Ms. Downes' busy solo and chamber career is strongly impacted by her commitment to expanding and developing new audiences for the arts. She dedicates time during her concert tours to elementary school workshops, and has developed a wide network of community outreach through the University of California. She is the co-founder and artistic director of Arts Exchange, a project dedicated to building creative partnerships between the visual and performing arts. In her own words: "I'd like to re-define the concert experience, to give it new relevance in our 21st-century world".

Ms. Downes records for the Postcards label.

An exciting young Scottish duo with flamenco flair, Yvonne and Andrew are both 1st Class Honours graduates and have been playing together since they were at school! The Duo is renowned for their arrangements and versality between various styles. Their extensive repertoire spans many genres including classical, easy listening, and Latin-American. Both performers are highly accomplished, award winning soloists as well as excellent chamber and orchestral musicians.

Check out www.yvonne-flute.webeden.co.uk for more info.

Despite being still quite young, I have composed various pieces, mainly for small ensembles designed to be both challanging to the player while being incorporating areas of entertainment which are identifiable to a wider audience. My recent works include "Fanfare and Jubilation", "Little Suite" both for which are for Wind Quintet, and "Contest Tryptich" for Brass Quartet. The two Wind Quintet pieces both won there categories in the Aberdeen Music Festival with an outstanding classification and "Contest Tryptich" is to be performed at the Schools Solos and Quartets finals by the Cults Academy Brass Quartet.

Composition came naturally; even before he could read music he was writing it - with his elder sister as reluctant amanuensis! But he did not settle down to serious composition until the 1980s, when he studied with Peter Aviss and Barry Seaman.

His piece Dimitri's Train won first prize in its category in the London Chamber Group Piece of the Year competition of 2003, winning best piece for string quartet and wind solo. His works include symphonic and choral music; songs; chamber music for piano, wind, brass and strings, and music for a film; an opera is near completion.

Yesterday Striving to come closer to the culture of the masters of the classical music in Germany, Austria, France and Italy, and in particular to tread new paths in the repertoire fields, the two artists went in 2002 to Switzerland. They decided to begin studies for piano duo at the newly founded University of Arts in Berne. Intensive discussions concerning the German and French standard repertoire and the music of the 20th century began with Rada Petkova and other professors of the University. Beyond that, they received important support from Klaus Helwig in Berlin and Fou Ts’ong in London.

Today Today, the duo are one of the leading ensembles for late romantic and contemporary repertoires. They performed at the “Reger-Tage” in Meiningen (Germany), played in different European cities and at various occasions, e.g. in the presence of the assembled Swiss Government. Live-concerts were recorded by the radio and they have also appeared on television. The musicians love to cooperate with living composers such as Theresa Procaccini, Dieter Amman and Jürg Wyttenbach, with whom they develop the works together. The duo’s present repertoire covers large parts of the standard works for piano duos of the 19th century.

The Duo recently were invited to perform at the 39th Gala Concert of the American Youth Symphony, at the esteemed Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Los Angeles Music Center, performing the "Carnival of the Animals" by C. Saint-Saens with the AYS, directed by Maestro Alexander Treger. Press Release: "It's my pleasure to work with the Duo...Terrific, Great pianists...They have a great future!" -Maestro Alexander Treger Music Director and Conductor of AYS Concertmaester of LA Philharmonic "The Arakelyans are blessed with abundant technique, and they displayed a graceful feeling for the flourishes and wit of the piano parts." - Richared Ginell Music Critic of the LA Times "I was delighted to hear the excellent performance of Oavanes and Gianeh Arakelyan of the 'Carnival of the Animals' with the American Youth Symphony. Their ensemble had energy, brilliance, sensitivity of nuances and colors, and a strong rhythmic vitality!" -Daniel Pollack Concert Pianist

In June 2003 he made his concerto debut performing Haydn’s Concerto in C with the London Pro Arte Orchestra. Since then he has performed across the U.K as a soloist and chamber musician notably with the Carressi String Trio, Harpham Quartet and the Prince Consort Ensemble with whom he has recently completed a tour of the USA. He has performed for the HRH Prince of Wales, Princess Alexandra, Tony Blair and other Cabinet members.

Lawrence has been Principal cello of the St. Cecilia Orchestra, RCM Sinfonietta and Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra. Since July 2004, he has been Artist in Residence at the Performing Arts Institute Summer Program at Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania USA. Last summer, he also attended the Dartington International Summer School and played with members of Quatour Diotoma.

The Songster Brogade consists of over fourty men and women who have dedicated their Christian Service to spreading the Word of God through choral music. The group also boasts a number of musicians proficient in instrumental music. Soloists and professional musicians also make up a large part of the group's membership.

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