ABOUT

Soprano & Sopranino Saxophones; Piano & Electronics

A graduate of the Royal College of Music, Alistair Parnell has worked in the music industry for more than 40 years. As a teacher, he has a private studio and is visiting scholar for the University of Nottingham.

As a performer, he has worked with the CBSO, LPO, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Flotilla Ensemble, Northern Saxophone Quartet, Mistral Quartet and the Equinox Saxophone Ensemble, appearing throughout UK, Europe, USA and Asia. He plays regularly as a solo recitalist as well as for weddings and functions. He is a conductor, arranger, composer, accompanist, adjudicator and has developed a wide range of skills in music technology, running his own recording studio and Youtube channel www.iSax.Academy 

Soprano & Alto Saxophones

A founder member of the group, Nicola has played with many groups and orchestras, including the Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra, Nottingham Philharmonic, Nottingham Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra of the Restoration. She is also an oboist. She was a principal player with National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain, and has recorded a personal collection of chamber pieces for saxophone.

After fifteen years of private saxophone teaching she completed her Masters in Performance Science from the Royal College of Music, and a PhD in music ensemble performance from the University of Sheffield.  She now works as an academic researcher, and has completed collaborative projects in entrepreneurship, group music, and music and wellbeing at the Royal Northern College of Music and University of Sheffield.

Alto Saxophone & Violin

Claire studied at the Purcell School of Music in Bushey where her love of the saxophone really took off (she is a secret violinist!). She read music at Nottingham, studying saxophone with Alistair Parnell.

Claire was assistant musical director of the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain and currently plays with Equinox Saxophone Ensemble; performing throughout the UK and Europe, and at every World Sax Congress since 2006. 

A keen composer and arranger, Claire's music is currently published by Saxtet Publications and Masquerade Music.

Alto & Soprano Saxophones

Although a saxophone specialist, Keri also plays clarinet, flute and piano.

Keri has completed the DipABRSM diplomas in saxophone performance and also in teaching (clarinet). She is passionate about teaching and runs a very successful teaching practice specialising in adult learners in addition to running Wayward Winds (a fortnightly amateur ensemble created to encourage and build up players’ confidence in a fun and friendly/relaxed/supportive atmosphere). More details can be found at www.keridegg.com  She also enjoys working on her own compositions and running her own music publishing company Masquerade Music www.masquerade-music.com

Tenor & Soprano Saxophones

Cat, a Royal Northern College of Music graduate, began her musical journey on percussion in brass bands before finding her true passion - the saxophone. Over the years, she's performed at prestigious venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall, St. Martin-In-The-Fields (London), and the Royal Albert Hall with various chamber ensembles.

For the past decade, Cat has been captivating audiences worldwide as Saxophonique, a solo saxophonist specialising in Ibiza classics and upbeat party tunes for weddings and events. Recently, Cat's entrepreneurial spirit led her to found the Saxophonique Business Academy, empowering other creative businesses to flourish through her expertise in business management, marketing, and client relations.

Tenor & Alto Saxophones

Lindsey grew up in Stafford, where she played with the Staffordshire Youth Wind Orchestra. She studied at the University of Nottingham and was a founding member of the Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra. She was a member of the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain, appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe and in concerts throughout the UK. Now based in Buckinghamshire, Lindsey combines her musical commitments with a career at The Open University, where she works on the production of distance-learning music degrees, and plays saxophone and bassoon in the OU’s orchestra and wind band. She recently joined the ranks of Bader’s Big Band, which is the first UK big band to consist almost entirely of musicians with a disability.

Baritone & Tenor Saxophones

Michelle is a Senior Lecturer in Music Psychology and Head of Enterprise (Academic) at the Royal Northern College of Music. Michelle has played with the Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra, BSQ quartet, National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain and other ensembles in Leeds, Nottingham, and southern Germany. Michelle has a PhD from the Centre for Music and Science at the University of Cambridge, and conducts research on music and time, music and maths, live music, audience response, music and Parkinson's and entrepreneurship.

Baritone & Tenor Saxophones

With over twenty years playing experience under her belt, Deb was one of the founder members of the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain.  Performance highlights include the Edinburgh Fringe Festival,  the World Saxophone Congress and appearing (albeit briefly) on the BBC’s “Play it Again” series alongside Lord Robert Winston.  A versatile player, she is involved in a number of Big Bands in the West Midlands area as well as playing with the Giocoso Quartet.  

Bass & Baritone Saxophones

For a long as she can remember Alison has played music, starting at primary school on recorder and singing in the choir. After a false start on ‘cello and trumpet, Alison saw the light and insisted on playing saxophone. Since then she has played in all manner of ensembles – wind bands, jazz bands, orchestras,  rock, pop, funk&soul, musicals, classical…the saxophone truly is the most versatile of instruments! Music has taken Alison to so many places, throughout Europe and as far afield as Bangkok in Thailand.  Closer to home, she has had the opportunity to perform in some of the UK’s most prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall.