 2010) were highly praised, and included works written for the group by British composer Oliver Payne, and German composer Matthias Strassmuller. These works have been recorded by Ayre, and have resulted in an invitation to perform at Bristol University in the 2011 series. In addition, world renowned flautist and composer Mike Mower has asked Ayre to record his work Obstinato and Scareso in 2011.

In 2009 Ayre were awarded the June Emerson Launch-pad prize as an outstanding chamber ensemble from a UK music conservatoire. Dedicated to pioneering and raising the profile of contemporary works for flute ensemble, Ayre played at the Park Lane Composer’s Symposium at the Royal Festival Hall in 2008, and have since gone on to commission new works for flute ensemble from a number of composers worldwide. Ayre appeared in Muso magazine in June 2009, discussing their involvement in contemporary flute music.

Ayre Flutes were formed in 2007 and all members are recent graduates and postgraduates of Trinity College of Music. All players play the full range of the flute family from piccolo to contrabass, and have worked with many of the composers whose works they perform. Ayre have received coaching from Anna Noakes, Wissam Boustany, Andy Findon, Will Offermans, Mike Mower and Dave Heath.