SWAN ENSEMBLE
Biographies
Cristina started to play the violin at the age of 6 in Conservatori de Música de Vila-seca (Spain). During this period she received violin lessons from Rafael Fabregat, Albert Rodriguez and Josep Maria Ferrando as well as masterclasses by Evelio Tieles and Manel Porta. Cristina graduated with top honors in violin, including chamber and orchestra, winning the soloist and orchestra competition and receiving the extraordinary chamber music award with Trio Tenuto.
​
In 2015, Cristina moved to London to pursue her musical dreams. She achieved the Undergraduate Degree in Music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Professor Krszysztof Smietana. After completing her degree, she pursued two master's degrees at Trinity Laban Music and Dance under the guidance of Rivka Golani where Cristina was awarded scholarships. Cristina's training has been extensive; in chamber music, she received masterclasses from professors Levon Chilingirian, Simon Rowland-Jones, Caroline Palmer, Carole Presland, Matthew Jones, and Krysia Osostowicz, as well as from the Endellion Quartet and the Carducci Quartet.
Cristina performs concerts with orchestras in England and has performed with the JONC, OAJC, OCTO, UNESCO, etc. in Spain. She has also performed with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and has played in venues such as Wigmore Hall, St. Johns, St. Martin in the Fields, Barbican Center, Southbank, among others. She is also a member of the Vilart Ensemble, which regularly performs throughout Europe, and the Swan Ensemble based in London.
Throughout and alongside her studies and performing career, Cristina has been enthusiastically teaching violin to a wide variety of students from different ages and backgrounds. She is looking forward to sharing her musical experience, knowledge and passion with her students.
Born and raised in Canada, Colli started learning violin and piano at the age of three. Colli joined her first youth orchestra when she was eight years old and she had the privilege to travel internationally to places like China, Italy, and Austria. In 2017 and 2018, she was selected to be a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in their Germany and Scotland tour.
In 2016, she got accepted to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for Bachelors of Music . She majored in violin performance and took second study in piano. She was part of a piano trio and has won multiple awards.
​
In 2019, Colli was invited to be part of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland orchestra to perform at the Buckingham Palace for the Prince's Foundation, where she got to play for his Majesty King Charles III.
Colli recently finished her Master’s of Music Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance under the tutelage of Rivka Golani. During her time at Trinity, she was the recipient of the Ivor Simmonds Scholarship, Bibby Award, and the Trinity College London Scholarship.
Colli has performed internationally in prestigious venues such as the Glenn Gould Studio, Konzerthaus, and the Southbank Centre. As a chamber musician, she is part of a piano trio and a string quintet. She has performed all around London in major venues including Wigmore Hall and St James Piccadilly Church. In the summer of 2021, her piano trio was invited to perform at Proto Fest in Tortosa, Spain.
Jordi Morell's journey in music began under the tutelage of Prof. Rivka Golani at the prestigious Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where he achieved both his degree and master's. Throughout his studies, Jordi's exceptional talent was recognised and supported by various scholarships, Peter Fuller Holden Scholarship for Viola, TLScholar (2012), Band/Kurtz Prize for Viola (2013), the John Thompson String Quartet Prize. His outstanding achievements culminated in his selection for the coveted Gold Medal Competition in 2018.
From Vilaseca, Spain, Jordi's love for the viola blossomed at the Conservatori de Música de Vila-seca with Quim Miracle. He showcased his solo skills with performances of Hindemith's Trauermusik and Telemann's Viola Concerto, also joining JONC, collaborating with renowned conductors such as Josep Pons, Karl Anton Rickenbacher, Antoni Ros Marbà, and Manel Valdivieso.
Jordi has performed across Europe, enchanting audiences in England, Spain, Hungary, Italy, and France and also in renowned venues such as King's Place, Royal Opera House, Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Palau de la Música, Auditorio Nacional and l’Auditori. Beyond solo work, Jordi excels in chamber music, collaborating with Rivka Golani, Mayumi Fujikawa, and Richard Markson, premiering compositions by David Jaeger, Benjamin Ellin, Ken Paige, and Quim Miracle. In addition, Jordi is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience through teaching and mentoring, inspiring aspiring musicians to pursue their dreams with dedication and perseverance.
Currently, one of Jordi's notable projects is the formation of the Swan Ensemble, a dynamic chamber music group dedicated to exploring diverse musical repertoire and fostering creative collaborations.
Helena's musical journey began at 5, playing the piano and delving into the viola at Tarragona Conservatoire by age 8. At 18, she graduated from Badalona Conservatoire in Barcelona, earning a scholarship for a BMus (Hons) at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London.
A fully-funded scholarship for the "Advanced Postgraduate Diploma" at Trinity Laban in 2018 followed, where she graduated with distinction. Supported by the Margaret Helen Harris Prize, Stanley Picker Trust, and Leverhulme Arts Fellow. Under the "Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Scheme," Helena participated in orchestral concerts and chamber music with the BSO. Notably, she performed Debussy's trio at Lighthouse, Poole, part of BSO's "Meet the Music," broadcast on Classic FM.
In 2022, Helena graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with her Orchestra Artistry master's, affiliated with the London Symphony Orchestra. During her studies, she played side-by-side with the London Symphony Orchestra under Simon Rattle, Antonio Pappano, and François-Xavier Roth. She played in the annual classic BMW concert in Trafalgar Square, broadcast by the BBC. Subsequently, she was granted a scholarship and appointed as a Junior Viola Fellowship at the Guildhall School.
Helena has performed in renowned venues, including Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Royal Festival Hall-Purcell Room, Kings Place, Barbican and more. An active chamber music enthusiast, she is a member of the Vilart Ensemble. Helena shares her dedication in music education by teaching at Blackheath Conservatoire and Lewisham Music Services. She co-founded Igni Sound, exploring different ways to perceive music and fostering a diverse musical community.
Natalie Hancock started her musical journey taking up the cello through Bexley Music at school. Natalie went on to study for a bachelors performance degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She then completed a Master’s at the Royal Academy of music, graduating with distinction. Throughout her studies Natalie won a number of scholarships and awards, most notably the EMI music sound foundation prize.
Natalie now enjoys a busy freelance career, which has taken her around the globe. Theatre productions include the West End’s Lion King, The Sound of Music, Ghost the Musical, Little Miss Sunshine and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Unmasked. Since starting a family Natalie is now mostly based mostly in London. She has been awarded a number of residencies, as both soloist and chamber musician, including Michelin starred restaurant Sketch and the St Pancras Renaissance hotel.
Occasional trips to the seaside are a must and Natalie regularly appears with Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra, both as leader and tutti member of the cello section.
As a classical musician Natalie is passionate about bringing high quality performance to the community and sharing her love of music with others. The Swan Ensemble is her latest chamber music project, which aims to to just that! As a founder member Natalie has been a key part of every project and is so proud and excited to be involved.
Boyan Ivanov is a versatile and virtuosic Bulgarian-British clarinettist, who has enjoyed great success as a solo, chamber and orchestral musician, performing at some of the world’s most prestigious venues including the Barbican Centre, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Cadogan Hall, Kings Place, and St John’s Smith Square, among many others.
Graduating from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2010, Ivanov has since gone onto a vibrant freelance career, playing regularly with a variety of orchestras including the Hastings Philharmonic, Ensemble OrQuesta, Vox Vanguard, London Arts Orchestra, Orion, Firebird, Orpheus Sinfonia among others. Recent engagements include successful tours to China with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra (Bulgaria) in which he performed Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A major (December 2018) and L. Bassi’s “Rigoletto” Concerto-Fantasy (December 2019) as a soloist. In 2020 Boyan Ivanov was invited as a jury member in the VIII International Competition for Young Musicians “Ohrid I love you”, Ohrid, North Macedonia. Boyan made his Brazil debut in October 2022, performing Weber’s Clarinet Concerto no.2 as a soloist of the of OSRN - Orquestra Sinfônica do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil. In April 2023, Boyan Ivanov was honoured to be an assistant of the legendary British clarinettist Andrew Marriner, in his Masterclass held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Boyan and Andrew performed together as soloists of the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra, in the Closing Concert of the course. The Ivanov & Chen Duo will release their debut album, “Euphony”, in 2024 featuring classic works and unique popular arrangements for clarinet and piano including music by Brahms, Elgar, Sarasate, Piazzolla, and Gershwin.
London based pianist Neus Peris is emerging as an exciting artist to see thanks to her sensitivity and expression in performance. Taking interest in a wide range of composers, her versatile repertoire include works by Bach, Brahms, Mompou, Messiaen and Mussorgsky among others, as well as contemporary music.
Having also developed a solid reputation as a collaborative pianist, Neus has performed both solo and chamber music in venues and festivals in the UK, Denmark, Norway, Spain, France, Portugal and the US.
Past engagements include a solo recital for Borough New Music – presenting music by Green, Wilson and Finch along with giving a world premier of a commissioned work by KC Cheng-, a collaboration with EOS ensemble, with music by Arutunian and Ustvolskaya, and a tour with mezzo-soprano Anna Prowse commemorating the Armistice Day, performing music by English composers related to WW1.
​
Originally from Barcelona, Neus has been living in London since 2015, where she completed a Masters Degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She has had the privilege of receiving advice from many inspiring musicians such as Douglas Finch, Eileen and Derek Aviss, Philip Fowke, Eugene Asti, Malcolm Martineau and Pascal Rogé, to name just a few.