Heather North was born in Doncaster, and began playing the flute at the age of seven. In 2001, after completing her GCSE’s, Heather was accepted to study at the prestigious Chethams School of Music in Manchester, where she continued her education. Two years later, Heather went on to study at the ‘Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama’, under the tuition of Alison Mitchell. In her final year at the RSAMD, Heather gained an apprenticeship with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, playing under the Baton of Stephane Deneve and Vladimir Ashkenazy. It was also in this year that Heather reached the National final of the ‘Lions International Flute Competition’.
After graduating in 2007, achieving a Bachelor of Music with Honours Degree, Heather relocated to London to study for her Postgraduate Diploma at the ‘Royal Academy of Music’, studying with Claire Southworth and Michael Cox. Throughout the academic year, Heather was given many prestigious solo and orchestral opportunities, playing principal Flute in the ‘University of London Symphony Orchestra’ and various other Symphony and Concert Orchestras within the Academy, including performances with Sir Colin Davies. Heather also performed Principal Flute as part of the London Symphony Orchestra side by side scheme, and in 2008, was Highly Commended in the J&J Brough Flute Prize.
As well as orchestral playing, Heather enjoys performing as part of ‘Quintet Zambra’, a chamber group formed at the RSAMD in Glasgow. Since their inception in 2006, ‘Quintet Zambra’ have been awarded the Mary D. Adams Music Chamber Award and have also had the privilege of performing for the Duke of Edinburgh. Subsequently, Heather has also been involved in a small contemporary chamber ensemble, alongside solo performers from the London Sinfonietta at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, performing new music from young up–and-coming composers.
In June, 2008, Heather completed her Postgraduate Diploma. Since graduating, she has enjoyed opportunities to perform with both the ‘London Contemporary Orchestra’ and ‘Marylebone Orchestra’, in addition to a recital of Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto with the ‘Winchester Symphony Orchestra’. Most recently, Heather performed with ‘Orchestra Europa’, in two live productions of Rick Wakeman’s composition ‘Henry the VIII and his Six Wives’ at Hampton Court Palace.
Heather currently resides in London, working as a freelance musician.
Sarah Cruickshank started her musical education at the Gordon Schools in Huntly before attending the newly established Aberdeen City Music School in 2001. She graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with BMus (Hons) in 2007 and PGDipMus in 2008. While studying under Stephen West and Rosie Staniforth at RSAMD she was awarded the Mary D Adams Prize for ChamberMusic, the Euing Prizes for History, Analysis and Form as well as being Highly Commended in the 2007 Classical Concerto Competition. She is currently studying oboe and cor anglais at the Royal College of Music in London with Chris Cowie, John Anderson, Christine Pendrill and Jane Marshall, where she is working on a Masters degree in Advanced Performance.
Sarah has won places on apprenticeship schemes with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Scottish Opera and in 2009 took part in a London Symphony Orchestra side-by‐side scheme. Sarah has also recorded and performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Nicola Turner was born in Edinburgh and began playing the clarinet when she was 11. Graduating from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with a BMus(Hons) in 2007, where she studied with Maximiliano Martin and Simon Butterworth, she has since moved to London where she is studying for an MA at the Royal Academy of Music with Tim Lines, Angela Malsbury and Richard Addison.
Nicola has always been a keen orchestral player and has performed with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, RSAMD Orchestras and RAM Orchestras under the baton of Ilan Volkov, Lutz Koehler, Diago Masson, Yan Pascal Tortellier and Tadaaki Otaka. She has gained Appreticeships with the RSNO (2005/06), the BBCSSO (2007/08) and recently took part in the LSO/RAM Scheme playing 2nd clarinet. Nicola was also 2nd clarinet of the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra with whom she performed and toured for two years (2006-08).
Always a proactive and dedicated chamber musician, Nicola is the recent winner of the Nicholas Blake Ensemble prize from the Royal Academy of Music and as a soloist, she has performed in masterclasses all over the UK with many prestigious players including Michael Collins, Joan-Enric Lluna, Anthony Pay, Andrew Marriner, Cristo Barrios, Barnaby Robson, Mark Van der Weill and Nick Cox. Nicola has recently been invited to perform the Stanford Clarinet Concerto with the Tudor Orchestra of North London at the end of this year.
Craig MacDonald began playing the tenor horn at the age of 11. During his second year of high school he joined his first brass band, which is where the love of music began. Craig switched to french horn when he was17 and took up lessons with Ken Blackwood, then 4th horn with the RSNO. Craig then successfully applied for The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and the RSAMD where he studied with David Flack (BBCSSO) and Hugh Potts (former BBCSSO), graduating with a BMus(Hons) in 2008. He has since moved to London where he is studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on their Masters programme, specialising in orchestral playing.
As well as playing with Quintet Zambra he is also a member of the successful brass quintet Alba Brass, members of the Live Music Now! Scheme and has recently formed a ten-piece brass ensemble. Last year he reached the final round of auditions for EUYO and was named a "Musician to be encouraged". He was also lucky enough to receive a Donald Dewar Arts award. This year Craig was principal horn in NYOS and recently had his professional debut with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Fraser Gordon Born and educated in Edinburgh, Fraser initially trained as a violinist, graduating from the RSAMD with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Following this, he decided to continue his studies on the bassoon at the Academy, receiving a BMus (performance) with 1st Class Honours and a Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction, completing his studies in June 2008.
Whilst a student, Fraser was successful in winning The Governors’ Wind Recital Prize, The Mary D Adams Prize for Chamber Music, The Mozart Concerto Prize, The Concerto Competition and the Peter Morrison Prize for overall excellence and contributions to the corporate life of the Academy. His solo appearances include Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante and Weber Bassoon Concerto with RSAMD Symphony Orchestra as well as several performances of Michael Daugherty’s Dead Elvis in full costume. Fraser has performed and recorded with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Ballet Orchestra, Orchestra of Scottish Opera, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras. He is also in increasing demand as a teacher and Animateur.