Aquinas Piano Trio
Biography Aquinas Piano Trio
Aquinas Piano Trio
Described by Gramophone as, ‘spot-on in interpretative instinct’, the Aquinas Piano Trio has established itself over the last five years as one of Britain’s most sought-after chamber groups. Following their Wigmore Hall debut in December 2015, Musical Opinion commented, ‘This sold out concert hall was in awe, ecstatic with joy at the final cadence.’ Their growing list of recordings includes the Saint-Saens Trios, released on Guild in 2015, and their CD of Mendelssohn Trios was Strad Magazine’s Choice of the Month in May 2015: ‘The Aquinas Trio rejoices in these cherishable scores with a symphonic sweep and an insatiable forward momentum … This is an enormously impressive coupling.’
The trio’s past engagements include a Schumann concert series at Kings Place, London, as well as performances at the Little Missenden Festival, the Chipping Campden International Music Festival and at the Kirker Chopin Festival in Mallorca. Their continuing support of contemporary music saw premieres of new works by Thomas Hyde and Rob Keeley during the 2016/17 season, with a Naxos CD release of Rob Keeley’s Piano Trio no.2 scheduled for 2019.They will return each year to the Wigmore Hall from 2018-21.
Ruth Rogers studied with Itzhak Rashkovsky and Herman Krebbers. Described as “the finest of the younger generation of violinists” (Musical Opinion) and hailed by the Guardian as “superb”, Ruth is in demand as soloist, leader, and chamber musician. In 2015 Ruth was appointed as a leader of the London Mozart Players. She worked as Co-Leader of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra from 2008 until 2012 and appears as a guest leader of many other major orchestras including the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.Ruth also plays with the John Wilson Orchestra at the BBC Proms.
Katherine Jenkinson is recognised as one of the UK’s leading cellists specialising in solo and chamber music.In 2017, Katherine had the privilege of recording a new cello concerto with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra which was written for her by the British composer, Oliver Davis. Chamber music is a key part of Katherine's musical life. She was a founder member of The Rautio Piano Trio, and was a member of The Allegri String Quartet 2008-2011 and Iuventus Quartet and Ensemble. In Contemporary music, Katherine has worked closely with composers, ArvoPärt, Anthony Payne, Richard Allain and Thomas Hyde. Katherine plays on an Italian cello by Taningardi made in 1703. She is grateful to the Countess of Munster for their help in the purchase and restoration of this cello.
Martin Cousin is now regarded as one of the most exceptional pianists of his generation, having been awarded 1st prize at the 2005 Ettore Pozzoli International Piano Competition (Seregno, Italy) and Gold Medal at the 2003 Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition (London). Martin appears regularly at the major London musical venues and has performed as concerto soloist with the Philharmonia, London Philharmonic, Halle, Royal Philharmonic and BBC Concert Orchestras. 2006 saw the release of his debut CD of Rachmaninov's Sonata No 1 and Morceaux de Salon with SOMM Recordings, which was selected as Classical CD of the week by the Daily Telegraph. The US magazine Fanfare added, "This is the performance of the 1st Sonata that I have always heard in my head but never thought I'd actually get to hear with my ears. This guy's the Real Deal!"Martin's hands are also featured on the big screen in the Oscar-winning film "Shine", for the scenes involving Rachmaninov's 3rd Concerto. 2.
