People

Paul Ingram - Conductor

Paul Ingram studied at the Universities of Southampton and Leicester, reading Music and Management respectively.

He began conducting in 1995, working with the Southampton University Symphony, Pre-Term and Chamber Orchestras.

In 1997, Paul founded the Southampton University Sinfonietta and remained Music Director until 2004.

Paul has also worked with Essex Youth Orchestra, Young Sinfonia, Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra, COMA South, Showstoppers and the City of Southampton Orchestra. In 1999, he reached the final of the British Reserve Insurance Conducting Competition.

Paul currently conducts the Southampton Concert Orchestra and the chamber ensemble, Per Piacere.

Cerys Emmett - Leader

Cerys started playing the violin at the age of 7, obtaining grade 8 distinction by the time she was 16. As a keen musician, she has been involved with numerous musical ensembles since a young age, including Bedfordshire County Youth Orchestras, Bedfordshire County Youth Chamber Orchestra and Bedford Sinfonia. With these ensembles she has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall as well as playing at venues in France, Italy and Edinburgh. As part of the Whatmore Quartet, Cerys won the National Chamber Music Competition for Schools in the years 1997 and 1998. This provided her with the opportunity to play at St. John’s Smith Square, London.

In 1999, Cerys began a music degree at Southampton University and during her time there she was an active member of the Southampton University Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta as well as playing in a string quartet for two years. She graduated with a 2:1 in the summer of 2002 and continued her studies at Southampton University on a secondary music PGCE course.

At present, Cerys works at a local secondary school as teacher in charge of music. She is a member of the Southampton City Orchestra and still regularly plays in string quartets for functions and weddings. During the Easter and Summer holidays, Cerys works for the Bedfordshire County Fourth Orchestra, tutoring young violinists. To add another string to her bow (!) she also works for the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain where she is a member of the social staff. A new venture has been her recent involvement with a string group which are in the process of recording an album with an up and coming new singer songwriter. This is proving to be an amazing and exciting experience for her and she hopes that one day her name will be on the back of a top selling album!