Mark Derudder was born in Fukuoka (Japan) but moved to Belgium at the age of two and started playing the violin at the age of six. In 2002 he won first prize in the National Competition "Axion Classics". In 2004 he won the Gold Medal at the Marlow Music Festival. At the Guildhall, he received the MBF Ian Fleming Charitable Trust Award and the Martin Musical Fund Award. Mark has performed as soloist and chamber musician in venues across the UK, Europe and the USA. He also held a Fellowship for two years at the Guildhall as member of the Idomeneo String Quartet with which he performs regularly around the world. In 2012 he joined the Philharmonia Orchestra in London as a member of the first violin section.

Nicholas Bootiman was born near Munich, Germany, where he started his first music lessons. Later he attended the Purcell School, Royal College of Music, Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and the New England Conservatory in Boston, USA. His primary teachers were Kim Kashkashian, Milan Skampa, Ian Jewel and Andriy Viytovych.

 

Nicholas is frequently invited to guest lead viola sections throughout the country, and has appeared as such with Philharmonia, City of Birmingham Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony, Royal Scottish National and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and City of London Sinfonia.

 

Concerto performances include Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante with Zsolt-Tihamer Visontay and Philharmonia Orchestra, and Penderecki's Viola Concerto with Boston Modern Orchestra Project. As a chamber musician Nicholas often takes time out to play with friends at festivals around UK and Europe and has performed at the major London chamber venues. He composes as a hobby, and as conductor co-directs the Reuleaux Ensemble.

Hailed by the Irish Times for being "as free in touching the heartstrings as he was in dashing off dazzling runs", Bartholomew Lafollette's highlights with orchestra include performances of Dvorak's Cello Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Walton and Elgar Cello Concertos in the Barbican Hall as well as appearing as soloist with the City of London Sinfonia. He has also performed The Brahms Double Concerto with Daniel Stabrawa and the Poznan Philharmonic in Poland and Elgar's Cello Concerto at the Sibelius International Music Festival in Helsinki. He was the first recipient of the Irish Chamber Orchestra's honorable Ardan Award which led to appearances throughout the British Isles.

 

Bartholomew engages in a rich variety of musical collaborations and has recently performed, amongst others, with Anthony Marwood, Christian Tetzlaff and Andras Keller. He frequently appears with the award winning Doric String Quartet with whom he recorded Eric Wolfgang Korngold's string sextet for Chandos. He participates regularly in international festivals such as Ravinia and Spannungen and has a special relationship with IMS Prussia Cove, performing both in Cornwall and on their annual tour.

 

Born in Philadelphia, Bartholomew was drawn to the cello at an early age, entering the Yehudi Menuhin school at the age of thirteen. Continuing his studies with Louise Hopkins at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he received a First Honours Masters degree and was a post-graduate Fellow.  His career was launched by the prestigious Young Concert Artist's Trust (YCAT) in 2007, after which he made successful debuts across the UK, including numerous performances at the Wigmore Hall, Barbican Centre, Bridgewater Hall and the Royal Festival Hall. His performances both as soloist in recital and with orchestra are critically lauded for their intensity and commitment.

 

In 2011 at the age of twenty-six, Bartholomew LaFollette was appointed Principal Cello Teacher at the Yehudi Menuhin School. He is especially grateful for the indefinite loan of a Benjamin Banks Jr. cello made in 1785.