The
Talland
Quartet

Dylan Edge

First Violin

Dylan completed his undergraduate studies achieving a First Class Honours degree at the RNCM under the tutelage of Catherine Yates. He has since started his postgraduate degree with Cecily Ward. Dylan regularly freelances with the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras and has been on tour with the Manchester Camerata. He has recently completed a successful trial at the Hallé and is now a member of the first violins.

Whilst studying his undergraduate, Dylan won the RNCM's Norman George Violin Scholarship. Dylan plays on an 1816 Gagliano Violin generously loaned to him by the RNCM.

Photo: Abishek Pichumani

Orla McGarrity

Second Violin

Orla McGarrity is an Irish violinist based in Manchester where she recently graduated from the RNCM with a First-Class Honours Degree, studying with James Clark. She is currently pursuing a Masters under the tutelage of Cecily Ward and Pavel Fisher, also at the RNCM. Orla is passionate about organising and curating chamber music events, and having worked as a member of the RNCM Programming Team for a year she is now looking forward to using her experience to establish a brand new chamber festival in her home town of Newcastle, County Down.

Orla has represented The Benedetti Foundation as a Lead Ambassador and also enjoys working as an ad hoc chamber music coach at RNCM’s Junior Department. She plays on a 1595 Antonio and Heironymous Amati violin generously loaned to her by the RNCM and is grateful to be supported by Help Musicians and The Lord and Lady Lurgan Trust.

Photo: Ravi Nathwani

Ben Norris

Viola

From the town of Barnstaple, Ben Norris is the Junior Fellow in Viola at the Royal Northern College of Music where he studies with Vicci Wardman. He previously studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with Alex Thorndike, where he won multiple prizes for solo and chamber playing.

Alongside his studies, Ben regularly freelances with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and is a core member of Sinfonia Cymru. He is also currently on the BBC Philharmonic professional experience scheme this year. Ben plays a 1788 viola by Benjamin Banks and is grateful to Benslow Music, the ABRSM and the Stephen Bell Trust for supporting his ongoing studies.

Nathan Jackson-Turner

Cello

Nathan is currently studying for a masters in cello performance with Nicholas Trygstad at the RNCM where he graduated from with a First-Class Honours degree. He completed the BBC Philharmonic Professional Experience Scheme in 2023 and has since gained a place on the Hallé's String Leadership Scheme, which will enable him to work in a professional capacity within the orchestra from September 2023. With a keen interest in chamber music, Nathan has been fortunate to perform Svendssen string octet alongside the Elias quartet during his studies.

Nathan is also a keen performer of baroque music, which he enjoys studying with Jonathan Manson and Roger Hamilton on a period instrument. He currently plays a Robin Aitchson Cello generously loaned to him by the RNCM.