

About us
We are based in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire but we are more than happy to travel.
Ann Lovatt Violin
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Ann is a long standing member of the first violin section of the City of London Sinfonia (CLS). Her work has taken her to every corner of the globe performing with a wide array of ensembles including The Philharmonia, London Contemporary Dance Theatre, the National Theatre, Shobana Jayasingh Dance Company and as a ten year member of The Michael Nyman Band.
Session recording work has also made up a large part of her professional life working closely with the formidable arrangers Richard Niles and Simon Hale with highlights on tour with Skunk Anansie and Oasis.
Most importantly now her work focuses on the outreach and participation work which CLS is heavily involved with. CLS has a commitment to work in the community which is exceptional and unrivalled. Long term relationships with the hospital schools at St Thomas’s, University College Hospital, Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital School and with the elderly in Jewish Care provide rich opportunities for the most rewarding, inspiring and often profound music making.
Ann has developed a Music and Mindfulness Practise within CLS which has sprung from her therapeutic roots as a practising Classical Registered Homeopath since 2009. Her observations in clinical practise made her realise that many people, particularly young people, would draw great benefit from access to practical methods to combat stress and that this would ultimately improve their health. The success of this new approach which combines Mindfulness techniques with Meditative practice led by outstanding Music making has now led to further development and training of a core group of players within the orchestra who, like Ann, have experience of a professional therapeutic career alongside their music.
Ann is a founder member of the Wren String Quartet.

"A very big thank you to you and your colleagues for playing so beautifully for us at our Brooklands event last night. All of our guests enjoyed your music and you helped us to get the evening off to a great start – thank you so much.
Please would you thank the other players on our behalf. Together you made a wonderful sound."
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Mandy Britton Violin
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Mandy Britton studied violin at the Royal Academy of Music before joining the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and then the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. After two years Mandy moved to Manchester to join the orchestra for Phantom of the Opera.
During her time in Manchester she joined the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and freelanced with Manchester Camerata, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Halle, Opera North, Northern Ballet and Welsh National Opera.
Mandy now lives in Hertfordshire where she enjoys teaching and coaching and plays regularly with the City of London Sinfonia, Royal Ballet Sinfonia and is a member of the Laurel String Quartet.
Sheila Holdsworth Viola
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Sheila has been a freelance viola player since 1990 and has enjoyed a varied career playing for Covent Garden, BBC SO, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Welsh National Opera, RPO, West End shows and her favourite gig, the Bootleg Beatles amongst others. Sheila has always had fingers in other pies including running her own bra business called Know Knockers winning Take a Break’s competition Tycoon Idol in 2004. She is now also running a small felt making business called Felty Towers. Sheila has been a member of ESTA’s team since 2013


Rob Woollard Cello
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Rob Woollard started learning the cello at the age of 10. He went on to study at both the Royal College and Royal Academy of Music where his quartet won the Gerald Heller inter-college quartet prize. On leaving college in 1982 he immediately toured the world with the New Romantic band ABC and their hit single ‘Shoot that poison arrow’. Since then he has played cello with pop artists such as Sting, Blur, Jools Holland and his favourite Yousou N’Dour from Senegal. At the moment he can be regularly seen playing cello and fire-extinguisher with The Bootleg Beatles! Classically, he has performed regularly at London’s Covent Garden with The Royal Ballet. He also spends time teaching the cello in London.