Orchestral bookings (since January 2009) ORCHESTRAS Bernardi Chamber Ensemble Brandenburg Sinfonia Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra Britten Pears Orchestra City Chamber Ensemble City Concert Orchestra Dionysus Ensemble London Concert Orchestra Musical Associates (UK) Limited Oxford Philomusica St George's Chamber Orchestra Urban Soul Orchestra SESSIONS BBC TV Session   The recital button is inactive   The Repertoire button is inactive.      Reviews Her well sustained brilliance of tone, clarity of expression and dazzling technique commanded the attention of the audience like a magnet. Here, clearly, is a star in the making. (Oxford Times, 9th May 2008).   The discography button is inactive.   The Outreach button is inactive. de-saram_7026_1.jpgde-saram_7026_4.jpg           Teaching experience 'Oxford Tutors' - violin, piano, theory, aural, musicianship and coaching for GCSE and A-Level exams. (2005 - present) Two terms of peripatetic teaching at Magdalen College School, Oxford (Violin & aural training) Private teaching: Violin and Piano (beginners to advanced), theory, aural training and musicianship, and composition (GCSE and A-Level)

Biography
Mandhira de Saram was born in London. After completing her primary education in Sri Lanka, she was awarded a music scholarship to North London Collegiate School where she completed her secondary education. She was also a Leverhulme Scholar at the Junior Royal Academy of Music where she performed both as a violinist and pianist, also taking classes in composition and conducting. Her violin teachers have included Igor Petrushevsky, Howard Davis and Levon Chillingirian.

Mandhira graduated with 1st class honours from the University of Oxford with a high 1st in performance and was the winner of the Worcester College Arts Prize for the highest result in an arts subject. Here she was the leader of several orchestras and chamber groups including Ensemble Isis which specialised in contemporary music. She also held an Oxford Philomusica Orchestra Award and was invited to participate as lead violinist in the last Youth Music International summer school.

Working professionally as a freelance violinist, she appears frequently as soloist, chamber musician and orchestral violinist around the UK and abroad. Her repertoire is varied, consisting of standard classical works, as well as new and experimental repertoire involving collaborations with contemporary composers. Significant recent performances include a Mozart Concerto (No. 5 in A Major) at the Sheldonian Theatre, duo recitals at the Holywell Music Rooms in Oxford and at various notable venues in London, as well as a concert tour of her native country, Sri Lanka. She also gave a recital of unaccompanied violin music at the Garden Court Barristers' Chambers of Lincoln's Inn in London and has just returned from Hong Kong, China and Japan, where she appeared as a Crystal Headline Artist.

Mandhira hopes to pursue her career as a performer as well as teaching privately.

For more information, see Mandhira's official website, www.mandhiradesaram.com.

Orchestral Work
Orchestras: Bernardi Chamber Ensemble, Brandenburg Sinfonia, Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Pears Orchestra, City Chamber Ensemble, City Concert Orchestra, Dionysus Ensemble, London Concert Orchestra, Musical Associates (UK) Limited, Oxford Philomusica, St George's Chamber Orchestra, Urban Soul Orchestra. Sessions: BBC TV Session.

Mandhira's orchestral work also includes Giardino Chamber Ensemble, Syd Lawrence Orchestra (strings), Ensemble ISIS (leader), Russian Chamber Orchestra of London, New London Sinfonia, London Gala Orchestra, Oxford Phillomusica, London Telefilmonic Orchestra (sessions), Youth Music International Summer School (leader, 2007), Oxford Philomusica, Ensemble Isis (leader, 2006-09), Oxford Univeristy Sinfonietta (co-leader, 2003-04), Holywell Chamber Players (leader, 2004), Christ Church Festival Orchestra (leader, 2005), Oxford University Orchestra & Philharmonia, Junior Royal Academy Symphony Orchestra.

Mandhira has also performed duo recitals at various venues in the UK and abroad (for example, Queen's Gate Terrace Summer Concert series, Holywell Music Rooms in Oxford, Woodend Barn in Scotland, Colombo and Galle in Sri Lanka, Shanghai in China, Kobe in Japan...). Unaccompanied recital at Lincoln's inn.

Mandhira has performed on cruises with Crystal (a violin & piano duo), Fred Olsen (de Saram String Quartet), and Queen Elizabeth II (Giardino String Quartet).

Education
Mandhira's graduate studies took place at Worcester College, Oxford, where she gained a BA in Muisc (1st class honours, 2003-2006). She is currently studying there for an M.Phil in Musicology and Performance.

Prizes and Awards

• Oxford Philomusica Award (2006-2007)
• Worcester College Arts Prize for highest result in an arts subject (2006)

Teachers: Alla Sharova, Igor Petrushevsky, Howard Davis, Levon Chillingrian

Mandhira's web links
www.mandhiradesaram.com

Mandhira joined Morgensterns in September 2008

Mandhira's web profile was last updated 28th Jan 2012