Peter Davis - Artistic Director
Peter Davis studied the violin at the Royal Academy of Music with Manoug Parikian and later with Maurice Hasson.
He has over the last thirty years enjoyed a varied career as violinist and conductor, performing throughout much of the United Kingdom and Europe. He has appeared frequently as soloist (his Bach in the Purcell Room ‘bristled with charm’ - The Strad magazine) and given numerous recitals and broadcasts.
As Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the newly formed Westminster Chamber Orchestra he has been able to bring together not only his conducting and playing but also his passion for imaginative programming of both the popular and neglected string orchestra repertoire that forms such an important part of our musical heritage.
When not performing, Peter is also Director of the National Preparatory School Orchestra Courses and a committed and sought after teacher.
Marian Givens - Leader
Marian Givens, violin, read music at Royal Holloway University of London before completing her studies at The Royal Academy of Music, gaining the LRAM and a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance.
After a few years of freelance work and teaching Marian travelled to Sweden and Spain to participate in master classes with renowned violinist Igor Ozim and a rather perceptive Romanian called Bogdan Zvoristeanu. It was after this that Marian started work in the opera house in Valencia, Palau de les arts, for six months under the direction of Lorin Maazel and Zubin Mehta. On her return Marian embarked on further study with concert violinist and Academy Professor Remus Azoitei and has since appeared on numerous occasions in concerti by Bruch, Mozart, Mendelssohn and more recently Beethoven.
Marian now enjoys a varied career mixing orchestral, chamber, session and West End work. She is a regular member of the Bristol Ensemble and has performed with Emilé Sandé and Labyrinth at The Royal Albert Hall and in ‘Top Hat’ at the Aldwych Theatre.
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