Introducing the performers…

Savitri Grier – Violin

Born in 1992, Savitri Grier read Music at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating with First Class Honours, and went on to Guildhall School of Music & Drama to complete her Artist Diploma, studying with David Takeno. In 2015 she was selected for representation by Young Classical Artists Trust. Savitri later made her debut at Carnegie’s Weill Hall and appeared as soloist with the the Bournemouth Symphony, English Chamber, Welsh National Opera and Birmingham Sinfonia orchestras. In recent years, Savitri has given recitals and taken part in festivals and masterclasses across Europe, including IMS Prussia Cove, the East Neuk Festival Retreat, the Holland International Music Sessions, Musique à Marsac in France, the Sage Gateshead, Newbury Spring and Roman River Festivals. She also made her debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a series of performances of the Mendelssohn Concerto, gave a return performance at the Wigmore Hall and continues to give recitals throughout the UK.

Savitri’s highlights as a soloist have included performances of the Sibelius and Tchaikovsky Concertos with Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Mozart with the Barbican Young Orchestra and Mendelssohn with the English Festival Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. A committed chamber musician, she has collaborated with Susan Tomes, Christoph Richter, Steven Isserlis, Andrew Marriner and Alasdair Beatson, and regularly gives recitals with the Grier Trio (including her sister Indira and father Francis). In 2014 the Trio gave their first performance of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, and performed Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time with Andrew Marriner at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge.

Savitri is grateful for support from Help Musicians UK, the Philharmonia Orchestra/Martin Musical Scholarship Fund, Hattori Foundation and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. Her awards include First Prize at the Oxford Philomusica and Tunbridge Wells International competitions. In 2015 she was selected for the Philip & Dorothy Green Award for Young Concerts Artists. She has participated in masterclasses with Ferenc Rados, Johannes Goritski, Maxim Vengerov, András Keller, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Thomas Adès, among others.

“…the highlight of the evening: an account of Chausson’s Poème for violin and orchestra, in which Savitri Grier was the wonderfully assured and lyrically poised soloist.”

The Guardian

“When Savitri Grier performed the SIbelius Violin Concerto with the SInfonia of Birmingham under Michael Seal, it was her playing that took the spotlight – a deep, eloquent tone, making every line sing, and all delivered with remarkable poise and flair.”

Birmingham Post

Richard Uttley

Born in Bradford, Richard Uttley studied piano with Ian Buckle, followed by study at Clare College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Double First in 2008. He then went on to Guildhall School with Martin Roscoe. He was mentored by Rolf Hind through the RPS/YCAT Philip Langridge Mentoring Scheme.

Richard is noted for the integrity and breadth of his musicianship as soloist, chamber musician and recording artist. He has been recognised for his “musical intelligence and pristine facility” (International Record Review), and his “amazing decisiveness” and “tumultuous performance” (Ivan Hewett, The Daily Telegraph). Richard’s playing is regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and has featured on BBC Two, BBC Four and Sky Arts. He was selected for representation by Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) in 2011.

Career highlights in recent years include solo recitals in Bridgewater Hall, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and Cité des Arts, and concertos by Mozart, Brahms and Grieg. In collaboration with violinist Callum Smart, Richard released a CD of French music on Orchid Classics, La voix (selected as a Recommended Recording by The Strad magazine), and gave recitals in Wigmore Hall, Auditorium du Louvre and Konzerthaus Berlin. He has also undertaken a solo recital tour of China; paid return visits to HCMF and Saffron Hall (solo recitals); played Wigmore Hall with Savitri Grier; toured China and Colombia with Peter Moore; performed with Kate Whitley’s Multi-Story Orchestra; and given live radio broadcasts with Mark Simpson.

Richard recorded Ghosts & Mirrors for ARC in 2014, the first recording to be made at Milton Court Concert Hall. He spent a winter residency at the Banff Centre in Canada preparing the programme, and the disc was launched with live visuals in collaboration with artist Nat Urazmetova. A passionate advocate of new music, Richard won the British Contemporary Piano Competition in 2006 and has made several recordings for NMC.

Richard is a contributor to the Tido Music app, an innovative educational project with Edition Peters, filming performances and tutorials for their Piano Masterworks series. He also recorded for the CDs that accompany the ABRSM Piano Syllabuses 2015-16 and 2017-18. In 2014, Richard was invited to attend Open Chamber Music at IMS Prussia Cove. He is now on the teaching staff at Guildhall School and City University, and is a trustee of New Dots, a charity supporting emerging composers and performers.

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