Mary Eade
Musical Director of Taunton Sinfonietta
Mary Eade is a distinguished violinist and Musical Director of Taunton Sinfonietta. She studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and later in Freiburg and the Royal College of Music, learning from masters such as Yehudi Menuhin and Wolfgang Marschner. Mary made her Wigmore Hall debut in 1975 and has performed concertos with leading orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic and English Chamber Orchestra. Since 2004, she has led Taunton Sinfonietta with vision and artistry, bringing dynamic programmes to Somerset audiences while continuing an active career as a soloist and chamber musician.
Noah Mosley
Composer
Noah is a London-based composer, harpsichordist, and conductor known for his lyrical, imaginative music.
His operas Aurora and Mad King Suibhne earned critical acclaim with performances at Bury Court, Grimeborn, and ENO’s Lilian Baylis House. He has written children’s operas for English Touring Opera, including The Firebird and The Wish Gatherer, which won Best New Opera for Young Audiences. Noah also composes orchestral and chamber music, collaborates with leading artists, and has conducted widely in the UK and Europe.
MICKHAIL VICHNIAKOV
Mickhail was born and grew up in Ukraine He was educated at the Kyiv specialist music school, then later, after coming to UK in 1991, at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Having achieved teaching and performing diplomas from RSM, he taught and played in many professional orchestras in England and Scotland.
He takes special interest in early music, loves playing the viol, and delving into the treasury of English Renaissance music.
SABINE COOPER
Sabine grew up in Germany, with a mother who was a passionate guitarist and singer in various bands. When she insisted on learning the violin, it came as a bit of a shock to the family! But after a few years of persistent begging, she finally had her first violin lesson. She enjoy it a lot until one day a teacher handed her a viola – and that was it!
As a freelance violist she toured the world and finally settled down in Exmoor, where she will live happily ever after.
POLLY ORR-EWING
Polly is a violinist, music therapist, teacher and Dalcroze Eurythmics specialist. Indulging her life-long passion for playing chamber music, Polly performs regularly across the South West with different chamber ensembles and is a member of the Taunton Sinfonietta and the Dorset Chamber orchestra. Polly studied the violin with Ronnie Birks of the Lindsay Quartet whilst at Manchester University where she specialised in performance. Following 20 years of teaching and performing in Southern Spain Polly returned to the UK in 2013 & has recently trained as a music therapist
Vicky Evans
Professional Cellist
Vicky Evans is a professional cellist and founder of Divertimento Entertainments, with over 30 years of experience bringing exceptional classical music to audiences across the UK and beyond. A graduate of Dartington College of Arts, Vicky performs with the Divertimento Piano Trio, String Quartet, and other ensembles, and serves as co-principal cello with the Ten Tors Orchestra. Her career spans international tours, music cruises, and a lifelong commitment to chamber music, making her a driving force in the region’s musical life.
TINA BENNETT
It is a long time ago that I played in the Albert Hall as a student…here it is from a distance in 2025. For decades I only played the violin and then viola from music ..or very occasionally from memory. Happily it is now just about possible to learn by ear and follow some jazz chords..a whole new challenge. I’m fascinated by percussion too and have a growing collection that I sometimes share with my very lovely grandchildren.
Playing with Taunton Sinfonietta has given my playing a complete makeover..so much fun and fright along the way. Long may the group continue!
LIZ COWDREY
Liz grew up in Oxford, playing violin, piano and bassoon. After a music degree at Manchester University and a year in Italy, she developed a varied career, enriched by playing viola. She has travelled and researched into different genres and cultures, performing in groups dedicated to integrating classical, folk gypsy and birdsong elements, alongside freelance orchestral work.
RUTH GASPERINI
Details coming soon…
MARY CARSON
Details coming soon…
ISABELLE WOOLLCOTT
Details coming soon…
Blog
by Mary Eade
2 February 2026
The inner workings of the musicians wheel
After fearing the worst and believing that Taunton Sinfonietta had bitten the dust, it was lovely to come together again as a group.
Friday
Polly’s barn proved to be a wonderful venue for our reunion. It’s a little out of the way, but we all turned up… 2 campervans and a few car loads of willing musicians eager to catch up with each other and to make music together. TS feels more like a family than a group of professional musicians.
We started the rehearsal with Peter Warlock’s Capriol Suite, which consists of 6 dances. Sabine, whose sense of humour always keeps us alive, showed us copies of the original notation of some of the dances… and a picture of her in a performance in period costume. She said she looked like an armchair… we disagreed.
Next we worked on the Torelli, and I tried to play more in Misha’s style and he in mine. It was a good Ukrainian / English collaboration… and what a beautiful piece!
Bach Double next with Polly and myself. We worked on the soloists and orchestral balance and how to phrase and work together towards a common aim.
Then the highlight of the rehearsal for us violinists as we listened to the rehearsal of Bach’s Brandenburg 6. Led by the violas, Liz and Sabine, with Vicky as the continuo cellist. Beautifully put together… I’m afraid Misha and I were a little naughty and had a little dance to it. The others said we should do that at the concert, but we didn’t have the nerve nor, for that matter, the technique!
Bedtime!
Saturday morning various people practised in the barn… I’m sure that’s because there was a log fire in there and a comfy sofa. Polly and I rehearsed our Bach.
Lunch in Polly’s big kitchen… thank you Polly!
Saturday evening was our official rehearsal in Taunton, where we were joined by our inspirational harpsichordist / conductor Noah. He’s a joy to work with. His musical suggestions are always sound and relevant. We have a really good working relationship. He says, ‘shall we do it this way?’ and I say, ‘what a good idea’. When I suggest something, he is equally magnanimous.
Ah, and then into the mix comes 12-year-old Elliott. A unique young man who certainly knows his way around the trumpet. Highly musical and already with a great technique, he showed off his potential to great acclaim. It was his first time playing with an orchestra… but will by no means be his last! Well done, young man!
Concert day arrived. Should we have a stage or not have a stage… all problems which have to be sorted in the venue. We decided that we would dispense with the stage, which was just not big enough to seat us all. It was a good decision because the acoustic was so much better without it.
The concert went amazingly well, and the punters seemed to enjoy it, especially the Mayor, who was quite emotional about ‘the best concert he’d ever been to’.
Thanks to all the musicians and the committee and volunteers for their contribution to this enjoyable event
Discover the story of Taunton Sinfonietta.
From a modest beginning in 1982, Taunton Sinfonietta has grown into one of Somerset’s most respected orchestras. Founded by Hugh Bushell with a vision to bring high-quality classical music to the region, we started as a small group of passionate musicians performing intimate concerts for local audiences.
Over the years, our commitment to excellence and community has shaped us into a cultural cornerstone. We’ve championed young talent through our Young Musician’s Platform, introduced audiences to both beloved classics and fresh interpretations, and kept music alive through resilience and creativity.
Today, Taunton Sinfonietta stands as one of the region’s premier chamber orchestras honouring our heritage while embracing a bold and challenging future. Every performance tells our story: one of passion, perseverance, and the belief that music matters.
Join us and contact us right here…