Maria Gîlicel
– Violin –
Romanian violinist Maria Gîlicel is an emerging performer recognized for her versatility and passion on stage. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra member in various venues including Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Berliner Philharmoniker, Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Barbican Centre and Kings Place to name a few. She was part of the Tillett Trust Young Artists Platform and has been awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Emily Anderson Prize for soloists; she obtained her Artist Diploma, Masters and BMus (Hons) at the Royal College of Music London, and has worked with many acclaimed musicians including Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Maxim Vengerov and Gordan Nikolic. Future engagements include solo recitals, concerts with the Chloé Piano Trio, and regular guest work with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Netherlands Chamber and Philharmonic Orchestras, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Concertgebouw Chamber, etc. She currently holds a sub-principal position at the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. Maria plays on a Andrea Postacchini violin and a Sartory modern bow kindly on loan from Het Muziekinstrumentenfonds, as well as a classical bow by Andreas Grütter.
Jobine Siekman
– Cello –
Dutch cellist Jobine Siekman, BBC Music Magazine ‘Rising Star’ artist, is quickly building her career as an exceptional chamber musician and soloist. She was a prize winner of the Cellobiennale Amsterdam Competition and the RCM Anna Shuttleworth ‘Bach’ Prize. Jobine is a member of several successful ensembles like the Alkyona Quartet, StringWood Ensemble, Delphine Trio and Chloé Trio with whom she performs regularly in the UK and the Netherlands. In 2019 she was awarded the Mills Williams Junior Fellowship supported by the Royal College of Music in London, where she previously completed a Bachelor and a Masters of Performance. Highlights include performances at Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Elgar Room in Royal Albert Hall, Kings Place. Jobine was featured in the ‘In Focus’ film performing the sixth Bach Suite and newly commissioned works on the ‘Amaryllis Fleming’-Amati cello piccolo. She has appeared as soloist with orchestra with the Schumann, Shostakovich, Haydn, CPE Bach, Saint-Saëns and Beethoven (triple) concertos. BBC 3 broadcasted her performance of Webern’s 2 pieces for cello and piano and published music online which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. The Delphine Trio released their debut album ‘Adrift’ last February which was well received. In 2022 she launched a concert series in Groningen, performing the full cycle of Bach suites and has since successfully continued the series. She also enjoys performing on baroque cello, and with the Latin-American band Quimantu. Jobine plays a 18th century Lefèbvre cello and a Fétique bow that she generously has on loan from the National Instrument Foundation.
George Todică
– Piano –
Romanian pianist George Todică had his Wigmore Hall debut in October 2018 as a Tillett Trust Young Artist. His recent competition success include winner of the Royal Over-Seas League Keyboard Prize 2022, 2nd Prize at the George Enescu Piano Competition 2022, 1st Prizes at the Norah Sande Award in England, ‘Stefano Marizza’ Piano Competition in Italy, the Moray Piano Competition in Scotland, the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales, 2nd prize at the International Piano Campus Competition in France, and 3rd Prize at the International Piano Competition Istanbul. His international performances include prestigious halls such as the Trento Philharmonic Hall, the Mozarteum Concert Hall, the Dôme de Pontoise in France, Wigmore Hall, St. Martin-in-the-field, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, West Road Concert Hall in Cambridge, Theatre by the Lake, Theatre Clwyd, Buxton Festival, Lichfield Festival and King’s Lynn Festival. A keen chamber musician, George is regularly performing with soprano Charlotte Hoather, with whom he has recorded 4 CD albums, and as part of the Chloe Piano Trio with violinist Maria Gîlicel and cellist Jobine Siekman. The Trio has been awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Henderson Chamber Ensemble Award in 2021 and have been selected as Kirckman Trust Young Artists’ for the 22/23 season. Projects for 2022 include the release of a CD album with music by women composers, in collaboration with the Abbey Road Institute, as well the launching of a concert series in South East London that highlights women in music and arts. George had his orchestral debut at the age of 14, with the Moldova Philarmonic Iasi, and has been performing as a soloist with the European Union Chamber Orchestra, New Edinburgh Orchestra, the Istanbul Orchestra’Sion, Huntingdonshire Philharmonic, Cambridge Graduate Orchestra, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Chamber Orchestra, Cergy Pontoise Orchestra Paris, The Learig Orchestra and Stewart’s Melville College Orchestra.