Toad Lane Concert: The Elmet Quintet

The Elmet Quintet

The Elmet Quintet consists of a clarinet and a string quartet, which made for a beautiful combination in the acoustics of St Mary in the Baum on Wednesday 8 March, especially in the hands of such exponents.

The musicians in the quintet all play regularly in various in chamber ensembles and orchestras.

Clarinettist Rachael Gibbon who majored in Academic Studies at the RNCM and later gained a PhD from the University of Manchester, now tutors at the Junior RNCM and Leeds College of Music. She also introduced the items in an informative and engaging manner.

Violinist Richard Webster was a member of the National Youth Orchestra and led the Sinfonia of Leeds for some twenty years. After retiring early from social work, he took an LRSM diploma.

Violinist Rebecca Mellings studied music at Huddersfield and York Universities and Bretton Hall College, where she qualified as a teacher. She also plays the viola.

Alison Mordey led the viola section of the Airedale Symphony Orchestra for 10 years. She additionally does session work.

Caroline Steer studied cello at the Royal Academy of Music and was a member of the Hallé Orchestra for years. She particularly enjoys playing continuo and chamber music and is a founder member of the Ariana String Quartet.

Meyerbeer’s Quintet and Baermann’s Adagio were written especially for this combination, whilst Zequinha de Abreu’s famous catchy Brazilian foot-tapper, Tico-Tico and a set of Bagatelles by Finzi exploited its versatility. Tremendous ensemble playing made this greater than the sum of its parts.

We are fortunate indeed that there are such gifted players on the local music scene.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available now, but the venue is Covid-19 compliant. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson