Preetha Narayanan
Preetha Narayanan is a highly accomplished violinist who has performed and led projects extensively around the world as a soloist, collaborator, and in her own ensembles, FLUX, Quest Ensemble, and Balladeste. Merging Western and Indian Classical training with a wide range of influences from her collaborations and research, Preetha is sought after for her distinctive voice and unique sound. She has also worked with notable artists including Anoushka Shankar, Talvin Singh OBE, Kae Tempest, Jocelyn Pook, Oi Va Voi, Manu Delago, Bianca Gismonti, and London Contemporary Orchestra.
Originally from Memphis,TN, Preetha received her Bachelor of Music degree in Western Classical Performance from Vanderbilt University, during which time she performed and trained in renowned Classical Festivals in both the United States and Europe. In 2006, she was the recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, which took her to Chennai, India to study Carnatic violin with Shri T.N. Krishnan and voice under the guidance of Smt. Seetha Rajan. Preetha subsequently moved to London where she completed a Masters at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Tara franks
Tara is a performing cellist, composer, curator and creative project leader working across genres and art forms. Her work centres around collaboration, both with other professional artists and within the community. As well as composing & performing with Quest Ensemble and string duo Balladeste, she has worked with renowned artists including; Kae Tempest, Akala, Jocelyn Pook, Sam Lee, Shammi Pithia. Tara is also regularly commissioned to collaborate on cross-arts projects, most recently creating the sound score for the acclaimed show ‘Foreign Body’ by Imogen Butler-Cole.
Having studied cello performance at Leeds University under Anna Shuttleworth, Tara then spent two years in Italy through a EU funded scholarship for a chamber music and orchestral training course. She later undertook an MMus in Leadership (collaborative practice) at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
An important part of Tara’s work involves leading participatory creative projects for all ages. She founded burgeoning social enterprise SoundsCreative Projects in 2011, and has led creative composition projects/training for organisations including; Barbican, Royal Opera House, Aldeburgh Music, London Music Masters, Kobe University Japan & KACES South Korea.
Filipe santos Sousa
Filipe Sousa is a Portuguese pianist, composer and workshop leader based in the UK. He works with artists and communities of ranging age, ability and background. Filipe regularly leads workshops and presents work in the UK and across the world. He has been commissioned to create sound installations and to write for music ensembles, theatre, film and dance.
With a background in Architecture, years practicing capoeira and more recently contact improv, his work as a composer and performer is often concerned with space and movement, driven by a strong sense of rhythm and flow. Filipe as always had the piano at the centre of his practice, but his interest in the details and minutiae of sound has taken him into the realms of sound art, sound design and composition. He is interested in performance as experience and in generating immersive environments.
He is an Associate Artist at Spare Tyre theatre company and a regular leader at Create Arts Charity working with disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Filipe has worked with various orchestras and institutions in the UK and across the world including the Barbican Centre, CCB Lisbon, Projeto Guri, Sinfonia Viva, London Contemporary Orchestra and the EU Youth Orchestra. He teaches at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.