Chamber Groups Platform 4 CONTACT: EMAIL & WEBSITE *** To the Client *** PLEASE NOTE email address needs updating!

Since their formation in 1996 PLATFORM 4 have established a growing reputation with audiences throughout the country for their infectious style of music making. Their enthusiasm and professional commitment coupled with a relaxed yet informative style lends itself to many occasions and endears them to audiences of all ages.

"Platform 4 put flesh on the bones of the music"
Burton Mail

In 2001, alongside their Music & Monuments season, they will give concerts for the Keele music society, Barbara Walton Singers, Beaumaris Singers, Birkenhead Grammar School, Pacific Rd Arts Centre - Liverpool and the New Victoria Theatre - Newcastle. In September of 2001 they will embark on a series of 'baroque by candlelight' in full 18th century costume giving audiences an opportunity to see the performers in a new light (well wigs and tights anyway)

"inspirational"
Staffordshire Newsletter

Over the last five years they have been instrumental in raising the awareness of historically informed performances throughout the county and have gained support from Stafford Borough Council, West Midlands Arts, Staffordshire University, Staffordshire Newsletter, and Staffordshire Historic Churches Trust for their innovative programming and educational work.

"excellent playing of period instruments"
Newport Advertiser

Ruth Theobald is an experienced oratorio soloist and has an established reputation as a stylish musician. Her rich contralto voice is reminiscent of the great British contraltos heard over the last century. Ruth has recorded, with John Briggs the concert pianist, a tribute to Dame Clara Butt, the contralto who was the love of the British nation 100 years ago.

Ruth is a founder member of the chamber group Platform 4, musicians in residence at Staffordshire University, who specialise in Baroque and Classical music. Thay perform on instruments from the period.

During the summer months Ruth tours beautiful Country Houses singing Rule Britannia et al, at the ever popular Last Night At The Prom Concerts.

The Crimson Twilight, Ruths C.D, is available directly from Ruth.

Garry Clarke has established himself as a freelance orchestral and chamber musician with many of this countries period instrument and modern chamber orchestras. These include The Academy of Ancient Music, The Sixteen, The Hanover Band, Northern Sinfonia, Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Platform 4, Ambamche Chamber Orchestra and the English Haydn Orchestra. With them he has toured to the U.S.A., Canada, South America, India, Macau, Istanbul and throughout Europe.

Alongside his orchestral and chamber music commitments Garry has always valued his teaching experiences and was head of strings at the Dragon School, Oxford, Latymer School, Edmonton and Stonyhurst College. He is regularly asked to give workshops and masterclasses developing and applying baroque style for 'modern' performers.

He is also a connoisseur of the pudding and can often be found between rehearsals searching out the local speciality.

Jonathan Price plays in a wide variety of chamber ensembles, performing music spanning four centuries. For ten years he was a member of the Matisse Piano Quartet broadcasting most of the piano quartet repertoire for the BBC. He now works with James Bowman in the Legrand Ensemble, Musical Offering and with the Camerata Ensemble, whose members are the principal players with Manchester Camerata. He is also cello tutor at Manchester University.

David Francis performs as a soloist and continuo player with many of Britain's leading orchestras. He has a wide repertoire encompassing renaissance, baroque, classical and 20th century music. As a director he has worked with Manchester Camerata and the chamber ensemble Musical Offering. He is Co-ordinator of Early Music Studies, Academic Administrator of the School of Keyboard Studies and Harpsichord tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music.