CRAYFORD SISTERS IN SCILLY

Marcia, who has visited Scilly many times, first came here in the early 70's with her family, while she and her cellist husband, Christopher VanKampen, were both with the Nash Ensemble.  She has been playing for many years and won scholarships to both the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Royal Academy of Music, to which she was later elected a fellow.  At the age of 18, she played Bach's Double Concerto with Yehudi Menuhin in the Albert Hall and she has since played all over the world with many renowned musicians, as leader of the Nash and L.S.O. Ensembles, with the Barbican String Quartet, and as a Soloist.  Her playing has been described as "admirably disciplined," and, "exquisitely shaded," and a constant source of pleasure." In 1995 she was invited to lead the London Symphony Orchestra and subsequently has been invited to guest lead several major orchestras and also to lead the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the Aldeburgh Festival and the 1997 Proms.

Helen, who has also been involved in music since she was very young, will be making her first trip to Scilly.  She was the youngest ever student at the Guildhall School of Music and subsequently studied music at Cambridge, the Royal College of Music and in Paris.  After playing with Gallina Brass, the first all-female brass quintet, she decided to devote more time to the keyboard.  She has been coach to some of the major European Opera Companies and as assistant conductor, worked closely with many well-known conductors and musicians.  She was involved with "Carmen Jones," also operas written by "Police" drummer, Stewart Copeland and was an official accompanist for the 1994 Young Musician of the Year. Helen also has a very successful solo show, "Rags to Riches," in which she traces the history of ragtime and jazz.

We wish them well and look forward to an interesting concert.

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