Strings Attached

Strings Attached is a vibrant all-female string quartet based in London that combines youthful flair with enthusiasm and professionalism. Adaptable and reliable, Strings Attached will provide a friendly and efficient service for you both prior to, and on the day of your function.

As individuals, Strings Attached have worked extensively both at home and abroad with a number of orchestras including the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Youth Orchestra, British Youth Opera, Amadeus Chorus and Orchestra (with Steven Isserlis), Britten Pears Orchestra and National Musicians Symphony Orchestra. Other work includes numerous theatre productions, private functions such as weddings, and freelance orchestral concerts. All the Quartet members regularly teach either privately or in schools.

Members of Strings Attached have undertaken a number of television appearances including The Big Breakfast, Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush, Top of the Pops and TFI Friday. Quartet members do regular session work, and have played with top 40 bands such as Ace of Base and Rest Assured, with live performances for HotHouse Flowers.

Because there is great demand for them individually, Strings Attached will from time to time maintain availability by using using personnel who do not appear on the website.

Eleanor Percy
First Violinist Eleanor Percy graduated with a first class honours degree from Trinity College of Music, London where she studied as a violin scholar with Nona Liddell MBE. Previously she studied with Angela Richey and Roger Coull.
Eleanor has won many awards including the English Speaking Union's Pushman Award & Trinity College of Music’s Langdon Prize for Classical Concerto, the John Barbirolli Prize for Piano Trio, the Mehroo and Jeejeebhoy Prize for Violin and the John Barbirolli Prize for String Quartet. In 2000, Eleanor won 1st Prize & the Audience Prize at the Zumaia International Festival of Music in Spain with Trio Delora.
Eleanor is best known for her work in Duo which she formed in 2000 with pianist Irina Lyakhovskaya. Duo have been highly acclaimed for their concert performances throughout the UK and Europe. They gave their Wigmore Hall debut in March 2005 & have also performed the complete Beethoven sonatas and appeared at the Logomusica Festival at the Coliseum in Porto (Portugal).
Outside her work in Duo, Eleanor is in demand as a soloist and has performed concertos by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Bruch, Brahms, Chausson and Saint-Saens with orchestras in and around London. As an orchestral player, she has worked with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, London Camerata and is the leader of the Edgware Orchestra.

Sharon Forbes BMus(Hons)
Violinist Sharon Forbes received the Edgar Comley medal and the Grace Wylie Prize for String Players when she graduated with honours from Trinity College of Music, having studied with Oliver Butterworth. Sharon subsequently spent a postgraduate year at Baku Music Academy, Azerbaijan under Professor Bayandur Mehtiev. In recent years Sharon has been a member of a number of string quartets including Strings Attached and the Aristos Quartet as well as the Forbes Duo, and a number of other Ceilidh bands. She has also appeared on Top of the Pops and TFI Friday as well as having made a number of session recordings.

Lucy Bannister
Violist Lucy Bannister graduated from Trinity College of Music at which she received lessons from Peter Lewis and Rusen Gunes. Lucy took part in a 'Shostakovich Cycle' and consequently performed Shostakovich String Quartet no. 1 in St James' Piccadilly along with the Brodsky String Quartet. Lucy was also awarded a scholarship to Dartington School of Music. Here, she received master classes and collaborated with the Bridge Quartet to play Mendelssohn's Octet. Lucy has been employed professionally in London for many years. Freelance work has included television appearances on programmes such as Top of the Pops, session work, corporate events parties for companies such as P&O and Aspreys, film premier parties, and weddings.

Samantha Rowe
'Cellist Samantha Rowe studied with Derek Aviss (Vice-Principal) at Trinity College of Music, London. She won a scholarship for further studies with Mdme Tortelier in Brazil. Samantha has performed and recorded with Morcheeba, Roots Manuva, Jon Lord (Deep Purple), New Model Army, Linda Ronstadt and Emmy-Lou Harris.She also performed the World Premiere of 'Quartrait' written by Jon Lord. She has recorded solo cello for Channel 4 and BBC1 documentaries and appeared on MTV with Sam Brown. Other performances include Reading and Leeds music Festival and tours include UK, France and Switzerland.