Fauré Requiem – SOLD OUT!

Forming early in 2023, Nova Quartet immediately won praise with several well-received recitals including a performance of Fauré’s Requiem under the direction of Dr Roger Williams for Remembrance Day at St Machar’s Cathedral.  The formation of the brand new Orchestra Nova, which was invited to be the orchestra for Aberdeen Choral’s Messiah at the Music Hall last December, capped a memorable year.

A short season of cabaret-style concerts at the Cowdray Hall in early 2024 brought Nova’s versatility to new and increasingly larger audiences, and more recitals with another outing for Orchestra Nova in June when Nova revived the successful annual charity concert at Fountainhall Church with soloists from Scottish Opera and the National Opera of Ukraine have cemented Nova’s place in Aberdeen’s music scene.

Not only is the sound rich and well modulated, but the personnel seems well matched with huge amounts of experience. Lovely and responsive to work with.  Dr. Roger Bevan Williams MBE

Performed with charm and dedication by the Nova Quartet.  Inverurie Music review

The way you introduced the pieces was excellent, giving context and setting the scene perfectly……….the concert was really super – well done to you all!  Martin Aitken – Performance and Events Officer Aberdeen City Council 

A graduate of the Kyiv Conservatoire, Nataliia is a Ukrainian violinist with a wide range of experience from classical to pop.  She has toured with professional orchestras in China and Spain and was a regular in the studio orchestra for the Ukrainian version of Strictly Come Dancing as well as performing with singers from one of Europe’s leading opera houses, La Scala.  She later travelled the world as a musician on a number of leading cruise lines. Settling in Scotland in 2014, Nataliia is co-leader of Orchestra Nova, leader of the Aberdeen Music Theatre Orchestra and a member of  Aberdeen Sinfonietta.

By the age of 12 Erin had already appeared on TV and radio and won over 200 Scottish fiddle competitions and later twice became the winner of the Daughter of Dewar award. .  While at school, she achieved her ABRSM Diploma with distinction, and Honour Diploma at London College of Music. After studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London, she continued at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire where she joined the Camilli String quartet, touring the UK on many occasions. Erin has toured all over the UK and Europe with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, which she led on their tours of Britain and Ireland. She has also toured Mauritius with Camerata Scotland.  Erin is co-leader of Orchestra Nova.

Emma started playing the violin with her mum in Buckie at young age.  While studying at the specialist music school, St Mary’s, Edinburgh, Emma played with both the National Youth of Scotland and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.  She won a scholarship to the Royal Northern College of Music where she was part of a prestigious residency in Montepulciano with concerts in Sienna and Rome.  It was at this time that Emma found her passion for chamber music and with the Virr String Quartet she won the prestigious Hirsch Prize performing at London’s Wigmore Hall as well as playing quartets by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in front of the composer, himself.  Emma is principal viola of Orchestra Nova.

Gareth’s parents were both professional musicians and he played cello from a young age, becoming the youngest player in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales at the age of twelve. Having graduated from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Distinction in Performance, Gareth later studied conducting and, among others, has conducted with the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, the North Wales Youth Orchestra, Aberdeen Sinfonietta and a TV special for S4C. He performs regularly in recitals and as a concerto soloist, and has broadcast as a soloist on BBC Radio 3.  He conducts Orchestra Nova after conducting Aberdeen City Orchestra for 23 years, and was the founder of the Deveron Festival which he directed for 12 years.

Born in Swansea, Wales, Roger grew up in West Yorkshire.  Leaving school at the age of 15 to attend the Huddersfield School of Music (now part of the University), he graduated from Cardiff University before progressing to Goldsmiths’ College, London, and subsequently to Kings College Cambridge for post graduate study. He spent eight years as a free-lance musician in London, as a singer (BBC Singers), Organist, Harpsichordist, Conductor and Composer, performing at most of the leading concert halls.  For five years he was Music Director and Organist at the Sacred Heart Church in Wimbledon. He then moved to the University of Aberdeen where he became Head of Music Department, and Master of Chapel and Ceremonial Music. In the 1980s he spent five years as the Conductor of the RSNO Chorus, working with many of today’s leading international musicians.  For five years he was Director of the Aberdeen Diocesan Choir and earlier this year, after nine years in post, retired as the Director and Organist of St Machar’s Cathedral, Old Aberdeen. He is the Honorary Music Adviser for the National Trust for Scotland. He has recorded for Hyperion, Alpha and Redbook Records. He has had a long association with music at Haddo House and is the current Chair of Haddo Arts. 

David J. Smith is an organist, harpsichordist and recorder player. He specialises in early seventeenth-century keyboard music from England and The Netherlands, and in improvisation in a variety of styles and idioms. ‘David J. Smith is renowned for his improvisations.

Before moving to Northumbria University in September 2018 as Founding Head of Music, David was professor of music at the University of Aberdeen, where he served as Head of Music and was Master of Chapel and Ceremonial Music.

The choir will be the newly formed Haddo Arts Chamber Choir, with soloists Katherine Williams (Soprano) and Chris Brighty (Baritone).