Vanessa Russell : July 2018 - present

Vanessa Russell studied violin and viola at the Royal College of Music with Maureen Smith and Ivo van der Werff and prior to that studied in Sussex with Andrew Sherwood.

Vanessa has worked with orchestras including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Brandenburg Sinfonia, Guildford and Brighton Philharmonic Orchestras, and the London Concert Orchestra, performing at venues including the Royal Albert Hall at the Proms, Symphony Hall Birmingham, the Barbican, NEC Birmingham, Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Opera House among others. She has performed with such artists as Hayley Westenra, John Tomlinson and Alfie Boe and has also played for the launch of the cruise ship MS Queen Elizabeth.

Vanessa is a regular violin and violist with the Akina String Quartet with whom she has performed for the Royal family, at the Henley Regatta and even for A list celebrities. She also performs regularly with the Barber String Quartet who is a recommended supplier at Wotton House Hotel in Surrey but performs throughout Surrey, Kent, London and occasionally Sussex. Previously she was violist for the Rabinof Quartet and played at venues including the House of Lords, City Hall, the Royal Opera House and Kensington Palace and the RAC Club London for Princess Michael of Kent.

Vanessa also works as a peripatetic violin and viola teacher in Hampshire and Berkshire and her pupils range from complete beginners to Diploma standard.