Classical quartet set to tug Campbeltown heartstrings
KINTYRE Music Club welcomes a top Scottish string quartet for the penultimate concert of its season.
Formed in 2005, the current line up of Uli Evans, Andrew Lees, Shelagh McKail and Helen Duncan regularly play sell out concerts at Edinburgh’s Lauriston Hall, where the four musicians are Quartet in Residence.
For their Campbeltown concert they will be playing Beethoven’s String Quartet No 1 in F major, Op.18 Shostakovich’s String Quartet No 1 in C major, Op.49 and Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No 6 in F minor, Op.80.
First violin and Roxburgh Quartet founder member Uli Evans was born in Luebeck, Germany, and studied violin at the Hochschule fur Musik in Saarbrucken.
She has performed and broadcast with some of the leading musicians in Germany and has also toured throughout France and Italy.
In Edinburgh, the violinist has played with the Scottish and Hebrides Ensembles, Scottish Opera, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. She also teaches pupils of all ages.
Andrew Lees, second violin was formerly a member of both the Hallé and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras playing viola. When he first joined the Roxburgh Quartet it was as their viola player.
A playing injury ended this first association, but a few years later he was delighted to be able to rejoin the group, this time as second violin.
He concentrates on solo playing, arranging, teaching and conducting. Perhaps his most notable achievement to date is an arrangement of Rossini’s William Tell Overture
for 40 violas and triangle.
Shelagh McKail, on viola, grew up in Ayrshire, and although music was always a huge part of her life, it was only after gaining an honours degree in physiology and sports science from Glasgow university that she pursued her passion.
Along with her work with the Roxburgh Quartet, Shelagh currently plays viola for Scottish Opera and is also a violin and viola teacher for South Ayrshire Council.
Helen Duncan set her heart on becoming a cellist at the age of seven, and is another Roxburgh Quartet founder member.
She studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, and a highlight from this time was being invited to take part in master-classes with Paul Tortellier as part of the chamber music festival in Saint Sernin, France.
After returning to Scotland, she has enjoyed participating in the Scottish music scene, playing in many churches and cathedrals, coaching chamber music at the Mendelssohn On Mull Festival and playing at the official opening of the Edinburgh Festival Theatre.
The Quartet passionately believe that the shared experience of performers and audience during live performances can be a truly life-enhancing experience and they actively encourage unseasoned concert goers to give it a go.
So why not do just that and come along to their concert at the Lorne and Lowland Church on Friday February 10 at 7.30pm? Tickets are £10 on the door. Children and students go free.