Orion IV – String Quartet

“They have an exuberance which is controlled, a balance which is round and corporate and, glory be, most of the time they seem to enjoy what they’re doing...”
– Wiltshire Gazette and Herald

Based in Cardiff, South Wales and comprising of first violinist William Hillman, second violinist Simon Howes, violist Bernard Kane and cellist Kyle Patterson, the vibrant string quartet, Orion IV formed in the spring of 2008. After only a few months of playing together, the Welsh composer, John Metcalf stated this about the group:

"I heard the Orion IV Quartet at the West Coast School of Chamber Music in August 2008. It was a demanding circumstance ; a public master class on a rhythmically complex new work. The quartet adapted very quickly to the circumstance and were very open to new interpretive ideas and approaches. All four players are very talented and the ensemble has considerable promise".

The ensemble was formed with the principal idea of taking classical chamber music to a wider audience; specifically to communities who rarely have the opportunity of hearing live chamber music - and to the schools within these communities - in an effort to stimulate young minds and encourage music making within the area.

In 2009, the 200 hundredth anniversary of the death of Joseph Haydn, Orion IV plans to record and tour Haydn’s complete Opus 76 string quartets.

The members of this exuberant quartet bring influences from very different backgrounds to create a unique recital. Not only have they considerable experience in the performance of chamber music, but they have toured nationally and internationally, and have performed in television and radio broadcasts.  

Future engagements for Orion IV include: collaboration with Welsh National Opera’s Max programme and plans are also being made to perform a musical evening at The Vulcan Hotel, highlighting works for quartet that would have been heard from 1853 onwards. The aim of the evening will be to demonstrate the historical significance The Vulcan has as a vital part of Cardiff’s heritage. This concert will be part of the campaign to save the pub from being demolished.

 bernard.kanejr@googlemail.com  
www.orion-iv.co.uk

William Hillman – 1st Violin
William began playing the violin at the age of eight via the peripatetic system, and then continued his tuition with Edward Davies. He then studied his undergraduate in music performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama under the tutelage of Marius Bedeschi. During his four years as an undergraduate William has won competitions such as the Mostyn Instrumental Prize, RWCMD Cavatina Chamber Music Prize, and has twice been a finalist of the RWCMD Concerto Trials. He led the Rococco String Quartet which have partaken in masterclasses with world renowned string quartets, toured to Switzerland under the tutelage of Peter Esswood, and Italy where they played at William Walton’s villa in Ischia. Having graduated with a distinction in performance, William is currently studying a Post-graduate in music performance at the RWCMD under the tuition of Lesley Hatfield. William is a much sort after orchestral and chamber musician, and has performed with Sinfonia Cymru, Welsh National Opera, and is currently on trial for a first violin position in the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Simon Howes – 2nd Violin
A graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Simon is a talented violinist with a passion for chamber music. In addition to his vast orchestral experience which includes television broadcasts for the BBC, Simon has received string quartet coaching from the likes of the Magini, Chilingirian, Emperor and the Wihan String Quartets. As an orchestral musician Simon has also recently toured Paris, Malta, Holland, Ireland, Italy and the UK. Simon has also recently performed as co-leader of the Chamber Orchestra of Wales and with the Welsh Chamber Orchestra as part of the Beaumaris Festival. Simon’s versatility has also resulted in extensive participation in musicals, including West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oliver, Annie, Barnam, Cabaret and the Wiz.

Bernard Kane – Viola
Bernard Kane, violist and composer, holds degrees from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (Doctor of Musical Arts), Yale University (M.M) and the Royal College of Music, London (B. Mus. Honours). Originally from Cardiff, South Wales, Dr Kane began his musical studies as a chorister at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St David in Cardiff before commencing violin studies at the age of twelve; he became a violist three years later. Orchestras with whom Bernard has performed include: the Orchestra of English National Opera, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, the Chamber Orchestra of Wales, the Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife, the London Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Quincey Jones’ Orchestra and the Emerald Ensemble. He has toured Alaska, Mexico and South East Asia as a member of the Delphinus String Quartet: quartet in residence for Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. Bernard has taken part in master classes with the likes of the Tokyo, Arditti, Colorado, St Lawrence and Chilingirian string quartets. A passionate chamber musician, he is the founder and director of the South Wales based chamber ensemble ‘Chameleon Cymru’. In addition to viola playing, Bernard has narrated at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Norfolk, Connecticut, with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and has been broadcast narrating Dylan Thomas’ ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ nationwide on CBC, Canada. He has recently been employed to give a series of pr-concert talks for U3A (University of the Third Age), Swansea division.

Kyle Patterson – Cello
Since the age of five, music has played a major part in Kyle’s life be it performing or composing. In 1997 he studied Architecture at Bath University, however three years later he decided to return to his first love, music. Until 2006, Kyle was employed as a peripatetic cello teacher in Pembrokeshire and founded the Pembrokeshire Schools Cello Orchestra in 2003.  Kyle was a member of the Mezin String Quartet for three years and has performed many of the major string quartet works and premiered a work by Welsh composer Mervyn Burtch. In 2006 Kyle began studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and prior to this studied with Nicola Thomas. In his first year he was a finalist in the Cavatina Chamber Music competition and won the First Year Prize for overall marks for the year. In his second year Kyle won the Vera Smart Scholarship for chamber music and reached the final of the concerto competition playing the Dvorak Cello Concerto. Kyle has also now formed the RWCMD Cello Orchestra made up of college students. With a hugely varied repertoire from classical to pop, he hopes to arrange their first concert in the coming months.