Alena Walentin enjoys an international career as soloist, chamber musician, arranger and teacher. She has played as principal flute with the ROH Covent Garden, London Concert Orchestra, Halle, London Mozart Players, Verbier Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC NOW and others.
Our musicians
Artistic associate: Jonathan Lyness
Born in London, Jonathan read music at Bristol University and later studied conducting with George Hurst. He is Music Director of Opera Project which he co-founded in 1993 and has conducted extensively across a range of UK summer opera festivals including Longborough Festival Opera, West Green House Opera and Iford Opera.
Cello: Nia Harries
Nia had the honour of being a student of Jacqueline du Pre for many years, and also a student of Steven Isserlis whilst at the Guildhall School of Music. She has worked extensively with early music groups including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique.
Clarinet: Christopher Goodman
Since graduating from the Royal College of Music in 2010 where he studied as a Foundation Scholar, Chris has been performing with orchestras, chamber groups, opera companies and theatre productions as well as in the recording studio and occasionally as a soloist.
Bassoon: Alanna Pennar-Macfarlane
Alanna Pennar-Macfarlane is a bassoonist originally from Clackmannanshire, Scotland. She started out as a clarinet player, before taking up the bassoon as a teenager and studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Juniors under Janet Bloxwich.
Music practitioner: Lucy Clement-Evans
Originally from Birmingham, Lucy has lived in Wales since 1996. She plays the piano and clarinet, but her passion is for music education. She came to Wales to study music at Bangor University where she graduated with a BMus degree (First Class honours), and subsequently an MA.
Harp and composer: Mared Emlyn
Mared Emlyn is a harpist and composer and a member of Ensemble Cymru’s creative team.
Cello: Nicola Pearce
Nicola grew up in Bedford and Devon before studying at the Royal Academy of Music and at the Trinity College of Music London. She has won several recognised awards including a scholarship to study at the Musical Academia Chigiana in Sienna, Italy.
French horn: Nicolas Ireson
Nick Ireson enjoys a busy career as a performer, working with a variety of orchestras and ensembles across the UK and abroad. He is often to be found under the stage playing for various ballet companies and occasionally ventures above ground onto the concert platform too.
