OUR MUSICIANS

The Gustav Holst Ensemble brings together outstanding professional musicians for programmes drawn from the great classical and romantic chamber music repertoire.

At its heart is a core group of musicians who perform regularly with the Ensemble, joined by distinguished colleagues according to the instrumentation of each programme.

OUR MUSICIANS

LUCY JEAL

Violin I Leader & Founder Member

Lucy is a founder member and leader of the Gustav Holst Ensemble, having played a central role in the ensemble since its formation in 2021.

Lucy completed her musical studies as a Dean's Scholar at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, USA. After winning the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Young Soloist of the Year competition and performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto at the Royal Festival Hall, she became a Countess of Munster Trust Artist, giving recitals and concerto performances throughout the UK.

As a chamber musician, Lucy has performed with Alfred Brendel on an international tour including Carnegie Hall and has guest-led the Brodsky Quartet in concerts across the UK, Italy and the Netherlands. She has recorded for BBC Radio 3 and Bulgarian National Radio, has led Ensemble Reza since 2014 and is currently a member of the English Chamber Orchestra and Principal Second Violin of the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling, wearing a dark patterned top, sitting in front of green paneled walls.

RACHAEL SHEEHY

Rachael Sheehy studied at St Paul's Girls' School where she was a Gustav Holst Memorial Scholar, before reading music at the Royal College of Music where she was awarded a Martin Musical Scholarship and won the Cecil Aronowitz Viola Competition. She continued her studies in Vienna with Thomas Kakuska of the Alban Berg Quartet.

Rachael has performed as a soloist with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and has collaborated in chamber music projects with many distinguished musicians including Patricia Kopatchinskaja, members of the Eggner Trio and Artis Quartet. She has appeared with leading orchestras including the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, BBC Philharmonic and London Mozart Players. As founder and Artistic Director of the Gustav Holst Ensemble, Rachael is passionate about presenting chamber music of the highest quality and making exceptional live music accessible to local audiences.

Viola and Artistic Director

Man smiling, sitting against green wall, wearing a brown jacket, black shirt, and pink tie, with a fedora hat in his hand.

PAVLOS CARVALHO

Pavlos enjoys an international career as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher. Winner of international competitions in England, Italy, Germany and Russia, he has appeared at leading venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall, the Purcell Room and Teatro Dal Verme in Milan. He has performed concertos with many orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic.

A committed chamber musician, Pavlos is the founder and Artistic Director of Ensemble Reza and has performed extensively throughout the UK and Europe. His recordings include the complete Bach Cello Suites for Willowhayne Records, and alongside his performing career he is actively involved in music education through organisations including Pro Corda and Live Music Now. He is also founder of the Rebetiko Carnival, celebrating the music of Greece and Asia Minor.

Cello

Close-up of a man with short dark hair, beard, and blue eyes, wearing a red scarf and black coat, standing in front of a yellow and black striped background.

Allan Watson

JOHN REID

John enjoys an international career as a pianist, chamber musician and teacher. Professor of Piano at the Royal Academy of Music and Principal Pianist of Aurora Orchestra since 2007, he is equally at home as a soloist, collaborative pianist and exponent of contemporary music.

In 2017 he made his concerto debut in Germany with the Deutsche Philharmonie Merck and he has extended his repertoire with orchestra in recent seasons to include Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie and Tippett’s Concerto. A highly regarded chamber musician, John performs regularly with many of the UK's leading ensembles, including Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, The Sixteen, Arcangelo, London Conchord and the London Haydn Project. He appears frequently at Wigmore Hall and major festivals throughout the UK and has recorded extensively for BBC Radio 3.

Piano

GUEST ARTISTS

A woman with short blonde hair smiling, wearing a patterned blouse, standing in front of a green cabinet.

ANNA DE BRUIN

Anna studied at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama before continuing her studies in Moscow. She has performed at major concert halls worldwide with ensembles including the London Mozart Players, English Chamber Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and London Contemporary Orchestra.

Anna has appeared as guest leader of the English Sinfonia Chamber Ensemble and Riot Ensemble, and led the Ozero Ensemble for a live Apple TV broadcast. Her work with the London Contemporary Orchestra has included performing as a soloist with a quartet at Austria’s Musikprotokoll Festival and guest-leading the LCO ensemble at the Queen Elizabeth Hall for the PRS New Music Biennial. Anna also appears regularly with her quartet, Brother Tree Sound.

Violin

Gustav Holst Ensemble musician holding viola.

MORGAN GOFF

Morgan is based in London he works extensively as a session, chamber and solo violist. He is currently the violist of the Gavin Bryars Ensemble, the Locrian Ensemble, Primivera, Cirrus String Quartet and the Australia House Ensemble. He also works with London Sinfonietta, London Mozart Players and Britten Sinfonia amongst others.

Most recent solo work includes the premier of Gavin Bryars’ Viola Concerto with the Tasmania Symphony Orchestra in 2021 with the UK Premiere and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in early 2022. He works closely with Raphael Terroni, with whom he has performed and recorded much of the English viola repertoire. His instrument is a Daniel Parker viola, London, 1715.

Viola