About us…..!!
Hello and welcome to the page where you can read about our individual team members!
Our professional musicians are hand-picked by ourselves, making sure our high standards of service and professional playing are met! Some of our members have played with us for over 10 years!
All Ariella Musicians are:
Fully Qualified professionals
Conservatoire trained
Fully insured
Members of Professional Organisations – “Musicians Union” or the “Incorporated Society of Musicians”
Working within the professional music industry
Hugely experienced in weddings and events
Cheryl Agnew-Bass – Manager, Events co-ordinator & Professional Violinist
Cheryl studied violin with Yossi Zivoni at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. After graduating, she worked overseas for 6 years in a full time professional orchestra. On her return to England she continued playing as a freelance player with professional orchestras across the UK and in Europe.
Cheryl is the manager and co-ordinator of all the Ariella groups and is also the main violinist. She was born in Ireland and visits home as often as she can!
As well as running Ariella Strings, Cheryl juggles looking after her family and menagerie of animals with persuing her passion for genealogy. She now has over 4000 people in her family tree!
John Bass – Music Consultant, Music Arranger, Violist
John looks after most things “music” for Ariella Strings. His role is liaise with our clients about their music choices and guide them every step of the way in their music planning.
John studied viola at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has played with various professional orchestras throughout the United Kingdom and internationally, as well as performing in chamber ensembles. John’s special interests are arranging music for chamber groups and conducting. He is in charge of the music arranging for the different groups and has his own company, “Music and Strings”.
A fun fact about John is that he played a “Party Musician” in the Tim Burton movie “Alice in Wonderland” with Jonny Depp heading the cast.
MEET OUR PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS
Caroline Mitchell – Violin
Caroline studied violin at Chethams Specialist Music School and the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester before spending a few years at Boston Conservatoire, also playing principal in many of the Boston orchestras.
Luckily for us she returned to the UK and married our cellist Chris, settling in Milton Keynes. She loves playing at weddings and is ‘encouraging’ her 2 young sons to practice piano, violin and cello.
Eluned Pritchard – Violin
Eluned has been playing for Ariella Strings for many years. She grew up in Wales and went on to study violin at the Royal Academy of Music with Howard Davis. After she graduated she studied with Mauricio Fuks in Bloomington, Indiana.
She is currently enjoying a mix of freelancing and teaching violin and viola. She has played in many symphony and chamber orchestras including Britten Sinfonia, London Chamber Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony, London Philharmonic, Brighton Philharmonic.
Kate Leigh – ‘Cello
Kate gained a first class honours degree from the Royal Academy of Music where she studied cello. She has enjoyed a varied career as a session, chamber and orchestral musician, performing in many prestigious venues including The Royal Albert Hall, Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, National Theatre, Kings Place and the London Colliseum.
She loves jazz and pop music, and as well as having her own jazz trio has also performed on the Parkinson Show, Top of the Pops and the X Factor, and has toured with Sir Elton John.
Kate also has a diploma in illustration and had made laser-cut lanterns and stationery for clients including Harrods, Cameron Mackintosh and ITV. She also likes an extreme challenge and is training for her first Ironman triathlon in the summer!
Chris Mansell – ‘Cello
Chris has been part of the team for over 10 years! He studied ‘Cello at Trinity College of Music, London and has since enjoyed a varied musical career from English National Ballet to D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and West End shows including Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady and numerous Sondheim musicals.
He enjoys time with his two young sons, especially flying kites and cycling.
David Robinson – ‘Cello
