Alistair MacKenzie (organ/piano)  hails from the Wirral and was born in 1960; his first appointment was that of organist and choirmaster of a local church at the age of 14. He is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music where he studied organ, piano, harpsichord and choral conducting and has studied with Dr. Francis Jackson OBE and Dame Gilliam Weir for whom he has also performed in master classes. His post-graduate study was at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music where he was awarded a major scholarship in organ studies and became Sub-Organist at Glasgow Cathedral.

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Alistair has performed in many cathedrals, churches and concert halls throughout Great Britain, directed courses for the Royal School of Church Music, adjudicated for and performed in local and national music festivals and conducted choirs in Austria, the Czech Republic, France and Germany. His recordings and broadcasts include those for the BBC, national and local radio and television.

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Following a lengthy career in education at independent schools across the UK, along with a busy schedule as conductor, organist and pianist, he is Organist at St. Annes Parish Church, teaches music at Heyhouses C of E School, and is Musical Director of The Lidun Singers and Chorale Amici.

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Elizabeth Cooper (violin) studied the violin with Colin Sewer (Darlington string Quartet) at Exeter University and afterwards with Leonard Hirsch (Hirsch Quartet) at the RCM in London.

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She taught for the Lancashire Music Service for many years and also at Queen Mary and King Edward Schools (now AKS)

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In past years she led the Fylde Sinfonia, but mostly prefers chamber music. She has enjoyed joining the Pennine Trio as an extra violin or viola in recent years.

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Victoria Little (mezzo-soprano) is originally from Blackburn, Lancashire and studied music at Sheffield University. She was the mezzo-soprano soloist for the Sheffield Cathedral Chamber Choir, where her several oratorio and cantata performances included a performance of Mozart’s Requiem under the direction of Sir David Wilcocks. More recently, Victoria has studied with Robert Alderson (RNCM). Stage performances have included Jenny in Kurt Weill’s ‘The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny’, Donna Elvira in Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’ and Olga in Tchaikovsky’s ‘Eugene Onegin’.

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Vicky has featured as a mezzo soprano soloist with several regional choral groups, including Wigan Choral Society, Standish Chorale, Manchester Bach Choir, Brixi Singers and St Helens Choral Society. Victoria qualified as a teacher of music in 2001 and has held a range of teaching posts in Arts College High Schools and in September 2014 began a new part time post at Penwortham Girls High School in Preston. Victoria’s musical roots lie in brass playing, and prior to having children, she was involved in performing with local brass bands in concerts and contests, frequently featuring as both a brass and vocal soloist.

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Vicky now lives in Wigan and when she is not teaching or singing she spends her time bringing up her two young children and two springer spaniels!

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Robert Buller (cello) studied at the Royal Northern College of Music with Emma Ferrand prior to becoming a freelance IT consultant. He plays for many local orchestras and choral societies in Lancashire, North Yorkshire and Greater Manchester (as principal cello for the Promenade Concert Orchestra, Settle Orchestral Society as well as principal double bass for the Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra).  

 

Robert regularly performs as a soloist and chamber musician with various ensembles, including the Pennine Piano Trio, the Cezanne Ensemble (string quartet/trio) and the Eberle String Trio. Outside the classical sphere, Robert has played double bass with the Three Musikateers (gypsy jazz/bluegrass), FUGA Argentinian tango quartet) and recorded/performed with several singer song writers and folk/indy inspired bands with occasional chart success.