String Programme

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Learn from an expert team of tutors—including members of Royal Northern Sinfonia—and take your playing to the next level.

Alongside one-to-one lessons and music language tuition, you’ll rehearse weekly in small ensembles, often collaborating with first-study piano students. Many students take Associated Board music exams up to diploma level, and there are opportunities to join larger ensembles for special projects—like our recording and performance with The Lake Poets in a sold-out Sage Two gig.

More advanced players can audition for Young Sinfonia while those with a passion for folk might be interested in Folkestra. Many string players also take up piano as a second study—we strongly recommend it.

Many string players also take a second study instrument (usually piano) and we strongly recommend this.

Our students regularly take part in masterclasses with world-class musicians, including Simon Wallfisch, Ruth Killius, Robert Cohen, and soloists from the ECHO Rising Stars programme. Workshops cover everything from improvisation and recording techniques to playing electronic strings and exploring folk and rock styles.

Key Information

String Team

Study Leader: James Craig (Cello)
Iona Brown (Violin)
Ed Cross (Violin / Viola)
Chiara Hilton (Violin)
Sarah Roberts (Violin)
Chrissie Slater (Viola)
Deborah Thorne (Cello)

‘I enjoyed meeting the four talented and serious students. They were all very focused and responded quickly to new ideas and concepts, and there was a lovely supportive atmosphere in the class, which was wonderful to see.’

Tamsin Waley Cohen, ECHO Rising Star Violinist

Information for Students

Timetables, auditions, and other useful information for current and prospective CAT students to help make the most of your learning experience.

More info

Meet the team

Study Leader: James Craig (Principal Study Leader & Cello)
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James joined the cello section of Royal Northern Sinfonia on completing post-graduate studies at the Royal College of Music. In 1995 a Northern Arts scholarship enabled him to study in Israel, Finland, France, Italy and England. Since returning, James has also taught extensively. For many years, he wrote and presented workshops in schools, including string quartet and composition coaching to A level standard. James has additionally given cello masterclasses in the Baccarelli Institute, Sao Paolo Brasil and as part of ‘Awards for Young Musicians’.

Iona Brown (Violin)
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Iona received her early musical education in Leicestershire where she was a member of the Leicestershire Schools Youth Orchestras for seven years. She won a scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music under Christopher Rowland, Lydia Mordkovitch and Wen Zhou Li. Whilst in Manchester she helped found Ps- appha with whom she appeared live on Radio 3 and in various series nationwide. She was also a member of Manchester Camerata performing regularly with their Chamber En- semble and as soloist in Bach’s Concerto for 2 Violins. Iona joined Royal Northern Sinfonia in 1995 where she is now a principal first violin.

In 2003 Iona was awarded an Arts Council grant for a sabbatical in Paris where she studied with Jean-Jacques Kantorow. Iona is also extremely dedicated to music education, and was invited to adjudicate the preliminary rounds of Young Musician of the Year in Manchester in 2017 and 2015 . As well as private teaching, Iona teaches for Durham University and has recently been appointed Head of Strings at Newcastle University.

Ed Cross (Violin)
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Ed completed his undergraduate degree in music at the University of Birmingham before returning to his home city of Newcastle upon Tyne where he was awarded a distinction for his MMus degree in performance at Newcastle University; he is currently working part-time towards a doctorate in 20th century performance practice, focusing on the use of rubato in late-Romantic solo violin repertoire. He currently performs regularly as a violinist with a variety of ensembles and gives concerto and recital performances around the North East.