EDUARDO
VASSALLO (Cello)
Eduardo
Vassallo was born in Buenos Aires in 1961. He began his
cello and chamber music studies in the Argentinian capital
and later completed them at the Menuhin Music Academy in
Gstaad, Switzerland where his teachers included Radu
Aldulescu on cello and Yehudi Menuhin and Alberto Lysy for
chamber music. His next move was to Cologne where he
studied with Boris Pergamenschikow. Since 1989 Eduardo has
been Principal Cello of the City of Birmingham Symphony
Orchestra. He is one of the founding directors of the
Birmingham Ensemble and also teaches at the Royal Northern
College of Music where he has participated in many Cello
Festivals hosted by the RNCM. As a soloist he has given
recitals throughout Europe and South America and has
appeared as soloist with various orchestras. Eduardo has
given the world premiere of Piazzolla's 'El Grand Tango'
for cello and piano.
NICOLAS
BRICHT (Flute)
Nicolas
Bricht was born in Buenos Aires in 1971. He studied at
Guildhall School of Music and Drama and graduated with a
first class degree. Since graduating Nicolas has freelanced
with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, London
Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra,
Northern Sinfonia, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC
Philharmonic, BBC Symphony and more. Nicolas has played
chamber music concerts in the UK, Spain, Germany, Japan and
Argentina. He also plays in ALMA, a 12 piece flamenco group
and teaches the flute at Junior Guildhall.
MARK GOODCHILD (Double Bass)
Mark
Goodchild was born in London and studied composition and
conducting with Oliver Knussen at the Royal College of
Music. He joined the CBSO bass section in 1983 but has
retained his links in the jazz world, appearing with
musicians as diverse as Guy Barker, Scott Hamilton and Arts
Farmer. Mark has created several of his own ensembles such
as the Ellingtonia Septet and can be heard as solo rhythm
bass o EMI’s Classic Ellington conducted by Sir Simon
Rattle.
FRED
LEZAMA THOMAS (Piano)
Born in
London in 1985, Fred Lezama Thomas was brought up in a
musical family, playing mostly piano from the age of 5, and
cello, guitar and percussion as well. At the age of 16,
Fred discovered jazz and swapped his cello for a
double-bass. He has however, continued developing his
classical piano playing, performing Gershwin’s
Rhapsody in Blue at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. Fred
is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music on the
Undergraduate Jazz Course but he is also very active as a
performer having just formed his own trio that plays his
original compositions. As well as being a pianist with El
Ultimo Tango, Fred plays double-bass with Ensemble Nuevo
Tango.
MARK
OŽBRIEN (Sax)
Mark
O’Brien was born in Poole, Dorset in 1968. In 1987 he
went to the Royal Academy of Music in London where he
studied with Keith Pearson and Richard Addison. Whilst at
the RAM he excelled in chamber and orchestral playing and
in 1989 he played the solo part in Stravinsky’s Ebony
Concerto. In 1990 he was appointed by Sir Simon Rattle as
Principal Bass Clarinet with the CBSO. As well as playing
in the CBSO, Mark is busy playing in various chamber
ensembles including the Birmingham Contemporary Music
Group, education groups and jazz combos.
