WACIDOM

Saturday 30^th May 2026 – 1:45pm to 2:30pm

Voluta String Quartet

Kaylee Ramella & Emily Ampt – Violin, Mari-Carmen Morris – Viola, Ruaraidh Williams – Cello

Programme

Antonín Dvořák String Quartet No. 13 in G major, Op. 106
i Allegro moderato
ii Adagio ma non troppo
iii Molto vivace – Un poco piu mosso
iv Finale. Andante sostenuto – Allegro con fuoco

Biography

The award-winning Voluta Quartet is a vibrant, multi-cultural, Manchester-based string ensemble who met as graduates at the Royal Northern College of Music in early 2025.

As recent appointees of the RNCM Quartet Studio 2026-27 and winners of both the RNCM Hirsch Prize (2025) and Weil Prize (2026), the group works closely with local composers and engages with contemporary works as well as core classical repertoire such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Ravel. The quartet also collaborates across expanded ensembles, most recently performing Samuel Coleridge Taylor’s Clarinet Quintet for RNCM’s ‘Spotlight’ series.

The Voluta Quartet is enjoying a rigorous concert season in 2026, presenting lunchtime recitals around Manchester and beyond, a RNCM Spotlight concert, recording for Royal Northern Records, and performances for Streetwise Opera and Manchester’s progressive metal group, The Silver Chamber.

The group is coached by accomplished chamber musicians such as Donald Grant (Elias Quartet), Petr Prause (formerly Talich Quartet), Pavel Fischer (formerly Škampa Quartet), and Jennifer Langridge (RNCM Head of Strings Chamber Music, formerly Victoria String Quartet). They have also received mentoring from ARC Ensemble and NOVO Quartet.

Our next concert, which is the last of the summer series, is on Saturday 6^th June and features Lawrence Hughes, Cello and Thomas Henderson – Piano.

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Saturday 23rd May 2026 1:45pm – 2:30pm

Outstanding Young Pianists

Sophia Sutherley, Ling Zhu, Kairui Guo and Julie Zhang

Programme

Sophia Sutherley
Haydn Sonata in F major Hob.XVI:23 2nd Movement Adagio
Schubert Impromptu Op. 90, No.2, in E flat major
Chopin 3 Écossaises, Op. 72
Chopin Fantaisie-Impromptu in C# minor

Ling Zhu
Bach Prelude and Fugue No.9, Bk1, in E major, BWV854
Chopin Impromptu Op. 36, No.2, in F# major

Kairui Guo
Bach Prelude and Fugue No. 3, Bk1, C# Major BWV848
Mendelssohn Andante and Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14

Julie Zhang
Stravinsky Three movements from Petrushka
i. Danse Russe (Russian Dance)
ii Chez Pétrouchka (Petrushka’s Room)
iii La semaine grasse (The Shrovetide Fair)

Biographies

Sophia Sutherley is 12 years old and started playing the piano during Covid lockdown age 7. She is in her third year at Chetham’s School of Music and is a pupil of Mr. Simon Bottomley. Sophia is working towards her ATCL Diploma. Sophia was accepted to take on the organ as a second study and is taking her ABRSM Grade 4 in June. She continues to play the organ in her local church during formal services.

Ling Zhu is 12 years old and has been studying piano for 5 years. She is currently under the tutelage of Mr. Simon Bottomley, at Chetham’s School of Music. Ling has won prizes in a Scherzo Piano Competition and Music Festivals in Hastings and Hazel Grove.

Kairui Guo was born in China and moved to the UK in 2017. He began learning piano at six with his mother and joined Chetham’s in 2022. He studied with Mrs. Taylor for two years and now learns with Mr. Bottomley. At 17, he continues to grow as a pianist with focus and curiosity.

Julie Zhang was born in 2008 and started learning piano at the age of 5. At age 6, she achieved ABRSM Grade 5 with distinction. In 2016, she entered Chetham’s School of Music, studying piano under Mr. Simon Bottomley. In 2018, Julie achieved Distinction for the ATCL Diploma. Just one year later in 2019, she achieved a high distinction for the LTCL diploma, also the Second Prize in Category 2 for the EPTA International Piano Competition. And finally, she achieved the FTCL Diploma. Julie has also won many online competitions. Her repertoire stretches from Baroque to Modern music. Julie particularly enjoys the Romantic Period, especially the sheer beauty of Chopin. Julie also enjoys chamber music and piano concertos.

Next week’s concert – Voluta String Quartet

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We enjoyed the Outstanding Young Pianists – Sam Lord, Melody Zhao and Natalia Mei playing a superb selection of music to celebrate yet another milestone concert. At the end, Sam played ‘Happy Birthday’ and we learned that it was Melody’s 16th birthday today.

We also learned that Helen (who holds the donations basket after our concerts) has attended all 550 concerts.

Thank you to Alan (who takes photographs for us) for presenting us with this 3D printed embossed plaque.

Finally, thank you to the Committee who ensure that our concert programme is of a consistently high standard and that our audience receives a warm welcome to the concerts.

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WACIDOM is a voluntary run music society and charity that holds free lunchtime concerts on Saturday afternoons at Holy Trinity Church in Warrington Town Centre. All our concerts are funded by donations.

Our main aim is to offer opportunities to young student musicians, most often from the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham’s School of Music, but sometimes further afield. We also support musicians at the start of their careers as they build repertoire, confidence and platform skills.

In 2024 we celebrated our 500^th free concert which was played by Patron, Leon McCawley and Patron, Sir Stephen Hough kindly offered to play a December concert, to bring our celebratory year to a close.

Sir Stephen asked that donations were to go to WACIDOM to support our work with young and aspiring musicians. He was there once!

Our location link. Our next/current series programme information. Previous concerts link.

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After each concert the WACIDOM Facebook page is updated to reflect the concert in words and pictures.

The page can be accessed from:

Main Menu (above) – Links – WACIDOM Facebook and then click on the logo or blue text.

Click here for a shortcut to the link.

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We prepared this website in time for the start of our February 2024 concert series and hope that you are finding it useful. Explore the Main Menu bar at the top of this page to see what it offers. This Home Page has information about the next concert and any ‘latest news’.

To see our current programme either go to the Main Menu and select Concerts then Programme or click Current Programme. Clicking blue, underlined text will take you directly to that item without having to navigate the Main Menu.

You may find the ‘Links’ menu items useful, this will take you to other local music related sites.