ABOUT
Photo: Patrick Allen
THE ZOFFANY ENSEMBLE
The Zoffany Ensemble performs many of the greatest works in the chamber music repertoire by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms, and also music by more neglected composers such as Louise Farrenc and Anton Arensky. From time to time other players, with whom Manon has a close affinity, are added to the group as the repertoire demands.
Select an image to find out more about each member of the ensemble.
JOHANN ZOFFANY 1733 - 1810
The ensemble takes its name from the German-born, neoclassical artist and founding member of the Royal Academy, Johann Zoffany, whose paintings, as well as portraying eminent actors such as David Garrick, often depicted the nobility in their pursuit of musical entertainment. Zoffany came to London in 1760, and from around 1770 - 1800 produced work of exceptional quality, much of it now displayed in the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery and the Royal Collection.
CATHERINE MUSKER was a student of Cecil Aronowitz, Atar Arad and Misha Geller, completing her studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in 1983. She was a member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra for two years and as a founder member of the Balanescu Quartet recorded Michael Nyman's first three string quartets for Decca.
Recently Catherine has been working with Sir John Eliot Gardiner's ‘Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique’, the Gabrieli Consort and the Hannover Band. She also enjoys teaching and has given performance classes at the Royal Academy of Music and been involved with chamber music immersion courses at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, as well as taking part in Composition workshops at Kings College London with the contemporary music ensemble Lontano.
Catherine Musker has worked as guest principal for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Michael Nyman Band. She is also a member of ‘Primavera’ and of the Zoffany Ensemble.
Photo: Patrick Allen