The Allegrezza String Quartet
Providing Music in Bristol and the South West, Cardiff and South Wales
Members of the Quartet
Victoria Wright - Violin
Victoria studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she gained a LWCMD and PGDip, both with distinction. She was an annual prize-winner and was privileged to have a variety of inspiring teachers; Dona-Lee Croft, James Clarke and Nick Whiting. Following her graduation in 2002, she was selected for a Socrates exchange to Australia at the Newcastle Conservatorium studying with Elizabeth Holowell.
Victoria has since been developing an active career in performance and teaching. She regularly works with the Welsh Sinfonia and also plays with Swansea City Opera and the Arcata Ensemble. She has undertaken extra work and trials with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the English Symphony Orchestra. Victoria’s career also encompasses chamber music with various groups and session work for Red Eye Music and Brollyman productions. Victoria also teaches violin for Cardiff county music service and privately.
Rachel Wilson-Dickson - Violin
Born in Nottingham, Rachel began playing the violin at
the age of 8. She won an Advanced Tuition Place Scholarship that she
held for the duration of her education and went on to lead all of her
music school and county orchestras.
Rachel studied music at York University winning a
scholarship from The Foundation for Sport and the Arts. She went on to
lead the symphony, chamber and Beethoven Orchestra. ‘Spare’ time in
holidays gave her the opportunity to play with the Britten-Peers
Orchestra and Jersey Symphony
Orchestra. Rachel’s career has seen her perform in Greece, France,
Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Bulgaria and Croatia and she has played on
the major stages in the UK, including The London Festival Hall, The
Royal Albert Hall, Purcell Room, Nottingham’s Royal Centre, St. David’s
Hall Cardiff and the new Wales Millennium Centre.
Based in South Wales, Rachel now works as a freelance violinist and
session musician. She performs regularly with the Welsh Baroque
Orchestra, Concerto Gallese the folk quartet Nezehr, Mill House String
Quartet, New Folks Ceilidh Band and guests with the 9 piece Balkan band
Szapora. She is also
a keen violin teacher and hopes to pass on her enthusiasm for music.
Rebecca Ayres - Viola
After completing her undergraduate studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Rebecca was offered a bursary to continue her studies at postgraduate level. During her time at the college she studied under Philip Heyman, Graham Oppenheimer and Richard Crabtree. She was awarded a scholarship to participate in the Bowdoin Festival, U.S.A, and also the Chandos Memorial Bursary to become a member of the Britten Pears Young Artists Programme, where she played principal viola. Rebecca has performed with Welsh National Opera (including trial and extra work), Welsh Sinfonia, West of England Philharmonic, the Britten Pears Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru, Swansea City Opera, the Arion Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Wales, Welsh Baroque Orchestra and the Concerto Gallese Baroque Orchestra.
Kate Ayres - Cello
Kate Ayres is principal cellist of the Welsh Baroque Orchestra and plays with the Amati and Allegrezza String Quartets, as well as playing both Baroque and modern cello on a freelance basis. She has performed with leading musicians such as Catherine Mackintosh, Andrew Wilson-Dickson, Margaret Faultless, James Bowman and Crispian Steel-Perkins in venues throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Recent performances have seen her tour Ireland and Croatia, appear on the radio and make a CD recording with Buddug Verona James. As well as a busy performance schedule she plays an active part in music education, involving education workshops, class tuition and instrumental teaching at a variety of levels. Following a music degree at Bristol University she completed her MMus in performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2004.
info@allegrezza.co.uk| 07815 613489