ABOUT HARMONIEMUSIK
The core members of classical ensemble Harmoniemusik first performed together in 1991 when they were booked to give a concert each night after dinner on a ship cruising the Mediterranean between Istanbul and Venice. The following year the group expanded to incorporate string players and organized the rebirth of a festival of chamber music in St Columb Major, Cornwall. Harmoniemusik has given a series of Classic Cornwall concerts in St Columb each August since then, besides touring in France and the Republic of Yemen, and performing regularly in Germany and around the UK. The ensemble has enjoyed playing in a wide variety of venues, including the Cologne Philharmonie, Regency Town House in Brighton, Doctor Johnson’s House, Goldsmiths’ and Fishmongers Hall in the City of London, the Pittville Pump Room in Cheltenham, barns and drawing rooms, theatres and gardens, tiny churches and magnificent cathedrals.
Harmoniemusik’s concerts are characterised by carefully designed programmes in which instrumentation, era and texture are contrasted. Works performed range from solos, duos, trios, quartets, quintets and sextets to early piano concertos by Mozart, symphonies by Haydn and chamber orchestra pieces by Elgar, Copland and Wagner. The ensemble’s repertoire spans the centuries, from baroque trio sonatas to brand new works written especially for the group.
Paul Guinery - piano
Paul studied the piano at the Royal College of Music and Modern Languages at Queen’s College, Oxford. As well as being Harmoniemusik’s regular pianist since 1997, Paul has made solo CD recordings of Rachmaninov and, more recently, of 20th century English piano music – Delius and his Circle. Paul is also co-author of a recent in-depth analysis of Delius’ works, Delius and His Music. As an announcer for BBC Radio 3 he has presented many classical music programmes, including the Proms.
Janna Hüneke - flute and recorder
Janna was born in Germany and studied the flute in London. In the early 90s she played the piccolo in premieres of Stockhausen’s opera Dienstag aus Licht. Janna has played with Grange Park Opera, Pimlico Opera, the National Symphony Orchestra, Brighton Philharmonic and many other orchestras. As a soloist she has performed throughout Britain and Germany. Janna co-founded and co-directs Flute School London.
Mark Lacey - clarinet and saxophone
Mark studied the clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music. He has performed with English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, the National Theatre, English Touring Opera, Grange Park Opera, Carl Rosa Opera, Pimlico Opera, the BBC Concert Orchestra and many other orchestras and ensembles. He is a regular performer of the jewels of the clarinet chamber repertoire including the quintets of Mozart and Brahms. In his spare time, Mark is a keen sailor.
Alec Forshaw - bassoon and harpsichord
Alec read music at Cambridge University. He is a founder member of the London Woodwind Ensemble, The Galliard Trio and Harmoniemusik, and also has performed regularly with Lontano, the Contemporary Chamber Orchestra, the London Chamber Orchestra and with the National Theatre, both at home and on tour. He lives in London and pursues a varied career as bassoonist, harpsichordist, writer and arranger.
Carole Howat - violin
Carole has had a busy career playing with the RSNO, chamber orchestra RNS, EN Ballet, Grange Park Opera orchestras, Scottish Chamber orchestra, the Scottish Ensemble string group for a few years and has freelanced with the other orchestras in Scotland.
She now enjoys doing more Chamber music and leading a respected local amateur orchestra as well as SCO and a some Scottish Opera work.
Carole enjoys teaching young kids (and adult beginners) piano.
Joanna West - violin
Jo studied music at Clare College, Cambridge and then did a post graduate course at the Royal Academy of Music. She has a varied and busy career performing and teaching; she was a member of the English National Opera Orchestra and is now Principal 2nd Violin in the
London Concert Orchestra. She also performs regularly with the City of London Sinfonia and has just finished a season of opera with Holland Park Opera. In her free time she enjoys gardening and has recently taken on a rather large allotment, with varying degrees of success!
Gabriel Amherst - cello
Gay read music at Somerville College Oxford. She won a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music to study cello as a post graduate. A varied freelance career has spanned both period instrument and modern playing. She has worked with many leading UK early music orchestras including the Academy of Ancient Music, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Romantique et Revolutionnaire. She is principal cello with the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists. She is an experienced chamber musician and is a member of several chamber ensembles including the St Silas Trio and Harmoniemusik. She lives in Oxford and teaches cello both at home and at St Edward’s and New College School.
Paul Morris - viola
A native of Cornwall, Paul Morris has played in a wide range of orchestras and chamber groups for many years. He has recently returned to live in Cornwall and is relishing the opportunities for performing and studying in the West Country. Paul will make his Harmoniemusik debut at the 2025 St Columb concert series 'Classic Cornwall' and is looking forward to playing the Louise Farrenc quintet in the Penzance festival.
Stuart Riley - Double Bass - is an Anglo/Australian bass player. Born in Manchester he recently retired as Principal Bass with Orchestra Victoria in Melbourne. In Australia Stuart has worked with the Sydney, Melbourne and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Goldner String Quartet, Firebird Trio and the Australia Ensemble. Recent solo engagements in Melbourne include the International Bass Day and Melbourne Digital Concert Hall. In the UK he has worked with the Halle, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Scottish Ensemble, Northern Chamber Orchestra, Opera North, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Welsh National Opera. Chamber music is his true passion.
Stephen Smart - French Horn - completed his studies at the Royal College of Music and enjoys a varied freelance career, playing throughout the UK and abroad. He plays regularly as principal horn with the London Gala Orchestra and has also performed on numerous occasions with the City of London Sinfonia, Welsh National Opera, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, and the London Mozart Players. Concerto appearances have included the 4 Mozart Concertos, the Sinfonia Concertante, Punto's 5th Concerto, and Schumann's Koncertstück. In addition, Stephen would have occasionally been heard on TV including Asda’s Christmas Advert, and recording a version of Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory (entitled ‘Land of Cheese and Onion’) for Walkers Crisps 70th Anniversary advert!