Naomi Atherton
From Bradford, Naomi studied at the Royal Northern College of Music with Michael Purton and Derek Taylor. Whilst in her first year of studies she won the brass final of BBC Young Musician of the Year.
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As a soloist Naomi has performed with the BBC Philharmonic and the Ulster Orchestras and collaborated with Robert Tear, Neil Mackie and most recently James Gildchrist.
Naomi specializes in chamber music and is a member of the Sheffield based group Ensemble 360, appearing regularly on BBC Radio 3 and at some of the largest festivals and venues in England, including Wigmore Hall, the National Centre for Early Music, Bath International Festival, Buxton Festival, Leamington Music Festival and Manchester Chamber Concert Series.
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Naomi has been principal horn of Manchester Camerata and Northern Chamber Orchestra for many years and has also appeared as guest principal with many British orchestras.
Sue Baxendale
After studying English and Music at University of Birmingham followed by a postgraduate year at the RNCM, Sue freelanced in Manchester before taking the position as Section Principal Horn at Scottish Opera in 1996.
Alongside her opera commitments, she works throughout the UK as guest principal with ensembles including the BBCSSO and BBC Philharmonic, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, RSNO, Opera North, Scottish Ensemble and Manchester Camerata.
She is a founder member of the Antonine Trio, with baritone Steven Faughey and pianist Derek Clark.
A varied portfolio musician, Sue also produces community projects and operas for Music Co-OPERAtive Scotland, including an acclaimed premiere and live CD of Erik Chisholm’s opera Simoon, a live-edited animated production of Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale, interactive children’s operas, and community songwriting projects.
She is currently the project manager and producer for the Lammermuir Festival (Community Opera), producing Britten’s Noye’s Fludde in 2016 and a new commission in 2018 by Matthew Rooke (An Cadal Trom), both conducted by Sian Edwards.
Sue is the horn tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Junior Conservatoire), North East of Scotland Music School and at the Music School of Douglas Academy in Glasgow. Many of her students are now professional horn players. Sue also tutors Kodaly musicianship for the East Dunbartonshire Children’s and Youth Choirs.
Sue lives in Milton of Campsie, Glasgow with her husband and two children, two cats, a flock of hens and an extremely overgrown garden!
Chris Beagles
Enjoying a versatile and varied career, Chris is currently the Principal Horn of the UK and International tour of Les Misérables. He has worked throughout the musical spectrum, with appearances on both the Wigmore Hall stage and on the X Factor.
Chamber music is a passion of his and features heavily in his musical life as a member of the Atéa Quintet, who are the Associate Ensemble in Residence at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he is a Visiting Tutor in Chamber Music.
Orchestrally, he has performed with major orchestras such as the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony and BBC Concert and chamber orchestras such as Aurora, Orchestra of the Swan, Manchester Camerata and the Irish Chamber Orchestra. New music is also a passion and has led to appearances with the London Sinfonietta and BCMG.
In the solo sphere he has performed concerti by Strauss, Mozart and solo parts in works by Britten and Bach. He has been recorded for TV and commercial work for Sky and McDonald's amongst many others.