Liz Stacey

Liz Stacey set up Simply Strings ten years ago, and is the main organiser of all the events. She has worked hard to build a strong reputation with clients and venues. Simply Strings is now the busiest group of its kind in the area, and many venues recommend Simply Strings over and above other similar groups.

Liz studied the violin in Sheffield, and has played with many of the leading chamber groups and ensembles. She has played for many prestigious events including some for the Royal family.

This year she played for a Grammy nominated band during festivals in Holland and the UK. She is a key member of the highly rated tribute ‘ELO Experience’.

Polly

Polly enjoys a varied career as a freelance cellist in chamber groups, orchestras and bands performing classical, jazz, pop and Bollywood music. Previous performances include ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes, Channel 4’s Transmission alongside Richard Hawley, a European tour with the Corrz and a feature film with violinist Vanessa Mae. Polly is also Education and Outreach Manager with Music in the Round, an experienced workshop leader and as a children’s concert presenter she performs regularly at theatres across the UK including the Wigmore Hall, London.

Claire

Claire is a violinist originally from South West Wales. She studied music at Oxford University, before going on to complete a postgraduate degree in Violin Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music. Claire is a versatile player. Classical performances include playing as a soloist with Ormskirk Orchestra along with a number of quartet and chamber concerts. She has also done session work for Last Breath, is part of indie-folk groups Mina’s Ghost and Logan’s Runners, and performs with a Spanish guitarist for Latin-themed events and festivals.

Claire also plays electric violin at clubnights in Manchester, London and Birmingham, as well as a televised performance on an X-Factor live show.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth has been playing the violin since the age of six and at twelve she was the youngest member to join Bolton Symphony Orchestra. In 2007 she graduated with a BMus (hons) degree from the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied under Leland Chen, David Adams and Thomas Kemp. In her final year at the RNCM, she was chosen to participate in a Masterclass given by the legendary violinist Ivry Gitlis.

As a freelance musician, Elizabeth regularly plays with a number of orchestras, including the British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the Orchestra of Opera North. She has toured the UK, Ireland, Eastern Europe and Italy, and played in several concerts broadcast by the BBC, and Avanti TV. She has also been invited to perform on the X Factor alongside P!nk. Elizabeth has also performed as the lead violinist in several stage show productions. Recent productions include “Sweeney Todd”, “The Sound of Music”, “Singin’ in the Rain”, “Beauty and the Beast,” “Les Miserables,” “The Addams Family,” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

Rosie

Since graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2004 Rosie has performed extensively throughout the uk and Ireland. As a member of the British Philharmonic orchestra she has toured with Josh Groban and Jeff Wayne’s ‘War of the Worlds’ arena tour. She has also performed with Smokey Robinson and appeared on ITV’S ‘Stars in their eyes’. When she is not playing Rosie also teaches and leads childrens workshops in Sheffield.

Svetlana

Svetlana has graduated from the RNCM gaining a Masters degree with distinction in solo performance and since then she has been working as a freelance cellist enjoying a varied career as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player.

She has appeared on Channel 4 documentary about Haçienda project with Manchester Camerata, Radio 3 with BBC Concert Orchestra, toured around the U.K. with ABC and ELO experience.

Zofia

Polish born Zofia Łodygowska is currently cellist with the internationally acclaimed Diverso String Quartet. In years 2014-2016 she was a scholar of Live Music Now programme in Berlin. In April 2015 as a member of the Diverso String Quartet she was awarded Młoda Polska scholarship from the Polish Government in support of her European career. As a soloist and chamber musician, she is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions across Europe. Zofia was Leverhulme Junior Fellow at Pro Corda International Chamber Music Academy between 2012 and 2014. That was followed by an invitation to join their group of staff.

Zofia performs regularly with the ELO Experience across the United Kingdom as well as The Innocent, a rock-folk group where she plays as well as sings.

Charlotte

Charlotte Watson studied at Chethams School of Music, York University and completed a Masters in Performance at the RNCM. For over 10 years, Charlotte has been cellist for the contemporary music theatre ensemble, ‘Black Hair’. They have performed many world premieres to great acclaim both nationally and internationally. Black Hair is currently Ensemble in Residence at York University. She teaches both cello and piano and of course plays regularly with Simply Strings.