Biographies

Domonkos Csabay

Domonkos Csabay is a Hungarian concert pianist, chamber musician and accompanist. He studied with András Kemenes and István Lantos at the Liszt Academy Budapest, and is a graduate of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where his professors were Pascal Nemirovski and John Thwaites. Besides pursuing a solo carreer, he has worked as a répétiteur with renowned opera companies and co-operated with diverse chamber ensembles. He has made several concerto appearances and has been invited to many prestigous venues and festivals, such as the Budapest Spring Festival or the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival. Competition successes include 1st prize at the Lyon International Chamber Music competition and at the Birmingham International Piano Chamber Music Competition in 2022, special award in the Budapest Liszt Piano Competition, as well as prizes won as a composer in Romania and as member of a Lied duo in Wales. His performances have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and in the Hungarian Radio. His debut CD was issued by Naxos in 2021, his second solo album appeared with the label Hungaroton in 2023. Domonkos recently finished his fellowship as a collaborative pianist at the Royal College of Music, London.

Read more on Domonkos's website.

Sara Trickey

Sara Trickey enjoys an exciting and diverse career as a solo violinist and chamber musician. Noted for her “fiery and passionate” performances (The Strad) and her “beautifully refined tone” (Musical Opinion), she performs at many of the major UK festivals and venues, including in recent months the Presteigne, Alwyn, Oxford May Music, York, and Wye Valley Chamber Music festivals. She plays regularly with pianist Dan Tong with whom she has recorded the Schubert Sonatinas to critical acclaim (“Irresistible!” – Barry Millington). A CD of Fauré and David Matthews has recently been released by Deux-Elles. She also made a world premiere recording of Mathias’ violin sonatas with Iwan Llewelyn Jones. Sara has performed most of the repertoire for violin and orchestra, with orchestras that include the City of London Sinfonia and the Orchestra of St John’s (“The Beethoven violin concerto was quite simply perfection” – Seen and Heard International). She is a founder member of the Odysseus Piano Trio and the Joachim String Trio, the latter playing on gut strings. She is also currently a member of the mixed ensemble Sound Collective, and plays in a violin duo with Andrew Watkinson, leader of the Endellion Quartet. Prior to forming these groups, Sara led the Bronte String Quartet for six years, winning the Royal Overseas League competition and second prize in the Cremona International Quartet competition. Sara studied with Camilla Wicks and also was very much influenced by her studies at IMS Prussia Cove. She read Classics at Trinity Hall, Cambridge and this continues to be a passion. She also enjoys teaching, primarily at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Read more on Sara's website.

Rosie Biss

In addition to her role of Principal cello of Welsh National Opera, Rosie enjoys a busy and varied career as chamber musician, soloist, guest principal, and teacher. As recitalist and former member of the Zehetmair quartet and trio, the European Music Project and the Scottish Ensemble, Rosie has played throughout Europe and America’s concert halls, broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, WDR 3 and performed at major music festivals including Edinburgh, Aspen, Verbier and Schleswig-Holstein. Busy though the WNO schedule is, playing in the orchestral pit, symphony and chamber concerts, and sometimes in costume and character as part of the opera, Rosie has also guest lead the cello sections of Bournemouth Symphony, BBC National orchestras of Wales and Scotland, City of Birmingham Symphony orchestra, English National Opera and Opera North, and the Royal Northern Sinfonia. Away from the regular classical regime, Rosie has recorded albums with folk musicians Rachel Unthank and Troy Donockley and performed with the German Cabaret show “Ensemble Extravagance!” Rosie studied at Cambridge University and The Cologne Musikhochschule under Maria Kliegel. Now a keen educator, Rosie teaches cello and chamber music at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, coaches for the National Children’s Orchestra, and gives masterclasses annually at Cellofest. Rosie plays on a Roman Cello, circa 1730 by Gulio Cesare Gigli, and a 1990 Welsh cello by Clive Morris.