Christine Rayfield, Leader of The Mozart Orchestra from 2022
Chris Rayfield grew up in Leicestershire where her passion for orchestral music was nurtured by the Leicestershire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra of which she was a leading member throughout her secondary education performing solo parts in Beethoven’s Romance in F, Bach’s Concerto in D minor for Two Violins and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. She went on to read music at Birmingham University where she was taught by Louis Carus at the Birmingham Conservatoire and gained a first in her final recital.
Having made the decision to teach in the classroom, she has held posts where she could also use her string specialism at Latymer School, Enfield; Dulwich College, London; Trent College, Nottingham and for the last eight years of her teaching career as Deputy Principal at The Purcell School for Young Musicians. She has coached and directed string groups which have been awarded first place in the National Festival of Music for Youth and has conducted at major London concert halls.
As a violinist, Chris has always followed her passion for playing and performing with ensembles both amateur and semi-professional. A review of her performance of Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending in Nottingham stated “she made her violin soar, hover and sing exquisitely”, (Peter Palmer, Nottingham Evening Post).
Chris and her husband John have been dreaming of a move to East Anglia since their honeymoon in Thorpeness many years ago! They are delighted to have received such a warm welcome to the thriving musical scene and their “waggiest tail” prize winning exuberant Goldendoodle, Binker, couldn’t be happier too!
Chris Rayfield grew up in Leicestershire where her passion for orchestral music was nurtured by the Leicestershire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra of which she was a leading member throughout her secondary education performing solo parts in Beethoven’s Romance in F, Bach’s Concerto in D minor for Two Violins and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. She went on to read music at Birmingham University where she was taught by Louis Carus at the Birmingham Conservatoire and gained a first in her final recital.
Having made the decision to teach in the classroom, she has held posts where she could also use her string specialism at Latymer School, Enfield; Dulwich College, London; Trent College, Nottingham and for the last eight years of her teaching career as Deputy Principal at The Purcell School for Young Musicians. She has coached and directed string groups which have been awarded first place in the National Festival of Music for Youth and has conducted at major London concert halls.
As a violinist, Chris has always followed her passion for playing and performing with ensembles both amateur and semi-professional. A review of her performance of Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending in Nottingham stated “she made her violin soar, hover and sing exquisitely”, (Peter Palmer, Nottingham Evening Post).
Chris and her husband John have been dreaming of a move to East Anglia since their honeymoon in Thorpeness many years ago! They are delighted to have received such a warm welcome to the thriving musical scene and their “waggiest tail” prize winning exuberant Goldendoodle, Binker, couldn’t be happier too!