David Lewis; Melanie Woodcock; David Brooker; Garry Clarke

Full Circle

classical string quartet

Full Circle is an exciting new string quartet formed by four friends and colleagues, principal players with the English Haydn Orchestra. A shared enthusiasm and approach to the world of 'period performance' led to the formation of the group in 1998, and highly acclaimed debut concerts in Lichfield and Stoke. Since then they have given many concerts for music societies and festivals throughout the country including performances in Cambridge, London, Guildford, Brackley, Sulgrave Manor and Stafford. Although centring their programmes on the works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven they have also been keen to introduce music by other contemporary composers including Hummel, Donizetti, Van Hal and Hoffmeister. The quartet have recently been asked to perform on a new set of instruments being made by Lucca Primon in Cremona for Tim Toft Violins and will give concerts on them in both England and Italy.

David Lewis (violin) studied at the Royal College of Music, London, joining the Welsh National Opera Orchestra upon completion of his studies and remained with them for seven years, leaving in 1987 to become a freelance player. Since then he has worked with many major orchestras in this country and abroad, and developed an interest in 'historically informed' music performance. David's acting debut came as the orchestra leader in the film 'The Madness of King George' with Nigel Hawthorne.

Garry Clarke (violin) has developed a busy freelance schedule since leaving the Royal College of Music in 1986 working with many of the countries leading period instrument ensembles including The Academy of Ancient Music, The Sixteen,. The Hanover Band, Platform 4 and the French ensemble Les Arts Florissant. He is also much in demand to give masterclasses and coach modern orchestras in baroque style after periods as head of strings at the Dragon School, Oxford, Stonyhurst College and the Latymer School, Edmonton. In his spare time Garry relaxes by making his own cheddar style cheese 'Mostylea Fiddler'.

David Brooker (viola) has a busy career working both as a performer and in music education. As a viola player specializing in playing baroque and classical music on instruments of the period, he has given concerts worldwide with all of London's leading early music ensembles and appeared on over 60 recordings. As an educator he works conducting, coaching and arranging repertoire for youth ensembles, runs a special beginners' string teaching scheme for the London Borough of Sutton and belongs to the community education team with the Hanover Band, working on composition projects with groups ranging from primary school children to adults with special needs.

Melanie Woodcock (cello) studied at Leeds University where she first developed her interest in Early Music performance before undertaking a postgraduate course at the Royal Academy of Music where she was awarded a prize for solo performance. She now divides her time between 'modern' and 'period' performance and works with The Parley of Instruments, London Handel Orchestra and Opera Restor'd. She is much in demand as a continuo player and is cellist for Wren Baroque Soloists.

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