NB: The Orchestra reserves the right to change the programme and venue according to the availability of music, venue and players.
Leonid Gorokhov
Born 1967 in Leningrad, USSR, the British/German cellist Leonid Gorokhov began playing piano at the age of 5 and the cello at 7. He attended the Central Music School to learn with Sviatoslav Zagursky, continued at the St.Petersburg Conservatoire with Anatoli Nikitin and took part in masterclasses with Daniil Shafran. Winner of the Concertino Praga (First Prize)[1] and the Paris Chamber Music Competition (Premier Grand Prix), Leonid Gorokhov is the only cellist from Russia to be awarded the Grand Prix and the First Prize
of the Geneva Concours (1986). In 1995, the European Association for Encouragement of the Arts awarded the Cultural Achievement Prize to Leonid Gorokhov for "exceptional talent and outstanding artistic accomplishment".
Following an invitation by Yehudi Menuhin, Leonid moved to UK in 1991 to pursue his playing and teaching career. Starting at the Yehudi Menuhin School, he subsequently joined the Royal Northern College of Music before moving to the Royal College in London, and finally, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 2008 followed a move to Hannover, Germany, to hold a Professorship for cello at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien.
Among his past and present students are winners of international competitions and members of orchestras in various parts of the world.
Leonid performed internationally as a soloist with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Orchester de la Suisse Romande, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Symphony Orchestra Biel, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra London, and The English Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearing frequently in recitals and chamber music festivals.
(Writing music for his instrument was for him a strictly private subject until recently, when support and interest of friends and colleagues have made a number of his pieces available to the audience.)
Marco Giudici
After gaining his Diploma at the Conservatorio G. Verdi in Milan, Marco Giudici was principal clarinet of the Italian Youth Orchestra for two years. He then went
on to study in Germany with internationally renowned performers and tutors E. Brunner and H. Deinzer, obtaining his soloist Diploma with Distinction.
He has performed as a freelance player both in Italy and England, working with orchestras such as the OSNR (National Italian Radio Orchestra), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata, Lancashire Sinfonietta and the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.
At present he enjoys a rewarding teaching career. Some of his students have become members of youth orchestras such as the National youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Hallé Youth Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and were offered places to study at many music colleges.
In recent years Marco has studied conducting both at the London Conducting Academy and with Eduardo Portal. He regularly conducts school orchestras as well as the Ambleside and District Choral Society in the Lake District.