Find out a little more about us, who we are and what we've done in our pasts...
about Amici Musicali
Clare Gale – Violin
Clare was five years old when she started to play the violin. As a young violinist she studied with Iona Brown and Bradley Creswick of the Royal Northern Sinfonia and took part in masterclasses with Thomas Zehetmair and members of the Allegri String Quartet.
In 2004 she gained a place to study at the Royal Northern College of Music with Steve Wilkie and Leland Chen. During this time, Clare performed across Europe as soloist for performances of Vivaldi The Four Seasons. Upon graduating in 2008, Clare moved back to the North-East and began working as a freelance violinist and teacher. She is now an established teacher across County Durham and Teesside and is in high demand as an experienced theatre-pit musician. She performs regularly as an orchestral and chamber musician as well as soloist with various orchestras. Clare has given concerts with Sanaz Niknam, an Azerbaijani opera and traditional folk singer and she has also toured the UK as backing group with prog-rock band ‘Mostly Autumn’. With a keen interest in authentic baroque performance, Clare also owns several baroque violins and period instruments.
Rachel Robinson – 'Cello
Rachel started playing the cello aged 11. She went to the Leeds College of Music and then to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, where she studied under Joan Dixon.
Whilst there she played under the distinguished baton of Sir Simon Rattle and travelled abroad with college orchestras. She has done T.V. work for Maureen Lipman, Phil Cool and the famous astronomer Sir Patrick Moore as well as playing on Songs of Praise. Rachel has also done radio work and played in backing groups for pop and folk groups.
She also teaches in the Teesside area and loves all types of music varying from classical and jazz to folk and pop. Her aim in life is to give pleasure to people by playing music and to give pupils a life skill and a love of music.
Sue Burniston – Flute
Sue started her musical journey playing the violin. Her first choice of instrument was the flute, however she was not able to begin lessons until her teens. She took up a career outside of music but continued to play the flute with various high status professional musicians in the area eventually teaching the instrument herself.
Sue now teaches in several private school across Teesside and Darlington as well as performing regularly with various orchestras and ensembles. She is also an experienced theatre pit-musician and has even played with the prestigious flautist James Galway.
If in the unlikely event of one of our players being unavailable for a booking, they will be replaced by a professional of the same high standard to avoid disappointment.
