Flute Viola Harp Trio played their debut concert with the premier of Martin Suckling’s Tenebrae, the Glasgow University 2012 McEwen Commission.
The range of sounds and colours that can be created from this combination of instruments is remarkable, and this ensemble brings together some of Scotland’s most experienced chamber musicians.
Ruth Morley – Flute
Ruth Morley (flute) divides her time mainly between performing with leading contemporary music group Red Note Ensemble, and teaching at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She has appeared at most of the UK’s major music festivals, as well as many around Europe, and she plays regularly on Radio 3 and Radio Scotland.
She has recorded for Delphian, Metier, 7hings and Mode, and has broadcast live as a soloist for Classic FM.
Red Note concerts have included opening the 40th Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival in 2017 with the premiere of James Dillon’s award winning Tanz Haus, tours to the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland, playing George Crumb underneath a Concorde aeroplane at the Lammermuir festival, annual appearances at Sound Festival presenting a huge range of repertoire and recordings for Delphian of Edward McGuire and most recently James Dillon.
They are currently developing a children’s piece with sound artist Kathy Hinde.
Ruth is also a published composer and has been shortlisted for the Scottish New Music Awards 2023 in two categories: MU award for New Music Performer and the Dorico award for small scale work for her solo flute piece Neon Flicker.
She plays regular recitals with pianist Scott Mitchell and with her duo partner, vocalist and composer Laura Bowler.
Ruth has also appeared with Hebrides Ensemble, Edinburgh Quartet, and as soloist with London Concertante. She is a regular coach for NYOS orchestras and is in demand as an adjudicator and teacher.
Ruth is also the founder of the Scottish International Flute Summer school.
Fiona Winning- Viola
Fiona Winning studied at the Juilliard school in New York, going on to become Principal Violist of the Royal Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras.
She has been a regular guest principal of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (including four seasons at Glyndebourne Opera), Aurora Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and BBC Symphony Orchestra. Fiona’s orchestral activities have taken her to many of the world’s most prestigious halls and as a principal she has worked closely with eminent conductors such as Charles Dutoit, Vladimir Jurowksi, Yannick Nezet- Seguin, Gianandrea Noseda & Vasily Petrenko.
A passionate performer of chamber music, she has appeared at halls and festivals all over the world, such as Carnegie Hall, Bargemusic, Lincoln Centre, Festival da Camera, Lima, the Wigmore Hall, Edinburgh International Festival and the Banff Centre. She has been inspired by chamber music partners including Pinchas Zuckerman, Lawrence Power, Maxim Emelyanachev, Assaff Weisman, the Fidelio Trio and Ensemble 360, and regularly performs with her husband, clarinettist Timothy Orpen, and pianist John Reid. She is currently co-curating a three year project with poet Jacob Sam-La Rose for the Deal Festival.
A renowned exponent of contemporary music, she is a regular guest principal with the London
Sinfonietta, with whom she has performed at the BBC Proms, South Bank Centre, Huddersfield
Festival and in Europe and the Far East. Other highlights include George Benjamin’s Into the Little Hill at the Wigmore Hall, one of Pierre Boulez’s last conducting engagements (Stravinsky Dumbarton Oaks) and premiering works by Saxophonist Marius Neset at the BBC Proms.
She has a close association with composer Luke Styles whose work Three Phase Stanzas she commissioned and performed nationwide.
Sharron Griffiths – Harp
Sharron started playing the harp at the age of ten in her native Wales, she has
pursued a diverse and varied career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician in recitals both on the concert platform, recording and radio broadcast’s.
Sharron works regularly with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Northern Sinfonia.
She also works with many International Orchestra’s and held positions on West End and touring Musicals, along with playing for many pop & film sessions.
Sharron is a keen soloist and chamber musician, she has as appeared as concerto soloist with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and is a member of the Bardic Trio [with Tenor,Jamie MacDougall & Guitarist, Matthew McAllister] and FvH [with Ruth Morley, flute and Scott Dickenson) and Clyde Duo (with flautist Aisling Agnew) performing in recitals across the country including at the St Magnus Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Cottier Chamber Project, Lammermuir Festival, Sound festival and Celtic Connections.
Sharron is a Lecturer of Pedal Harp at the Junior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Harp teacher at St Andrews University, the Music School at Douglas Academy, St Mary’s Music School and a regular harp tutor for the National Youth Orchestra’s of Scotland and West Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra.