The Lyric Chamber Orchestra.
We look forward to seeing you at our concerts in March and April 2024, when we'll be performing a programme of music by Elgar, Dvořák, and Swedish composer Dag Wirén.
Dvořák Serenade for Strings Opus 22
Dag Wirén Serenade for String Orchestra Ops 11
Elgar Introduction and Allegro
Based in South Devon, The Lyric Chamber Orchestra has established itself as an inspired, imaginative and exciting string ensemble. Each musician brings a wealth of performance experience, with a passion for communicating the music it performs.
Talks are underway with several composers who live and work in Devon and we look forward to introducing newly commissioned works to our programmes.
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”
A few kind words said to us after recent concerts…
“Music is the universal language of mankind.”
Forthcoming Concerts
Spring concert, Totnes
Dvořák Serenade for Strings Opus 22 Dag Wirén Serenade for String Orchestra Ops 11 Elgar Introduction and Allegro Tickets ...
Spring concert, Ashburton
Dvořák Serenade for Strings Opus 22 Dag Wirén Serenade for String Orchestra Ops 11 Elgar Introduction and Allegro Tickets ...
Leader and Director of the Lyric Chamber Orchestra
Patricia Calnan began her studies at the Royal Academy of Music with David Martin. She won many scholarships and prizes and continued her post graduate studies first in Freiburg, Germany with Wolfgang Marschner, and later with Helen Airoff-Dowling in Switzerland and London. Helen remains the formative influence on Patricia’s philosophy of teaching.
Patricia won the Mozart Memorial Prize and performed extensively both as leader of the Trio Zingara and as a soloist throughout the UK and the world .
Patricia led the Lyric Quartet to great critical acclaim, following their debut recital in 1991, touring extensively with them in the UK and Europe. She toured worldwide with Sir Neville Marriner as a member of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
Throughout her career she could be heard regularly on Radio 3 and her discography includes the Brahms Sonatas and works by Dohnányi, Ross Edwards, Herbert Howells, Glazunov, Ginastera and Rimsky-Korsakov.
In 1998 Patricia married viola player, painter and film-maker George Robertson and since the birth of their daughter Emily in 1999, Patricia’s focus moved towards teaching. Her style and inventive methods have developed, to incorporate her work as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, Meditation and Mindfulness and Trish works with young professional musicians at the start of their musical careers.
George Robertson
We are most grateful for the stunning artwork on the website, which is all the work of painter, filmmaker and viola player, George Robertson, whose own illustrious career makes him an integral part of the orchestra.
George was born in Scotland and studied Viola at the Royal College of Music under a Caird Scholarship. Early in his career he was a member of the BBC Symphony, the Bath Festival and the Philharmonia Orchestras working with Kempe, Klemperer and Menuhin before going to play Principal Viola in the Bergen Symphony, then with Celibididache in the Stockholm Radio Orchestra.
George spent much of his career doing film sessions as well as playing in a wide variety, of different Orchestras.
George has painted for much of his life and has been strongly influenced by artists such as Graham Sutherland and fauvists painters, Matisse, Andre Derain and Dufy. Georges’ vibrant colours and landscapes are systematic of his work and show something of his amazing journey!
A painting is Music you can see and Music is a painting you can hear.
Jeremy Capey
Jeremy studied cello performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and later gained a further performance diploma from the Royal College of Music, where he was singled out for special commendation for the exceptional quality of his performance. Amongst his teachers have been Naomi Butterworth and Stefan Popov, both of whom are widely regarded as two of the UK’s leading cello teachers. He has performed widely as both chamber and orchestral player and has often performed as a soloist ranging from unaccompanied recitals to performing the Elgar concerto at Earl’s Court arena to an audience of over 10,000 people.
Brenda Willoughby
Brenda Willoughby has a highly enviable reputation, as both leader and sought after, chamber musician in the South West.
Brenda began her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London under the guidance of David Martin where she won many of the scholarships and Prizes….
After five years of studying, Brenda left London and began her musical life in Hertfordshire with her husband and later moved to Devon where she taught many of Devons rising stars of today,
as well as becoming one of the most respected violinists in the community…..
Brenda’s experience as an orchestral player and a leader allows her to continue to enjoy playing to the highest order, allowing her to pass on to future generations her knowledge, skill, and artistic sensitivity in performing music.
Keith Marshall - Conductor
Keith Marshall is an experienced conductor and oboist. In 1994, he was appointed Director of the Thames Chamber Orchestra. Since then, he has conducted a regular series of concerts at St Martin-in-the-Fields, at numerous festivals throughout the United Kingdom and at many London venues including St John’s Smith Square and the Royal Albert Hall.
Keith has worked on a regular basis with the choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge, conducting many major works by Bach, Handel and Mozart. Their performance of Handel’s Coronation Anthems was broadcast from St John’s Smith Square on Classic FM.
He has appeared regularly as Guest Conductor with State Opera Rousse, Bulgaria, directing highly acclaimed performances of Don Giovanni and La Traviata, and in Austria, Keith had the honour of conducting a New Year Concert with the Wallersee Philharmonie of Salzburg.
In London’s West End, Keith has conducted over 1000 performances of Lord Lloyd Webber’s award-winning Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Keith has also pursued a highly successful and broadly based freelance career as an oboist, performing on a regular basis with Britain’s most prestigious symphony and chamber orchestras at many of the world’s most important venues and music festivals. Working for extended periods with both the English Chamber and Philharmonia Orchestras, he has performed at the Salzburg and Edinburgh Festivals, the Concertgebouw, Carnegie Hall, the Musikverein and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall.
Keith has often appeared as soloist with the Thames Chamber Orchestra, playing concertos in both the Queen Elizabeth and Wigmore Halls, and at other venues throughout the United Kingdom. He has given numerous solo recitals on BBC Radio Three and made a recording of Finzi’s Interlude for Oboe and String Quartet on the Hyperion label. He has also recorded wind octets by Mozart and Myslivicek with Harmoniemusik of London for Virgin Classics.