Eleanor Wilkinson

She went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, with Yossi Zivoni, where she gained her graduate diploma and her professional performance diploma with distinction. Whilst in Manchester Eleanor took part in masterclasses with the LaSalle Quartet, Schmuel Ashkenasi, Silvia Rosenberg, Rodney Friend and Eli Goren. During this time Eleanor also gave solo and chamber music concerts one being a televised Bach double concerto with the late Ralph Holmes and the Ulster Orchestra under Bryden Thomson.

In 1984 she won the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians as well as the Shakespeare Prize, Hamburg. The latter of these was awarded by Sir Colin Davis with whom Eleanor traveled to Hamburg for the award ceremony. Thanks to backing from various scholarships Eleanor was able to continue her studies with Josef Suk and Franz Samohyl at the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Wien. Whilst in Vienna Eleanor led the Wiener Kammeroper Orchestra, was a member of Ensemble des 20 Jahrhundert, Wien as well as freelancing with other groups in particular the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

Eleanor returned to Britain in 1988 and as well as playing in the First Violin section, she continues to perform solo and chamber music concerts, as well as pursuing her other interests which include expressionist art and the study of birdsong.

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