Soloists and Guests 2011-2014
2013-2014
Hannah MacKenzie (Trumpet)
Whilst studying A Level music Hannah became a member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. She gained a Music BA (Hons) from Lancaster University and then continued her studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music studying a Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance (2012-13).
When Hannah performed with us she was studying at the Royal Northern College of Music (2014-16) where she completed a Masters of Music - Performance.
Hannah now works as a freelance trumpeter and brass teacher in the north west.
2012-2013
Jane Irwin (Soprano)
Jane Irwin studied singing at the Royal Norther College of Music as a mezzo. As a concert and recital singer she has appeared regularly in Britain, Europe and America.
In 2002 she made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony and has sung for the BBC Proms, at the Edinburgh International Festival, The Berlin Festival, the Concertgebouw and the Musikverein.
She recently moved into the soprano reteroire, and has performed all over the world.
Stephanie Tress (Cello)
Stephanie was born in Kinston-upon-Thames and begain learning the cello at the age of six. She attended the Royal College of Music JD for seven years, studying latterly with Michal Kaznowski, cellist of the Maggini Quartet. There she won the Ruby White Prize and was funner-up in the Angela Bull Memorial Competition.
From 2009-2010 Stephanie studied at Bremen Hochschule fur Kinste, Germany, under Alexander Baillie.
Stephanie has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and principal cellist of the Chester Chamber Orchestra and Manchester University Symphony Orchestra.
Stephabie is passionate about chamber music and was invited to take part in the chamber music festival Medelssohn on Mull. As a member of the Solem Quartet she has won the 2012 RNCM Nossek Prize and been a finalist in the Weill Prize and the Christopher Rowland Chamber Ensemble of the Year.
2011-2012
Thomas Rowan-Young (Violin)
Thomas was born in Japan but spent his childhood in Dubai. It was there, at the age of 6, that he first began playing the violin.
In 2007 thomas and his family moved to Manchester and he spent the next five years at Chestham's School of Music and in 2010 he gained a place in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
In 2012 Thomas began studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, graduating in 2016.
He founded the Arcana String Quartet with friends from school and the NYO in 2010 and the Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra in Manchester in 2013.
His performance with Blackpool Symphony Orchestra was his second concerto performance.
Tom is a freelance violinist based in London.
Rebecca Knight (Cello)
Winning her first concerto opportunity at 16 with the Symphony Orchestra of the Junior department of the Roayl Academy of Music, Rebecca has since gone on to appear as soloist with numerous British orchestras including a previous concert with Blackpool Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Triple Concerto together with her colleagues in the Lawson Trio.
Since this concert in 2010, the trio has been selected for Making Music's promoters' shortlist and was the first piano trio to enjoy a fortnight's residency period at Snape Maltings. In 2011 the ensemble travelled to Australia as one of eight internationally selected trios, to complete in the 6th competition and record a disc for ASC records of new works written for them.
Aside from her work with the Lawson Trio Rebecca has performed chamber works at the BBC Proms and toured Italy playing tango music with renowned bandonwon soloist Hector Ulises Passarella and appeared at the Woman festival in a quintet.
Luke Jone (Piano)
Luke Jones was born in Wrexham, North Wales in 1995. He started playing the piano at the age of five, achieving Grade 8 by the age of nine.
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He won the National Eisteddfod 16-19 piano solo prize, winning 3rd prize in the Manchester International Piano Concert Competition and 1st prize in the Rome International Piano Competition.
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Lindsay Benson (Flute)
Born and bred in Lancashire, Lindsay began flute lessons at the age of seven. After gaining a BMus (Hons) degree from Lancaster University, she went on to teach A Level Music and Music Technology at the Blackpool Sixth Form College where she won several teaching awards. She has since become a specialist in Woodwin, Piano and Vocal Studies in schools throughout Lancashire and is in constant demand, instilling love and enthusiasm for music in children of all ages.
Lindsay has been a memebr of Blackpool Symphony Orchestra for 17 years and has been Principal flautist for 15 of those. She also appears with various orchestras and chamber groups across Lancashire and has built up a reputation as a jazz saxohpnoist and singer. Her performing career has taken her to France, Germany, HHolland and the USA. she has fond memories of performing Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto 12 years ago with BSO and is delighted to have the opportunity to perform solo with the orchestra once again.
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