Vanbrugh & Friends
Vanbrugh & Friends
Keith Pascoe, violin
Marja Gaynor, violin
Simon Aspell, viola
Ed Creedon, viola
Christopher Marwood, cello
The Vanbrugh has evolved from the work of the Vanbrugh Quartet which was based in Cork as RTE’s Resident Quartet from 1986 to 2013 and as Artists-in-Residence at University College, Cork from 1990 until the retirement of violinist Gregory Ellis in 2017. Over three decades the quartet gave close to three thousand concerts, presenting the chamber music repertoire to audiences throughout Ireland, Europe, the Americas, and the Far East. Commercial recordings include more than thirty CDs of repertoire ranging from the complete Beethoven quartets to many contemporary Irish works. In 2016 the group was presented with the National Concert Hall’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their contribution to music in Ireland.
Keith Pascoe, Simon Aspell, and Christopher Marwood continue to perform together as the nucleus of the Vanbrugh and are joined by their friends, guest artists for performances of a wide range of chamber music repertoire.
Originally from Finland, Marja Gaynor is a Cork-based violinist and viola player. She specialises in Baroque music and is a member of Irish Baroque Orchestra and Camerata Kilkenny, recording and touring with both groups regularly. Marja is known as a versatile musician at home in many different styles, a fluent improviser, as well as arranger and curator. She teaches violin and chamber music in MTU Cork School of Music.
One of Ireland’s foremost chamber musicians, violist Ed Creedon enjoys a dynamic career performing with leading ensembles and musicians. Born in Cork City, Ed studied with Constantin Zanidache (Academica String Quartet) and Simon Aspell (Vanbrugh Quartet). Ed is the violist of the Lir String Quartet, which was formed at the Clandeboye Festival in 2016. The quartet presents multiple national tours each year, frequently performing to sold-out audiences at the National Concert Hall and championing contemporary music through numerous Irish premieres.
The Vanbrugh & Friends are touring as part if the NSQF Autumn tour, bringing chamber music beyond the string quartet repertoire.
Meet all the artists taking part in this year’s Concert Series
