Charles

Cardiff-born violist Charles began his musical training in Cardiff aged six, and studied viola and violin with Ted Wilson from the age of nine. While still at school, he won Best String Player, Concerto and Solo Bach Prizes at the South Glamorgan Festival of Young Musicians before commencing his professional training at the Royal College of Music in London, where he was a pupil of Simon Rowland-Jones and Jonathan Barritt. In 2019, he was awarded a postgraduate Scholarship to continue his training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he is now starting the second year of his Performance Master’s with Matthew Jones.
A featured soloist in the Young Artists Showcase, Saint David’s Hall in 2018, Charles’s recent solo recitals include at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Penarth Chamber Music Festival and Cardiff University Concert Hall. In November 2019, he was selected to take part in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Postgraduate String Showcase, and performed André Jolivet’s rarely heard Cinq églogues (1967) for solo viola. Further solo recitals in 2020 were cancelled due to the Coronavirus crisis, including his participation in the Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition 2020, now postponed to 2021. His solo repertoire includes major works by Bach, Schumann, Brahms, Bruch, Franck, Büsser, Shostakovich, Hindemith, Vaughan Williams and Jolivet, in addition to contemporary works by composers such as Philippe Hersant, John Hawkins, Anthony Payne and Toru Takemitsu. Charles has also performed in many public masterclasses including with Ofer Falk, Jennifer Stumm, Jerzy Kosmala, David Le Page, Peter Hanson, and Philip Heyman, as well as with the Sacconi and Harlem Quartets. He has also given a viola masterclass himself for the European String Teachers’ Association.
A keen chamber music player, Charles founded the Trio Silvanus, an ensemble for flute, viola and harp, which has given recitals in London and Cardiff, including at the Institut français du Royaume-Uni in Kensington and the Royal College of Music ‘Rush Hour’ and series and Chamber Music Week, in which their programmes featured works by Debussy, Jolivet, Matthias and Dubois. In 2018, Charles was awarded the Hugh Maguire Scholarship for the Xenia Chamber Music Course in Italy where he gave a number of chamber music recitals. He is also a founder member of the Barbican Piano Quartet which is coached by Simon Rowland-Jones and has performed at various venues in and around London. Additionally, Charles plays with a String Quartet which has performances scheduled for the 2020-21 season in London venues.
As an orchestral player, Charles was Principal Viola of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales for several years and has played in Co-Principal position in side-by-side projects with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In addition to playing with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, recent performances include with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Resonate Symphony

Availability: I am usually available most times, and can work around what is best for the student/parents. I am also very happy to teach at the students house.

Willing to travel: 8 miles

Experience: I have taught a mixed age group of students for a number of years. I teach from beginner to advanced levels. I focus on the ABRSM exam board, as this gives structure and offers exams and grades to work towards.
I am a member of the European String Teachers Association (ESTA) and have given a number of masterclasses, talks and performances for them.
I also regularly work with the National Children’s Orchestra as a social staff member and have given coaching on their Regional’s programme. I have also helped one of my previous students into the National Children’s Orchestra.