EDUARDO VASSALLO (Cello)

Eduardo Vassallo was born in Buenos Aires in 1961. He began his cello and chamber music studies in the Argentinian capital and later completed them at the Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad, Switzerland where his teachers included Radu Aldulescu on cello and Yehudi Menuhin and Alberto Lysy for chamber music. His next move was to Cologne where he studied with Boris Pergamenschikow. Since 1989 Eduardo has been Principal Cello of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He is one of the founding directors of the Birmingham Ensemble and also teaches at the Royal Northern College of Music where he has participated in many Cello Festivals hosted by the RNCM. As a soloist he has given recitals throughout Europe and South America and has appeared as soloist with various orchestras. Eduardo has given the world premiere of Piazzolla’s ‘El Grand Tango’ for cello and piano.

NICOLAS BRICHT (Flute)

Nicolas Bricht was born in Buenos Aires in 1971. He studied at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and graduated with a first class degree. Since graduating Nicolas has freelanced with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, London Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, London Mozart Players, BBC Symphony and more. He also deputises regularly in the West End production of Phantom of the Opera. Nicolas has played chamber music concerts in the UK, Spain, Germany, France and Argentina.

He is currently flute teacher at the Royal College of Music Junior Department, Wimbledon High School and King’s College School Wimbledon where he is also Head of Wind and Brass.

MARK GOODCHILD (Double Bass)

Mark Goodchild was born in London and studied composition and conducting with Oliver Knussen at the Royal College of Music. He joined the CBSO bass section in 1983 but has retained his links in the jazz world, appearing with musicians as diverse as Guy Barker, Scott Hamilton and Arts Farmer. Mark has created several of his own ensembles such as the Ellingtonia Septet and can be heard as solo rhythm bass o EMI’s Classic Ellington conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.

JOHN TURVILLE (Piano)

John Turville is one of the leading jazz pianists of his generation, and has won multiple awards for his two trio albums including MOJO’s #3 Jazz Album of the Year (2012), and ‘Best Album’ in the Parliamentary Awards 2011. He also won ‘Best Instrumentalist’ in the 2010 London Jazz Awards and the 2009 PRS Promoter’s Choice Award, and was a semi-finalist in the Martial Solal Jazz Piano Concours in 2010. He has toured and recorded throughout Europe and the Middle East with many renowned jazz and tango groups, including the Dave Binney/Julian Arguelles quintet, Tim Garland, Thomas Gould, Yuri Goloubev trio, the Tony Kofi/Alan Barnes Quintet, Karios 4tet, Asaf Sirkis Trio, Gilad Atzmon, Transtango, the London Tango Orchestra, the Matt Ridley Quartet, Sabina Racheyeva, Andre Canniere, Maciek Pysz and Natacha Atlas.

John co-runs the E17 jazz collective and curates their programme and festival, as well as conducting the E17 Large Ensemble, his tango quintet ‘Almagro Ensemble’ and a sextet ‘Solstice’, featuring Brigitte Beraha and Tori Freestone, who’s debut album ‘Alimentation’ will be released on Two Rivers Records in December followed by a 30 date UK and European tour. He is also an experienced composer and arranger for strings, voices, jazz and tango ensembles, and an experienced educator. He is the principal jazz piano tutor at Birmingham Conservatoire and has coached ensembles and led workshops at the Guildhall, summer schools in Germany and Devon and works as the external adjudicator in jazz piano at Trinity Laban.

MARK O´BRIEN (Sax)

Mark O’Brien was born in Poole, Dorset in 1968. In 1987 he went to the Royal Academy of Music in London where he studied with Keith Pearson and Richard Addison. Whilst at the RAM he excelled in chamber and orchestral playing and in 1989 he played the solo part in Stravinsky’s Ebony Concerto. In 1990 he was appointed by Sir Simon Rattle as Principal Bass Clarinet with the CBSO. As well as playing in the CBSO, Mark is busy playing in various chamber ensembles including the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, education groups and jazz combos.