ABOUT US
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We are The Stringcredibles – an independent quartet of orchestral performers, who are dedicated to improving connections between musicians and audiences.
We believe that classical music is for everyone, and that dynamic performances inspire powerful connections.
By considering the needs of the audience, we help young musicians and education professionals to power up their performance skills and achieve greater impact.
Our methods are relevant to all musicians, whatever instrument they play.
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We’re a small charity with big ambitions! If you’d like to support our work, please consider donating
OUR TEAM
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CATHERINE ARLIDGE, MBE – Violin
‘Catherine Arlidge is not only one of our most inspiring, valued and unstinting musicians but also one of our strongest and most idealistic personalities’ – Sir Simon Rattle
Catherine combines a career as Sub Principal Second Violin with the CBSO with the role of Artistic and Educational Director of the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain. First and foremost a violinist, she has a busy performance schedule, alongside which she has responsibilities for curriculum, programming and artistic collaborations at NCO. Passionate about connecting new young audiences to classical music, she also creates and presents concerts for Families and Schools for orchestras across the UK.
In January 2014 Catherine became the first violinist – and only the third ever recipient – of the Royal Philharmonic Society and the Association of British Orchestras Salomon Prize, a prestigious award celebrating the outstanding contribution of orchestral players to the UK’s musical life.
She is currently Board Member of the Association of British Orchestras and has presented at conferences internationally.
In 2016 Catherine was awarded an MBE in the Queens’s New Years Honours list, for her services to music education in Britain.
BRYONY MORRISON – Violin
A First Class honours graduate and instrumental scholar from New College Oxford, Bryony completed her Masters studies at the Royal Academy of Music with Richard Deakin, graduating with distinction.
Bryony is a committed second violinist and began her professional career with the Ulster Orchestra in 2011. She has been a member of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra since 2012 and has also coached the second violin sections of the CBSO Youth Orchestra, Project Remix, National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain and Orchestras for All.
As a teacher, Bryony completed her LRAM teaching diploma with distinction and trained as part of Philippa Bunting’s First String Experience team at the Junior Royal Academy of Music. She has taught the violin privately and has also delivered participatory workshops for Live Music Now, English Touring Opera and the Junior Royal Northern College of Music. In 2010 she qualified as a Specialist with the creative learning charity Artis, and in 2015 she completed a Creative Music Training short course with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Most recently, alongside her second violin colleague Charlotte, Bryony co-presented the CBSO’s Key Stage 1 concerts ‘Dinosaur Disco’, ‘Race Through Space’ and ‘Eco Heroes’. She is inspired by the curriculum enhancing power of the arts and loves to use music to teach topics and concepts beyond music itself. As a founder member of The Stringcredibles, Bryony particularly enjoys welcoming young audiences to their first experiences of live performance.
AMY THOMAS – Viola
Amy was a scholar at the Royal Academy of Music graduating with 1st class honours and an LRAM teaching diploma. She continued at the Academy as a postgraduate student gaining a PGDip Distinction and a DipRAM for outstanding performance.
Amy was a member of Southbank Sinfonia in London and worked with many of the major symphony orchestras there and around the country before joining the CBSO in 2009.
Amy was lucky enough to be a member of orchestras such at The National Children’s Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra and European Union Youth Orchestra. These organisations have given her the passion and drive to become a musician and to pass on her experiences to others through education and performance.
HELEN EDGAR – Cello
Helen studied Cello with Margaret Moncrieff, then with Douglas Cummings, Derek Simpson and Lionel Handy at the Royal Academy of Music where she won solo and chamber music prizes before graduating with the Academy’s highest award, the Dip. R.A.M. in both solo and ensemble playing.
As cellist of the Hellier String Quartet, Helen performed widely throughout Europe and Asia, including a private recital to the Princess of Wales. The Quartet studied with the Amadeus, Alberni and Borodin Quartets, then later at The Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada, and were Ensemble in Residence at the Britten-Pears Foundation in Aldeburgh.
Helen was a member of the BBC Concert Orchestra for 9 years before joining the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 2006. At the CBSO, she regularly performs in CBSO’s chamber music series “Centre Stage”, collaborating in ensembles with visiting artists Baibe Skride, Sakari Oramo, Peter Donahoe and Simon Trpeski. She has curated the last four seasons of Centre Stage programmes.
Helen is a Visiting Teacher of Cello at Birmingham Conservatoire, and was formerly cello teacher and coach of ensembles and orchestras at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music. A co-founder of The Birmingham Cello Workshop, she coaches cello ensembles ages 7-80 of all abilities, takes masterclasses and directs its 40-strong cello orchestra on their popular Cello Playing Days.
CHARLOTTE SKINNER – Violin
(Associate artist)
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Charlotte gained both her first class honours degree and Masters degree with distinction under the guidance of Maurice Hasson and later Philippe Honore. Charlotte was also a Chamber Music and Open Academy Fellow during her final year at the Academy.
Charlotte was principal second violin with the Orchestra of the Swan and enjoyed a varied freelance career around London and the Midlands. Now sub principal second violin in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, she has a passion for education and outreach work and enjoys getting involved with the CBSO education department, whether this be performing as part of an ensemble for secondary schools, creative sessions with primary schools or co-presenting the orchestra’s concerts for Key Stage 1 children, ‘Dinosaur Disco’, ‘Race Through Space’ and ‘Eco Heroes’.
JANE WRIGHT – Violin
(Associate artist)
Jane studied in Glasgow at the former RSAMD, now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduating with a Masters in Performance – distinction. She then joined the orchestra of Scottish Opera and taught at the RSAMD Junior School and freelanced in Scotland for a further five years.
In 2002 Jane joined the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and has been involved in many of their Learning and Engagement projects especially working with children with Special Needs and helping to devise the CBSO Relaxed performances.
GEORGIA HANNANT – Violin
(Associate artist)
Georgia is fascinated by making music with others and, alongside her job in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, she loves to play chamber music, perform in educational settings and coach young musicians. Upon completing her studies with Sophie Langdon at the Royal Academy of Music, Georgia went on to appear with many major UK orchestras, both here and abroad. She has also worked with London Sinfonietta and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, fuelling her interest in contemporary music.
For the past decade, Georgia has been active as an orchestral coach – including the CBSO Youth Orchestra, the National Children’s Orchestra, the University of Birmingham and Orchestras for All, a charity providing free ensemble music courses for young people from all backgrounds. During the pandemic, she created CBSO Music Box, a series of ten short videos designed to encourage children to sing, think about and participate in music.
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REBECCA GOLDSMITH – Project Management & Strategic Development
Rebecca has worked in arts outreach, engagement and education for more than 15 years, devising and delivering projects and programmes from local to national level. She is also a PhD candidate, exploring place-based poetry film and the literature festival.
With a passion for combined arts and equal access, Rebecca has developed strategic work with a diverse range of arts and cultural organisations. She has also managed fundraising and comms, gaining support from key funders such as Arts Council England, the British Film Institute, the British Council and a range of independent trusts and foundations.
Rebecca believes in the power of public engagement in the arts, and has a particular focus on work with young people, schools, and underserved communities. She is delighted to bring this experience to her work with The Stringcredibles.
TRUSTEES
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ISABEL CHURCHER (Chair)
Isabel is a life-long lover of classical music. She is an experienced cultural and heritage manager, currently Strategic Partnerships Manager at The National Archives Sector Leadership team, and most recently Senior Manager for Museums Investment at Arts Council England. She previously managed museums throughout the Midlands focusing on audience and workforce development to enable greater access and diversity.
Isabel is keen to enable young people to experience a variety of classical music in a wide range of settings. She has a wealth of trustee experience and is also a life-long fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
PHILIP MILLS
Philip is Corporate Services Director and Company Secretary of Beacon Centre for the Blind in Wolverhampton, and is a Chartered Management Accountant. He has over 30 years of experience as a finance professional in blue-chip groups, and in recent years, in the charity sector. He is a Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee of Visionary – Linking Local Sight Loss Charities, and also a Trustee of BGSO.
Philip is a keen amateur clarinettist and supporter of the arts.
ELUNED MANSELL
Eluned works for Birmingham City University as the Head of University Change. She has over 20 years’ experience in the education sector, specialising in the development and delivery of national and international programmes, such as Teach First’s Training Programme, the English national curriculum and a performing arts collaboration between The Juilliard School and Nord Anglia Education.
Having studied music at the University of Birmingham, Eluned continued her love for music by singing in choirs. She now performs regularly as a member of the CBSO Chorus. She joined the board of the Stringcredibles in 2019.
SEB LOVELL-HUCKLE
Seb Lovell-Huckle is an orchestral leader – CEO of English Symphony Orchestra since 2022, his career has spanned orchestras including Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Outside of work, Seb is a keen amateur cellist and is most often found performing with numerous ensembles across the Midlands for fun in his spare time. As well as his role with the Stringcredibles, Seb is also a trustee of Birmingham Conservation Trust & The Coffin Works Museum, Constella OperaBallet and Stafford Sinfonia.
MICHELE DEEKS
Michele is a Chartered Psychologist with too many years of experience to mention. She’s a director of Work Positive, a consultancy practice working to bring the best out of people and organisations. Helping people to flourish is something Michele feels passionate about, and she spends much of her time working with leaders and organisations to build inclusive cultures that support high levels of wellbeing. Through her own experiences and those of her children, she has seen first-hand just how important it is to have music in our lives; providing access to music for children and young people is something she feels particularly strongly about.
When Michele isn’t spending time with family or friends, she can often be found swimming in a lake or river somewhere…
LOUISE BRAITHWAITE
Louise is a professional oboist and cor anglais player whose early orchestral experience came through Sandwell and Worcestershire Youth Music services. Independent freelance practice has led her to explore Creativity in a wide range of contexts. She performs with the Royal Shakespeare Company, English Symphony Orchestra, CBSO and Orchestra of the Swan. As a Music Educator and Project Manager she has designed and delivered Music and cross-curricular content for an array of educational providers and Arts organisations.
Louise is an oboe tutor with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain and the University of Warwick, in addition to her all-ages private teaching practice and work with adult amateur orchestras. The national Creative Partnerships programme brought roles as a practitioner, teacher mentor and schools’ project lead, specialising in co-constructed programmes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
As a Producer and Participation Manager she has designed and led projects funded by The National Lottery and Arts Council England, bringing mainstream and special schools into partnership with creative organisations to devise and deliver original public performances. Louise is a Musicians’ Union activist, writer and speaker, mental health first aider and music industry research contributor. She is co-Director of a Textile skills Community Interest Company which hosts social sewing groups, free holiday meals and activities for children, and social contact and skills development for adults via Social Prescribing. Louise joined The Stringcredibles as a Trustee in 2023.
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WHAT WE DO
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PROJECTS
Designed to inspire young musicians and audiences with the joy of classical music