Part of our Music In Quiet Places season.

“A powerful and focused performance” - Classical Guitar Magazine.

The internationally acclaimed pair perform sparkling duo music. Baroque gems such as Vivaldi, folk-inspired works such as Bartok and suave tangos by Piazzolla. Individually Harriet and Morgan have performed all over the world and have broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. Together, they have performed at the Music At Oxford International Concert Series, Music at Leamington, Jersey International Festival, Chichester Festival, Cambridge Summer Music Festival, Beaminster Festival, Conway Hall, the International Guitar Festival in London and have been described by Time Out as “A fearsome duo!”.

Harriet Mackenzie – violin

“Searing Intensity... A performance full of panache.... captivating” - The Strad

Harriet Mackenzie is an internationally renowned concerto soloist and has performed across five continents. Recordings include concertos with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Nova and the English Symphony Orchestra. These have received international acclaim, including ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Gramophone Magazine, cited for Harriet’s “superbly responsive playing… faultless technique and unfailing insight”. Her recording of five British contemporary violin concertos received a Five Star review in The Times from Richard Morrison as well as being nominated for 'Recording of The Year' 2017. She has recorded on the NMC, Naxos, Signum, Nimbus and Dutton labels. Live broadcasts include BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, Radio London and Hungarian National Radio. As a soloist she has performed with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, London Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble 12, Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra, Bath Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Piccadilly Sinfonia, Skallsjo Sommarorkester and English Symphony Orchestra. Composers who have written and dedicated violin concertos for Harriet include Deborah Pritchard, Robert Fokkens, Julian Joseph, Christopher Gunning. In 2016 she made her directing debut with the London-Vienna Kammerorchester in Piazzolla/Deyatnikov 'Four Seasons of Buenos Aires' in Auditorio Nacional, Madrid and has continued to direct ensembles since then including her own string orchestra - the 'Celoniatus Ensemble' named after her 1730 Italian violin. In addition to her solo work she is a lover of chamber music and is a founder member of Kosmos Ensemble, Karolos Ensemble and also performs with pianists Peter Donohoe, Danny Driver and guitarist Morgan Szymanski. Harriet graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with First Class honours, M.Mus and DipRAM. In 2015 she was awarded the Richard Carne Fellowship at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music. In this same year she was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) for her outstanding services to music.

www.harrietmackenzie.com,

Morgan Szymanski – guitar:

Described as “a player destined for future glories’ - Classical Guitar Magazine”, Morgan Szymanski has been highlighted as ‘One to Watch’ by both Gramophone Magazine and the BBC Music Magazine. Born in Mexico City, Morgan studied at the Royal College of Music and Conservatorium van Amsterdam graduating with first class honours. He won 1st prize in the 2002 National Guitar Competition in Mexico and was a YCAT Artist between 2006-2010.Performances as a soloist and with orchestras have taken him to concert halls and festivals all over the world. In the UK Morgan has given recitals at major venues and festivals including Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, King’s Place, The Sage Gateshead, Royal Opera House, Lichfield Festival, Salisbury Festival and London International Guitar Festival. He has appeared as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé, Northern Sinfonia, the Cervantes Choir, RTE’ Concert Orchestra and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Morgan continues to build his international reputation with performances around the world at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, Luxembourg Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus and Mexico’s Palacio de Bellas Artes to name but a few.

Numerous composers have dedicated works for Morgan including, Alec Roth, Stephen McNeff, Simon Rowland-Jones, Simone Iannarelli, Deborah Pritchard, Paul Coles, Ivan Moseley, Marcela Rodríguez and Julio César Oliva. 

He is an alumni of Live Music Now! , the scheme started by Lord Yehudi Menuhin to reach audiences that would otherwise have no access to live music. In 2016 he founded PRISMA, an artistic outreach programme aimed at taking workshops in music and the performing arts to socially disadvantaged and remote areas in Mexico. This project has benefited over 16,000 Mexican children.

Morgan is much in demand as a teacher and has given masterclasses at top conservatoires worldwide including the Royal College of Music, Royal Welsh College of Music (Cardiff) and Trinity College of Music as well as conservatoires in China and Mexico.

See our other Music In Quiet Places events:

The Chapel Hill Duo - Thursday 30th May

The Mellstock Band - Thursday 11th July

Korros Ensemble - Thursday 25th July