Karin Leishman began playing the violin at the age of 7. She won a scholarship to study with Carmel Kaine at the Royal College of Music in London and then continued her studies in Australia and Holland. Karin Leishman now travels regularly both in Britain and abroad both as a chamber musician and soloist and has in her repertoire most of major violin concertos.  She has appeared in the prestigious Davos International Chamber Music Festival in Switzerland and in Moscow where she was very warmly received in a series of duo and trio recitals at the renowned Gnessin School of Music together with the violist Matthew Souter and pianist Constantin Lifschitz.

Matthew Souter is a member of the distinguished Alberni String Quartet. He started his instrumental studies as a violinist and was awarded a scholarship to Wells Cathedral School. At 16 he changed to the viola and went on to study with Jack Glickman at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he won several prizes.

For several years Matthew was principle violist of the European Community Orchestra and has since guest led viola sections of orchestras such as the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and the English Chamber Orchestra. As soloist, Matthew has given concerto performances both here and abroad, most notably with the City of London Sinfonia and St. Petersburg Camerata in Japan. He has broadcast on the BBC, Deutsche Rundfunk, Netherlands Radio and NHK (Japan).

Chamber music plays a major role in Matthew’s Life; he has for a number of years been a regular guest of the Davos International Chamber Music Festival in Switzerland and the Saga Festival in Japan. As well as performing, Matthew enjoys teaching and is a Professor at the Royal Academy of Music.

Return to home page click here.