Christopher Stark, Conductor

Chris Stark is based in South London and is Principal Conductor of the Multi-Story Orchestra, which he co-founded in 2011. Multi-Story began as an orchestra that performed in a Peckham Car Park and now involves work in various spaces around the country. Their work has been recognised by the RPS and they have made various appearances at the BBC Proms. Chris is particularly drawn to projects that are ambitious in a drive to broaden access to classical music. He works extensively in community and amateur projects and is Principal Conductor of the Blackheath Halls, Ernest Read, Dulwich and Finchley Symphony Orchestras.

Chris studied the piano and cello growing up, playing in the National Youth Orchestra, and turned to conducting orchestras and operas whilst a Choral Scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge. Since graduating he has worked extensively as an Assistant Conductor, for organisations such as Glyndebourne Festival and Tour, the BBC Proms, Aurora Orchestra, Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, Oper Köln, Garsington Opera, Gürzenich-Orchester and the Philharmonia Orchestra. He has a particular interest in contemporary music; for Multi-Story he has conducted the works of John Adams, Gerard Grisey, Louis Andriessen, Terry Riley, and has conducted world premieres by Kate Whitley, Dani Howard, Matt Rogers, and Emma-Ruth Richards. Chris has also recorded for NMC and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

(Photo Courtesy of Lidia Crisafulli)

David Juritz, Leader

David was born in Cape Town and began playing the violin at the age of five, studying with Noel Travers at the South African College of Music. He was awarded an Associated Board Scholarship to the Royal College of Music where he studied with Jaroslav Vanecek and Hugh Bean winning the RCM’s top award, the Tagore Gold Medal.

On leaving the RCM, he joined English Chamber Orchestra before being appointed leader of the London Mozart Players, a position he held until 2010. He made many appearances as soloist and director with the LMP, including his debut at the 2006 BBC Promenade Concerts. He has appeared as soloist and/or director with many orchestras including the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and English Chamber Orchestra who invited him to direct their debut in the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg in 2019.

His 2017 recording of piano trios by Hans Gal and Dmitri Shostakovich with the Briggs Trio received glowing reviews on both sides of the Atlantic while his many other recordings include Vivaldi Four Seasons, hailed by critics as one of the finest interpretations of that much-recorded work, and Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo. His transcription of Bach’s Goldberg Variations for violin, guitar and cello has been streamed over four million times since its release in April 2021. His latest recording, Dancing with Piazzolla, released in 2024 with the London Tango Quintet, was selected as a BBC Radio 3 Album of the Week.

David formed the London Tango Quintet in 2007 with the renowned guitarist, Craig Ogden, and accordion virtuoso, Miloš Milivojević. He performed the iconic tango for Rose and Giovanni on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and in 2024 he directed a programme of his own tango arrangements for strings with the contemporary music group, the Curve Ensemble.

During a five-month sabbatical in 2007, David busked around the world. On the 60,000 mile journey through 50 cities in 24 countries on six continents, he paid for the entire journey with his busking earnings by playing Bach on the streets and raised funds for music education projects for disadvantaged children in developing countries.

He is Artistic Director of the Burton Bradstock Festival in Dorset, where he presents unique programmes to capacity audiences.  David plays on a violin made by J.B. Guadagnini in Piacenza in 1748.

Maxim Calver, Soloist for the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto and Bruch Adagio on Celtic Melodies

Praised for the “elegance of his technique, overall sound and natural poeticism” (Charlotte Gardner, Strad Magazine), British cellist Maxim Calver first gained public recognition as a BBC Young Musician 2018 Grand Finalist and Strings Category winner where he made his concerto debut with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Since the competition, he has been in high demand across the UK and Europe and has recently appeared as a soloist in leading venues including Tonhalle Zurich, Cadogan Hall, Kulturcasino Bern and the Grosse Saal of the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, where he made his European Concerto debut in 2021. Throughout the 24/25 season, he gave recital performances alongside pianists Kumi Matsuo, Jams Coleman and Gorda Plada Giron with venues including Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, the Oranjewoud Festival, Hay Festival, Cambridge Summer Music Festival and St. George’s Bristol amongst others. Maxim was also awarded the inaugural ‘Goldman Sachs Gives Award’ at the 2025 Verbier Festival Academy, the ‘Oranjewoud Award’ at the 2024 Schiermonnikoog Festival and a Hattori Foundation Senior Award in both 2025 and 2023.

This season, Maxim’s highlights include performances of Elgar’s Cello Concerto, recitals alongside regular duo partner Kumi Matsuo and a 14-concert UK Tour alongside acclaimed violinist Nicola Benedetti, guitarist Plinio Fernandes and accordionist Samuele Telari – with venues including Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Ulster Hall, Belfast and the Royal Albert Hall, London.

A passionate chamber musician, Maxim has participated in prestigious festivals across Europe, including the Verbier Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, IMS Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music and the International Pau Casals Chamber Music Festival. His

performances have also included appearances at venues including Wigmore Hall, Berlin Konzerthaus, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and the Chamber Music Connects the World Festival at the Kronberg Academy, where he performed alongside artists Lawrence Power, Gidon Kremer and Antje Weithaas. Maxim also regularly collaborates with the Choir of Royal Holloway, releasing an album of music by Matthew Coleridge entitled ‘Requiem’ in 2023 to critical acclaim. A further two albums featuring music by composers Matthew Coleridge and Nathan James Dearden are scheduled for release in 2026.

Originally from Gorleston-on-Sea in Norfolk, Maxim started the cello at the age of 4 with Maja Passchier before moving to the Yehudi Menuhin School to study with Thomas Carroll aged just 8 years old. He completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music with Professor Melissa Phelps and is currently an ‘Artist in Residence’ at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo, Belgium studying with Gary Hoffman and Jeroen Reuling. Maxim has also received guidance from many of the worlds leading musicians including Steven Isserlis, Gabor Takacs-Nagy, Frans Helmerson, Colin Carr, Ilya Gringolts, Steven Doane, Nicolas Alstaedt, Wolfgang Emmanuel Schmidt and the late Heinrich Schiff. Maxim has also participated in masterclasses at the Verbier Festival Academy, Kronberg Academy Cello Master-course and International-Musicians-Seminar at Prussia Cove amongst others.

Maxim is very grateful to have received support from the Amaryllis Fleming Foundation, Geoff and Val Richards, The Rev Robert Fleming Hannay Memorial Charity, Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Drake Calleja Trust. He is also grateful to the Young Classical Artists Trust for their generous support through their ‘UK Artists Directory’ scheme for young UK-based musicians.

Christopher Wyatt, Soloist for Khachaturian Flute Concerto

Chris began learning the flute at the age of 11 gaining Gold and Silver Awards from the Associated Board for Grades 6 and 8 respectively. He went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music with Richard Taylor, and took part in Master Classes with Geoffrey Gilbert, followed by a post-graduate year at the National Centre for Orchestral Studies (NCOS), studying with Peter Lloyd.

He has performed within the Halle Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet, New London Orchestra, Brighton Philharmonic and English Sinfonia.

Audiences will recognise Chris from his many years playing as part of the flute section in the Minehead Festival and his performance as soloist in 2004 as soloist in Chaminade’s Concertino under the baton of Richard Dickins.

He has appeared as soloist in Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto Nos 1, 4 and 5, Mozart’s Flute Concertos and the Flute and Harp Concerto, the Ibert Concerto and the Khachaturian Concerto. Chris also played Vivaldi’s Goldfinch Concerto, and Mozart G major Concerto recently, performing his own composed cadenzas. He is delighted to return to play the Khachaturian Concerto.

Betsy Chow, Cello & Voice

Betsy has just completed Year 13 at Sherborne Girls, where she was a Music and Academic Scholar, Prefect, Principal Cellist, and Head of Choir. She plays cello, piano, and sings. She achieved a High Distinction (48/50) in her ARSM Diploma (Cello), and has also completed her Classical Singing Diploma and Grade 7 Piano.

In March 2024, she made her concerto debut with Dorset Sinfonia, performing Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1, and has since performed as a soloist and recitalist locally. She is a member of the National Youth Inspire Orchestra and has received recognition in competitive performance, including recently winning the Trinity Laban String Competition and Sherborne Young Musician.

At school, Betsy is actively involved in ensemble music, performing regularly in orchestras, choir, and chamber groups, and helping to lead a youth outreach orchestra for local primary schools.

Alongside music, she plays badminton, speaks five languages, and hopes to study Law at Durham University.

Elliott Coles, Trumpet

Elliott is age 13 and goes to Kingsmead Community School, Wiveliscombe. He started playing the trumpet when he was 5 and recently passed his ATCL diploma.

He is a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and also plays with Taunton Concert band and Wiveliscombe town band.

Elliott is a youth member of the Royal British Legion and plays the last post at many of their events. As well as playing the trumpet he enjoys playing the drums, kick-boxing and makeup.