Performance

Scroll down to view examples of repertoire performed on the violin or viola, in addition to a vast array of symphonic and choral works - too many to mention!:

 

solo works

chamber music

operas

musicals

other productions

Solo and Chamber Music

 

As well as teaching and freelancing as an orchestral player, Pauline Starkey offers solo and ensemble work as both a violinist and violist. This includes playing for all sorts of occasions and celebrations, either unaccompanied or as part of a duo, trio, quartet or quintet. Pauline is a very experienced and versatile musician based in Gloucestershire, who continues to be available for concerts and events in London and nationwide. Past chamber music venues include performances at the Purcell Room, Hearn Recital Room and the Wigmore Hall.

 

 

Regularly delighting audiences with her solo performances, people are often heard saying they 'could listen to Pauline play all day!'. It's peoples' enjoyment of her music which makes Pauline do what she does, wanting to share more and more through her playing, teaching, and promoting the violin and viola in particular through her very own compositions. She offers solo repertoire in all genres of classical music and gives recitals and church performances locally in Gloucestershire.

 

Her all time favourite solo works performed are:

 

  • Saint-Saens Danse Macabre for Violin and Piano
  • Bach Double Violin Concerto
  • Shostakovich Sonata for Viola and Piano
  • Britten Lachrymae for Viola and Piano
  • Telemann Fantasias for unaccompanied Viola

 

Pauline has experience of taking part in chamber music masterclasses and competitions, not only in her youth but at a postgraduate level - having had thorough training in chamber music on both instruments from a young age, with a host of specialist music establishments, under the tutelage of numerous top professors in their field and renowned chamber players. Pauline received quartet coaching from members of two British treasures -the Gabrieli Quartet and Lindsay String Quartet- and more from abroad. This, along with her own years of practical experience -including performances at the Purcell Room, Hearn Recital Room and the Wigmore Hall to name a few- is why Pauline is the perfect candidate for any chamber music concert or event and to give chamber music coaching herself. Having previously been a string coach at Borough Saturday Music School and for The Marryat Players, Wimbledon, she continues to engage more and more in ensemble coaching with students of all ages and has been playing duets on a regular basis with local amateur and retired professional musicians who lack a group of their own. Over recent years, Pauline has been drafted in to perform and record string quartets for a number of contemporary composer colleagues.

 

Her all time favourite chamber works performed are:

 

  • Dvorak String Quartet in F major no.12, op.96 'American'
  • Schubert String Quintet in C major, Op. 163
  • Franck Piano Quintet in F minor
  • Shostakovich Chamber Symphony in C minor, Op. 110, transcribed by Rudolf Barshai (based on Shostakovich String Quartet no.8)

 

Orchestral, Choral and Operatic works and other musical productions

 

For many years and currently, Pauline Starkey is on the regular orchestral member lists for each of the following - as both professional violinist and professional violist:

 

  • St Endellion Summer Music (opera) Festival, Cornwall
  • Dartington International Music Festival, Devon
  • British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, nationwide
  • International Film Orchestra
  • Mozart Symphony Orchestra, London
  • Amici Chamber Choir, Somerset
  • Axminster Choral Society, Devon

 

Highly trained and experienced in an array of music and having performed pretty much all of the greatest orchestral and choral works classical music has to offer, Pauline Starkey is available to play for any professional orchestra or ensemble, nationwide and internationally. She has toured 11 countries, recorded with The Polish Radio and Television Orchestra, Warsaw, and performed under the baton of Simon Rattle, Roger Norrington, Richard Hickox, and Martyn Brabbins to name a few. Pauline has also had the pleasure of rehearsing with and performing for composers such as Michael Tippet, Antony Payne, George Nicholson, and Ryan Wigglesworth.

 

In the UK, Pauline readily performs all sorts of orchestral works in the classical repertoire, covering all genres: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century, Contemporary. She is passionate in equal measure about playing symphonies, choral works, operas, and film music - just as she is, whether playing the violin or viola. Fixers often say how wonderful it is that Pauline is 'such a versatile musician', able to offer either instrument (and at times at short notice), depending on what is required for any given concert or ensemble. She is also involved in recordings for classical composer colleagues and bands of different styles - including folk, rock and pop.

 

Striving to keep music live and available to wider audiences, Pauline finds time to support local choral societies, universities, schools, churches and community projects. Productions range from oratorio concerts to shows, as well as solo performances on either instrument.

 

Click Contact to book Pauline to play for your next concert, recording or event.

 

 

 

 

Pauline's orchestral bookings include:

 

  • Classic FM Masterclass
  • The Polish Radio and Television Orchestra
  • British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra
  • Mozart Symphony Orchestra
  • International Film Orchestra
  • St Endellion Summer Festival
  • Dartington International Festival
  • Amici Chamber Choir
  • Canterbury Choral Society
  • Axminster Choral Society
  • Sacred Heart Wimbledon Chorus Orchestra
  • South Wessex Organ Society
  • The University of Essex
  • Much Loved Productions
  • Jenmat Productions

 

 

 

 

Examples of operas performed (and the parts Pauline played), alongside soloists such as bass Sir John Tomlinson CBE, tenor Mark Padmore CBE, baritone Roderick Williams OBE, mezzo soprano Dame Sarah Connolly and soprano Sophie Bevan MBE:

 

  • Bizet Carmen - violin I
  • Britten Billy Budd - violin I
  • Britten Glorianna - violin I
  • Britten Peter Grimes - violin I
  • Mozart The Marriage of Figaro - viola
  • Mussorgsky Boris Godunov - violin I
  • Puccini La Boheme - viola
  • Puccini Tosca - viola
  • Purcell Dido and Aeneas - viola
  • Verdi La Traviata - violin II

 

Examples of musicals performed include:

 

  • Phantom of the Opera - principal viola
  • Oklahoma - on violin
  • Pirates of Penzance - on viola
  • Into the Woods - on violin

 

 

Examples of other concert programmes and shows include:

 

  • Last Night of the Proms events
  • Viennese Strauss Christmas Galas
  • A tribute to the music of John Williams
  • Harry Potter Concert Suites - featuring music from all 8 films
  • TV and Film music compilations
  • Musicals compilations
  • ABBA Revival