Lorena Cantó is a Spanish and Belgian viola player based in London. After several years in the award-winning Jubilee String Quartet, she continues her solo, chamber and orchestral career as a member of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Duo Fabulae. Lorena is also a regular guest artist at the Welsh National Opera, United Strings of Europe, La Nuova Musica and Felix Ensemble. 

She frequently appears on Radio Clásica, BBC 3, Classic FM, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, and as part of the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Her notable recordings include her two CDs with the Jubilee String Quartet, highly rated by The Strad and BBC Music, as well as “Through the Night” and “Hommages” with the United Strings of Europe.

Lorena began her viola studies at the age of five, under the tutelage of her parents. At 16, she entered the Yehudi Menuhin School in London and made her debut with York Bowen viola’s concerto, accompanied by the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra. After completing her studies, she performed George Benjamin’s Viola Viola at the Wigmore Hall and the Berlin Konzerthaus. Lorena continued her studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, graduating with special distinction in 2020. 

Since then, Lorena has shared stage with renowned artists such as Martha Argerich, Máxim Vengerov, Fazil Say and Sheku Kanneh-Mason; and conductors such as Simon Rattle, François Xavier-Roth and Christoph Eschenbach. Lorena plays chamber music with soloists from the London Mozart Players, Orquesta de Valencia, the Bremen Philharmonic and the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, among others.

A passionate viola player, Mariam has been part of the Oxford Philharmonic since 2010, enjoying taking part in colourful and deep musical experiences. She has also been playing an active role with other prestigious orchestras such as the Royal Opera House orchestra, the Philharmonia and the London Chamber Orchestra. Chamber music ensemble playing has taken Mariam across Europe, from Ukraine to Spain, France and Switzerland. Mariam enjoys nurturing the next generation of young players and teaches at Harrow School as well as at the Encore Music Projects. Mariam is grateful to the Dénéréaz foundation for their support in acquiring her instrument made by J. L. Prochasson. 

Meghan Cassidy is Sub-Principal Viola of the Oxford Philharmonic. She studied viola with Garfield Jackson at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating in 2010. During her time at the Academy, she won the Sydney Griller Award and Sir John Barbirolli memorial prize. In 2007 Meghan joined the Solstice Quartet who went on the win awards from the Tillett Trust and Park Lane Group in 2008 and the Royal Overseas League in 2009. With the Solstice Quartet Meghan has performed at the Wigmore Hall and QEH as well as live on BBC Radio 3. She continued her studies with Tatjana Masurenko (Leipzig), Nabuko Imai (Hamburg) and Hartmut Rohde at IMS Prussia Cove. As a sought-after chamber musician she has performed at Oxford Chamber Music Festival, Jack Liebeck’s Festival in Grindelwald, Switzerland and Hugo Ticciati’s Chamber Music Festival in Verona, among others. Meghan appears as Guest Principal Viola with Orchestras such as BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera North and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Garfield Jackson is Principal Viola of the Oxford Philharmonic. He was born in London and studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Royal Academy of Music. He has been a member of the Endellion String Quartet since it’s foundation in 1979. The quartet has appeared worldwide, given regular high-profile series in London, broadcasts for the BBC and has for twenty years been resident at Cambridge University. As a soloist, Garfield has appeared at the Southbank, Barbican and Wigmore Hall. As a chamber musician, he has appeared with many international artists including Steven Isserlis and Joshua Bell. Garfield currently teaches viola at the Royal Academy of Music and chamber music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

*The participation of Garfield Jackson is supported by David & Elizabeth Ure.

Richard Cookson is Principal Viola of the Oxford Philharmonic. Richard studied viola in London, Manchester and Amsterdam under professors including Roger Chase and Erwin Schiffer. His professional life has taken him across globe, working with all the UK’s leading orchestras. He has enjoyed a broad spectrum of music making with groups ranging from the London Sinfonietta to the Michael Nyman Band and as a member of Quartet Pro Arte. Richard has played guest principal for many of London’s chamber and opera orchestras including the Royal Opera House and City of London Sinfonia. As a soloist he has performed with orchestras including European Festival Orchestra, Prima Vera and Sinfonia 21 which was subsequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3. He is also busy on the London session circuit playing on soundtracks including James Bond and Lord of the Rings and recording with artists ranging from Sir Paul McCartney to Madonna. Richard plays on a viola by Charles Boullangier, London 1882.

Chamber Musician • Principal Violist • Educator

Jon Thorne is Professor of Viola and Chamber Music at the Royal Academy of Music and a widely respected chamber musician, principal violist, session player and competition jurist. With a career spanning more than two decades, he has built a distinctive profile combining performing, recording and teaching at the highest level.

He trained at the London College of Music with Maureen Smith and Penny Filer, at the Royal College of Music with Simon Rowland-Jones and later with Mark Knight. After graduating, he joined the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra before co-founding the Brontë String Quartet, prizewinners at the Royal Over-Seas League and Cremona International Quartet Competitions. Performances followed at major venues including Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Snape Maltings, the Royal Opera House and international festivals.

In 2009 he became violist of the Badke Quartet, touring widely across the UK, Europe and the USA, and broadcasting for the BBC, Classic FM and numerous European networks. Their acclaimed recordings on Champs Hill Records, Hyperion and Cadenza Classics, combined with residencies at Imperial College and Royal Holloway, cemented the quartet’s reputation. 

As violist of the Brontë and Badke Quartets he studied with members of the Alban Berg, Amadeus, Bartók, Borodin, Janáček, Smetana, Mosaiques, Hagen, Takács, Jerusalem and Endellion Quartets.

A dedicated mentor, he has taught and guided string quartets who have won major international awards, and his viola students now hold principal positions in orchestras worldwide. 

He is co-founder of the Oculi Ensemble, appearing at venues such as the Concertgebouw and on BBC Radio 3; their album Metamorphosen has received international five-star reviews.

Alongside his chamber work, Jon appears regularly with many of the UK’s major orchestras as principal viola and is Principal Viola of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. 

He has recorded over 200 film scores—including Batman, The Da Vinci Code, The Dark Knight, Narnia and Kung Fu Panda—and has collaborated with artists ranging from Amy Winehouse and Sam Smith to Peter Gabriel.

A sought-after teacher and masterclass artist, he has taught at leading institutions across Europe, the USA, South America and Asia, and previously held positions at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and Royal Holloway. 

He has served on juries for many prominent competitions, including the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition.

He plays a c. 1690 viola by Guarneri.

Jonathan Barritt holds the position of Solo Viola of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. Jonathan studied at the Royal Northern College of Music with Atar Arad and Mischa Geller, and was awarded all the major prizes for viola. He graduated with distinction in 1983 and was immediately offered a position with the English Chamber Orchestra where he was appointed co-principal viola in 1988. From 1995 to 2001, Jonathan was a member of the Allegri String Quartet, before returning to the ECO as Principal Viola. As a versatile artist, Jonathan has managed a varied career and is much in demand as a soloist and chamber musician both in the UK and abroad. He has subsequently worked with most of the London orchestras and has guest lead the London Symphony, Philharmonia, CBSO, Mozart Players, BBC Symphony, BBC Scottish and BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestras viola sections. He also holds teaching positions at the Royal College of Music and the Junior Royal Academy of Music. He plays a Giovanni and Francesco Grancino viola c.1680.