ABOUT
Sandy started learning the violin and piano aged 8, later taking up the viola and the organ, and was performing regularly from an early age in the Southampton Youth Orchestras. After graduating with a first class music degree from the University of Nottingham, she moved to London to study violin performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance under Diana Cummings.
Her time in London has resulted in opportunities to perform in prestigious venues such as Wigmore Hall and St Johns Smith Square and Maida Vale studios. She has also had the chance to play alongside members of the Philharmonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Sandy performs regularly with a range of ensembles including chamber, orchestral, musical theatre, opera and popular music. She also plays organ for weddings, funerals and services, and accompanies grade exams on piano.
Sandy is also passionate about music education and community projects. She teaches piano and violin privately and in school which she finds very rewarding. Her passion for music education has also led her to undertake projects such as the BBC Proms Family Workshops and Trinity Laban’s Animate Orchestra, a dynamic project encouraging children who play orchestral instruments to use their creativity to compose and perform a piece together. She also performs in schools to inspire more children to take up instruments, and collaborates with Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust to bring live music into hospital wards.
Edwood Quartet
Lucy Haggerwood-Bullen
Violin
Sandy Thompson
Violin
Alexis Hutchinson
Viola
Clare Durgan
Cello
Based in London, The Edwood Quartet formed while studying at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. They immediately enjoyed making music together and received coaching from world class chamber musicians including Hagai Shaham, Naomi Butterworth and Eoin Schmidt-Martin. They are passionate about bringing people together through music and sharing fun with our audience. They have recently performed Mendelssohn, Mozart, Grieg and Britten in such locations as St Alfege Church, Greenwich, the Old Royal Naval College and the prestigious Wigmore Hall.
The Edwood Quartet is available for weddings, parties, corporate events. As well as the classical repertoire, they play music of a variety of genres ranging from pop to folk, and are more than happy to perform music requested by clients. Please visit the contact page to request a booking.
Bella Armonia
Bella Armonia is a chamber group which performs music often arranged by the performers due to the unusual combination of instruments. The members, although pursuing careers in music around the country and beyond, return to Southampton where they first formed to tour local venues bi-annually. The tour this summer included St James Church, West End, St Johns Church, Rownhams, St Michaels Church, Southampton and Grove Place retirement village.
The ensemble plays varied and accessible pieces of classical music with each concert programme being inspired by a theme. The most recent of these have been 'Winter Wonderland' and 'A Musical Journey Through Europe', with repertoire such as excerpts from Tchaikovsky Swan Lake, Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride, Granados Spanish Dance and Enesco Romanian Rhapsody.
To stay up to date with the latest concerts, please visit the Bella Armonia facebook page.
Thallo
Sandy collaborates with Thallo, a creative band performing original songs in both English and Welsh. Sandy recorded on their EP, Nhw, which can be found on spotify and bandcamp. She also features on their live music videos of 'I Dy Boced' and 'Boddi'.
Thallo's music is played regularly on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru. With hints of Andy Shauf and Norah Jones, Thallo's intricately arranged songs tell captivating stories through shifting harmony, succeeding in creating an experience entirely stand-alone and unique. Visit their facebook page to hear about their latest projects.