The Le Page Ensemble

Left to Right:  David Le Page; Catherine Leech; Lisanne Melchior; Christopher Allan.

David Le Page was born in Guernsey and began learning the violin at the age of seven. He gained a place at the Yehudi Menuhin School, aged eleven, where he studied with Margaret Norris, receiving chamber music coaching from Peter Norris and Hans Keller. He was a prize winner in both the BBC Young Musician of the Year and the Yehudi Menuhin competition and went on to complete his studies in Bern with Igor Ozim and in London with Sidney Griller. 

The Le Page Ensemble has given over 60 performances since its formation in 2004. The group is flexible in terms of size and they work with a variety of guest artists.  Recent programmes have included Bach's Goldberg Variations and the complete sonatas and partitas for solo violin, a selection of Mozart's chamber music including the Clarinet Quintet, Viola Quintets and the Divertimento for String Trio. Another series explored the Opus 76 Quartets of Haydn and three of the great Schubert Quartets, "Death and the Maiden", the "Rosamunda" and the G major. They have also performed Beethoven's Opus 132 Quartet, Britten's third Quartet and the first Quartet by contemporary English composer, Ivor McGregor.

Their latest series of concerts at Hawkswood College, Stroud, featured Russian Quartets by Tchaikovsky, Borodin and Glazunov, as well as premieres of three works by David Le Page "Antikythera Mechanism" for solo violin, "Diabolical Liberties" for violin and viola and the "Falling of Silence" for String Quartet. In 2007 the group began a series of acclaimed concerts in Thame, Oxfordshire.

2008/9 has seen performances of Mozart quartets and quintets, Beethoven quartets Opus 18, 127 and 132 and quartets by Tchaikovsky, Smetana, Prokoviev, Shostakovich and Sibelius, also quartets and quintets by Elgar and Dvorak. 

Lively and impromtu onstage discussion and explanation of works to be performed has become a feature of Le Page Ensemble concerts. Audiences frequently comment on the refreshing nature of this approach, which helps to involve them in the process of interpretation and performance.

The first Le Page Ensemble Chamber Music Course was held at Woldingham School, Surrey in 2007, The Course was a resounding success with all groups benefitting from coaching by each member of the ensemble.

Christopher, Lisanne and Catherine at Woldingham Easter 2007 

(David is behind the camera)

The 2008 Courses

In 2008 there were two weekend courses, March 28th to March 30th and April 4th to April 6th. The first weekend course was held at Frensham Heights Nr Farnham and excellent coaching was enjoyed by all who participated. The wonderful concert performed by the Le Page Ensemble in the beautiful ballroom on Saturday Evening was Haydn Opus 76 No. 2 "The Fifths and  Smetana Quartet No 1 "From my Life". The Workshop on Sunday which dealt with interpretation, was based on the Smetana Quartet. Two groups performed in the members' concert, one played a movement from Brahms Op 67 in Bb and the other group, final year students from Royal Holloway, performed a movement from Kodaly Serenade for two Violins and Viola, this work was forming part of their recital for their final exams.

The weather is the least important part of any music course, but when one is in such a beautiful setting it was sad that beautiful walks and vistas were spoilt by the incessant rain. Even the stalwards who visited the local "Birdworld" attraction, discovered that all the birds were also sheltering from the elements.

The second weekend was held at Woldingham School and most of the music making was held in the Millennium Centre. Once again sympathetic and relevant coaching resulted in a very happy and relaxed course. The concert for this weekend was Haydn Opus 1 no 1 and Schubert Opus 29 in A minor "Rosamunde" and was once again a truly wonderful performance. The workshop this time was based around exploring different sounds, textures and tempi within the group and was based on the Schubert Quartet. As one member said "what a priviledge to hear how a professional quartet actually rehearse". The members' concert attracted five groups who wished to perform and we had movements from works by Elgar, Brahms, Haydn, Moeran and Verdi.

The weather also managed to have an effect on this weekend, as on Sunday morning we had about 5 inches of snow, it was very beautiful and there was a debate about having a snowman making competition, but in the end we all opted for more coaching.

The Le Page Ensemble in the Ballroom at Frensham Heights 2008

left to right Catherine Leech, David Le Page, Christopher Allan, Oliver Wilson,

The 2009 Courses

First Weekend  Friday April 3rd to Sunday April 5th

A very enjoyable Course took place on the beautiful campus at Frensham Heights School, the weather was superb which enabled participants to enjoy the grounds during free time.

Some of the works studied on the Course included,

Bridge Quartet No. 1 in E minor for Strings (No 1);   Shostakovich String Quartet No. 4;   Debussy String Quartet;

Mozart Piano Quartet in G Minor;    Dvorak Piano Quartet;   Rossini Flute Quartets 3 & 4

David Le Page (violin)  Oliver Wilson (viola) and Christopher Allan (cello) were our excellent coaches and the following comments from the Course Questionnaire speak for themselves,

"Coaching was excellent, they gave us a lot of detail to think about and also helped the bigger picture of ensemble. It was supportive, helpful and friendly. All the coaches gave us different insights into the music".

In the informative and practical Workshop led by the Le Page Ensemble, aspects of bowing, related to ensemble and chamber music playing, was covered. We were given some excellent exercises and ideas for re-thinking and practising bowing

The highlight of the Course was the concert on Saturday evening, this took place in the Frensham Heights Performing Arts Centre and David, Oliver and Christopher were joined by Catherine Leech (violin) to perform Mozart String Quartet in G K387 and Brahms String Quartet in Bb Opus 67.  This was an evening of magnificent, elegant and inspiring playing.     06.04.09

The Second Weekend Friday April 17th to Sunday April 18th

The Second Weekend was just as enjoyable with David Le Page (violin) Catherine Leech (violin) David Aspin (Viola) and Christopher Allan (Cello) 

Music played on the Course included

Mendelssohn String Quartet Op 80      Beethoven String Quartet Op 135      Mendelssohn String Quartet Op 42

Walton String Quartet   Brahms String Quartet Op 51 No 2       Beethoven String Quartet Op 18 No 1     Borodin String Quartet No 2

Once again the weather was very good which enabled everyone to enjoy the lovely surroundings at Frensham Heights. We shared the campus with a group of French students who were studying English. On Saturday evening they joined us for the Le Page Ensemble Concert, which they really enjoyed. After wards they invited us to their boarding house where they served biscuits with tea and performed a cabaret for us. A good evening was enjoyed by all proving entente cordial is alive and well. 

David Le Page; Catherine Leech; David Aspin; and Christopher Allan

Concert April 16th 2009