Vice-Presidents
Vice-Presidents:
The Very Revd Lister Tonge, former Dean of Monmouth
Dr W Brian Willott CB
The Rt Revd Dr Richard Fenwick, former Bishop of St Helena
the orchestra
Photo: Martin Chainey
The St Woolos Sinfonia was founded in 2008 by Prof. Brian Peeling, Dr. Christoph Madler and Jeanette Massocchi (the Orchestra’s first conductor) as a new venture to bring orchestral music to Newport Cathedral. For the musicians it is always a delight to return to this historic building, with its fine Romanesque nave and peaceful surroundings, and we have given countless concerts there over the years. We are proud to be Orchestra in Residence at the Cathedral. The Orchestra has also performed in many other venues in South Wales, including elsewhere in Newport, in Cardiff, Usk, Abergavenny, Llantilio Crossenny, Devauden, Itton, and as far afield as Newport, Pembrokeshire. We perform symphonic and other repertoire for chamber orchestra, ranging from compositions of the 17th century to the present day (see MEDIA sound clips from a 2019 concert conducted by German violinist and conductor, Gernot Süßmuth). Smaller groups of players often perform solos, trios and quartets - see PAST EVENTS.
Another important strand of the Orchestra’s work is accompanying choirs. In 2020 we held a very enjoyable ‘Come and Sing’ event at Rougemont School and performed Haydn’s Nelson Mass. In October 2021 another successful workshop and concert were held in which we performed Matthew Coleridge’s Requiem at Newport Cathedral, led by the composer himself. Click HERE for a short video and see MEDIA for photographs from the day. See also PAST EVENTS for more details.
We are always interested to hear from choirs and choral societies and to discuss ideas for collaboration and joint concerts.
“A very enjoyable and uplifting day”
“Really enjoyed singing with the orchestra”
“A wonderful day”
“Impressive orchestra”
Feedback from Nelson Mass
‘Come & Sing’
The Orchestra encourages talented young musicians, both instrumentalists and singers.
The St Woolos Sinfonia greatly values the support of its Patrons and Friends. For information on how to become a Patron or a Friend, and the benefits, please see PATRONS & FRIENDS .
List of Orchestra members HERE
Principal conductoR
Tianyi Lu studied conducting at the University of Auckland where she completed her Bachelor of Music degree with First Class Honours. She continued her studies at the University of Melbourne and at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she was awarded a Distinction in her MMus in Orchestral Conducting in 2015. Since then, Tianyi’s career has blossomed and she has worked with many famous conductors and ensembles worldwide, including Bernard Haitink and the Lucerne Festival Strings, Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra, Thomas Søndergård and Xian Zhang and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Carlo Rizzi and David Jones with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Orchestra, Carlo Montanaro and Nicole Paiement and the Dallas Opera Orchestra, Alice Farnham and Welsh National Youth Opera, Alexander Polynichko and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Pietari Inkinen and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Eckehard Stier and the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, Marko Letonja and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Sian Edwards and the Dartington Festival Orchestra, Kenneth Kiesler and the Berlin Sinfonietta and Daniele Gatti and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam.
In 2017, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra appointed Tianyi as their Assistant Conductor and the Los Angeles Philharmonic appointed her as one of their Dudamel Fellow for the 2017/2018. She is currently Female Conductor in Residence with Welsh National Opera and has just been appointed Conductor in Residence with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra for the 2021/22 season.
The St. Woolos Sinfonia is proud to have Tianyi as its Principal Conductor and we look forward to welcoming her back in 2022 to conduct us in a concert of Saint-Saёns, Ravel and Beethhoven that has had to peostponed twice since 2020.
To read more about Tianyi, visit her website: https://www.tianyi-lu.com/
ASSociate CONDUCTOR
Eugene Monteith read music at Queens University Belfast studying trumpet and composition before going on to study conducting at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma in Orchestral Conducting and an MA in Choral Conducting. After graduating Eugene continued his studies with Jac van Steen and Martin Brabbins.
A former Young Artist at Northern Ireland Opera, Eugene has conducted productions of A Hand of Bridge and Der Schauspieldirektor, and was assistant conductor on productions of Hansel and Gretel, The Flying Dutchman, The Bear, Dido and Aeneas, The Elixir of Love and Macbeth. Recent highlights include performances with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra and Southbank Sinfonia. He was also the winner of the 2015 RTÉ Conducting Competition.As a choral conductor, Eugene conducted the BBC National Chorus of Wales, Bristol Choral Society, and Salford Choral Society, and has been a guest chorus master for the National Youth Choir of Wales and Gloucester Choral Society.
Eugene has worked with St Woolos Sinfonia twice before and conducted two very successful concerts: an orchestral concert at Newport Cathedral in December 2018 and a ‘Come and Sing’ Haydn’s Nelson Mass at Rougemont School in January 2020. We look forward to working with him again, now our Associate Conductor, in a concert for strings being planned for later in 2021.
To read more about Eugene, visit his website: https://www.eugenemonteith.com/
CHAIRMAN & LEADER
Christoph Mädler grew up in Germany. He began playing the violin at the age of six, taught by Fritz Rank. Christoph led the Musici Medici Berlin, has been a guest leader of the Doctors’ Orchestra of Germany, is leader of the St Woolos Sinfonia and (when time allows) plays with other ensembles such as the Brecknock Sinfonia. He graduated in Medicine from the Berlin Charité, pursued his postgraduate medical training in the UK, became fellow at the Wales Heart Research Institute, Cardiff and is Consultant Cardiologist at the Grange University Hospital/Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport.
Christoph describes St Woolos Sinfonia as his ‘musical home’ and says that music is a solid counterbalance to the demands of his professional life in medicine.
Christoph plays on a violin from 1750 by the Flemish maker, Ambroise de Comble.
Orchestra Manager & Principal Viola
James Drummond was born in Scotland and educated in Shropshire. He began playing the violin at an early age and studied with his father Hamish, before changing to the viola, studying with Keith Lovell, Gwyn Williams, Rosemary Sanderson and more recently with Rivka Golani.
Graduating in 1985, James began his professional career freelancing with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra da Camera and the English String Orchestra, before joining the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 1987, with whom he spent 35 years, before taking early retirement in June 2022.
As well as his commitments with the BBC, James is very active as a freelance musician, playing with ESO, Bristol Ensemble, Welsh Concert Orchestra, Welsh National Opera, BSO, Orchestra de Cymru and the Chamber Orchestra of Wales. James also has a keen interest in chamber music, playing with many groups in and around South and Mid Wales and hopes to continue with these commitments having left the BBC.
James plays on a 1942 ‘Tertis’ model viola, made by the English luthier, Arthur Richardson.
St Woolos sinfonia Committee
Dr Christoph Mädler (Chair), Mr James Drummond (Orchestra Manager & Webmaster), Anne Wilkins (Inclusivity & Diversity Officer), Ben Masters & Maureen Mahony (Co-Treasurers), Glynis Macdonald (Patrons & Friends Secretary), Prof Vivienne Harpwood (Legal Advisor), Jane Leney & Dr James Leney (Librarians), Gisele Boll, Siân Griffiths (Choral Events Coordinator), Prof Huw Griffiths (Minutes Secretary).