Orchestral bookings (since March 2007) ORCHESTRAS Bath Philharmonia Bernardi Chamber Ensemble Birmingham Opera Company Carl Rosa Opera Company City of Oxford Orchestra Icini Orchestra Opera UK Welsh Chamber Orchestra   The recital button is inactive   The Repertoire button is inactive.   The Review button is inactive.   The discography button is inactive.      Outreach experience As part of Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now! scheme Solaris has brought classical music to a wider audience, playing in venues from schools to prisons and hospitals. These concerts feature a wide range of styles, from Classical music (Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn), through Romantic and Modern works to folk and jazz inspired arrangements. Audience participation is strongly encouraged, with singing, clapping, playing instruments and dancing being common features in the group's performances. The quartet is happy to tailor workshops to fulfil individual requirements. Please visit solaris quartet for details of the following programmes: Noye's Fludde Romeo and Juliet themed concert Dances from around the World themed concert allen_n_5853_1.jpg        The Teaching button is inactive.

Biography
Nick Allen enjoys a varied career as a cellist. As a chamber musician he is much in demand and is a founder member of both the Solaris Quartet and Trilogy Piano Trio with whom he enjoys a busy schedule performing throughout the country. Solaris is particularly involved with researching music by composers caught up in the Holocaust and has performed this moving music at venues around the country. He is currently involved in recording and performing Bach 2 the Future, a solo cello project involving the works of Bach and new commissions for cello and electronics. He has also recently worked with Billy Bragg.

Nick freelances as an orchestral player and regularly plays principal with the London Soloists Chamber Orchestra and Welsh Chamber Orchestra. He also works regularly with Matthew Slater creating and performing chill out dance tracks.

As an educationalist, Nick is currently Acting Head of Strings at the London College of Music and also works for Newham Music Trust teaching in East End schools. He has also created Strings n Things - a primary schools concert that investigates the possibilities of using ICT with music.

Orchestral Work
Orchestras: Bath Philharmonia, Bernardi Chamber Ensemble, Birmingham Opera Company, Carl Rosa Opera Company, City of Oxford Orchestra, Icini Orchestra, Opera UK, Welsh Chamber Orchestra.

Nicholas's orchestral work also includes London Theatre Orchestra with Ruthie Henshall, Tempus Chamber Orchestra, Chameleon Composers Collective, The London Academy of Ottoman Court Music (principal), The Clod Ensemble - 20th century music group.

Nick has performed as a soloist with Chiltern Camerata playing Vivaldi's 3rd sonata and gave a series of solo concerts in London (2002). Opera experience includes English Pocket Opera, Park Opera, The Opera Company and British Youth Opera (principal). Nick's studio work includes sessions for Billy Bragg.

Education
Nicholas's graduate studies took place at Imperial College, London - BSc ARCS in Mathematics (1989 - 1992). St Mary's College, Twickenham - PGCE (1993 - 94). Trinity College of Music, London - Postgraduate performance certificate (distinction) LTCL (1994 - 1996).

Teachers: Lowri Blake. Masterclasses include: Emmanuel Hurwitz (1999); 2000 Dartington Summer School (PowerGen Scholarship); Chilingirian Quartet, West Dean College (Belmont Trust Award); Siegmund Nissel, International Musicians' Seminar, Prussia Cove (Hattori Foundation); Sandor Devich, 1998 Dartington International Summer School.

Nicholas joined Morgensterns in July 2002

Nicholas's web profile was last updated 6th Mar 2010