The Gustav Holst Ensemble

The Gustav Holst Ensemble is a Chiswick-based chamber ensemble bringing together leading professional musicians from across the UK and Europe. The ensemble is committed to performances of the highest artistic quality, presented in an intimate and welcoming setting. At the heart of its work is a belief in bringing exceptional chamber music closer to local audiences and making live classical music accessible to the wider community.

Lucy Jeal (violin)

Lucy completed her musical studies as a Dean's Scholar at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, USA. After winning the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Young Soloist of the Year competition and performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto at the Royal Festival Hall, she became a Countess of Munster Trust Artist, giving recitals and concerto performances throughout the UK. As a chamber musician, Lucy has performed with Alfred Brendel on an international tour including Carnegie Hall and has guest-led the Brodsky Quartet in concerts across the UK, Italy and the Netherlands. She has recorded for BBC Radio 3 and Bulgarian National Radio, has led Ensemble Reza since 2014 and is currently Principal Second Violin of the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique.

Rachael Sheehy (viola)

Rachael, founder of the Gustav Holst Ensemble, was educated at St Paul’s Girls‘ School, where she was awarded a Gustav Holst Memorial Scholarship. She then studied at the Royal College of Music where she won the Cecil Aronowitz Viola Competition and in Vienna with Thomas Kakuska, from the Alban Berg Quartet. As a chamber musician, Rachael has collaborated with Patricia Kopatchinskaja, the Eggner Trio, members of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Artis Quartet. Rachael has played with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the BBC Philharmonic and the London Mozart Players.

Pavlos Carvalho ('cello)

Pavlos has been a prize-winner in international music competitions in England, Italy (Carlo Soliva competition), Germany (Koblenz international chamber music competition), and Russia (Taneev competition). He has performed as a solo and chamber musician in venues such as the Purcell room, Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall and the Teatro dal Verme, Milan and recorded for the BBC. Pavlos is currently recording the Bach suites for Willowhayne Records and Naxos. A committed chamber musician, Pavlos is the founder and Artistic Director of Ensemble Reza and has performed extensively throughout the UK and Europe. His recordings include the complete Bach Cello Suites for Willowhayne Records, and alongside his performing career he is actively involved in music education through organisations including Pro Corda and Live Music Now. He is also founder of the Rebetiko Carnival, celebrating the music of Greece and Asia Minor.

John Reid (piano)

John enjoys an international career as a pianist, chamber musician and teacher. Professor at the Royal Academy of Music and Principal Pianist of Aurora Orchestra since 2007, he is equally at home as a soloist, collaborative pianist and exponent of contemporary music. A highly regarded chamber musician, John performs regularly with many of the UK's leading ensembles, including Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, The Sixteen, Arcangelo and the London Haydn Project. He appears frequently at Wigmore Hall and major festivals throughout the UK and has recorded extensively for BBC Radio 3.

Sandy Burnett (Double Bass)

Sandy enjoys a varied career combining performing, broadcasting and lecturing. After studying at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, and working as music director for the RSC, National Theatre and in London’s West End, he spent a decade as one of the core team of presenters on BBC Radio 3. A double bassist equally at home in classical music and jazz, Sandy conducts the Chiswick Chamber Orchestra and has directed a complete performing cycle of Bach’s cantatas and major sacred works at St Michael & All Angels. He is also an accredited Arts Society lecturer and the author of The Idler Guide to Classical Music.