2018 16th June, Markfield Methodist Church on  (sold out) 4th May, St Andrew’s Church, Biggleswade 9th February, English Martyrs’ Catholic  School, Leicester Purcell: Dido & Aeneas 2017 11th November, English Martyrs’ Catholic  School, Leicester Vivaldi: Gloria 30th June, Markfield Methodist Church, Leicester Dvorák and Schubert 19th May, Challis House, Sawston Private recital

The Hesperides Quartet have taken their name from the world of Greek mythology, where the Hesperides (hess-PAIR-ih-deez) are nymphs who tend a blissful garden in a far western corner of the world. They are responsible for guarding a sacred grove or tree that produced golden apples which, when eaten, conferred immortality. The Hesperides are associated with … Continue reading Why Hesperides? →

Abby Wollston’s rich experiences of classical, early and contemporary music at the Leicestershire School of Music inspired her eclectic musical interests as a cellist. After studying at the Royal College of Music and Cambridge University she then chose to focus on the early cello, studying with Anthony Pleeth and Angela East. She went on to … Continue reading Cello →

Julia Black was born in Amersham and studied violin with Maria Lidka, Kenneth Piper and John Ludlow at the Royal College of Music, and baroque violin with Catherine Mackintosh. She has performed, broadcast and made recordings with a variety of ensembles here and in Europe including the Gabrieli Consort and Players, the Early Opera Company, the … Continue reading Violin →

Katharine Parsons grew up in Leicestershire and studied viola with Graeme Scott at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama before going on to do a degree in English Literature at Cambridge University. After graduation, she established herself as a viola player and upper strings teacher in Oxfordshire where she did many recitals with the … Continue reading Viola →

Karen Silverwood spent her school years playing violin and singing with the county youth orchestras and choirs of Leicestershire. She gained a scholarship to study voice (with Morag Noble) and violin (with Korshed Gruenberg and Richard Gwilt) at Trinity College of Music, London, where she was awarded the TCM string prize. She went on to … Continue reading Violin →

To discuss a programme or find a date, please contact info@hesperidesquartet.com or phone Abby Wollston on 07985 958 811.

Here are some sample programmes, but please contact us with specific requests, or see our past programmes for ideas PROGRAMME 1 Dvorak Quartet in G major, Op 106 Schubert Quartet in E flat major D87 PROGRAMME 2 Shostakovich Quartet in C Major, Op 49 Stravinsky Three Pieces for String Quartet Borodin Notturno from String Quartet No … Continue reading Programmes →

Karen Silverwood violin Julia Black violin Katharine Parsons viola Abby Wollston cello After decades of music making together in different professional groups, these four musicians formed the Hesperides Quartet to explore repertoire for string quartet from the Romantic period to the present day. Rooted in their extensive experience as period instrument players, their approach combines close attention to the … Continue reading About us →