Biographies
David Brodowski (violin) was born in Poland, but grew up in Germany after his family moved to Frankfurt when he was six. David studied with Barbara Kummer Buchberger in Frankfurt and with David Takeno in London (Guildhall School of Music). His studies were very generously sponsored by Germany’s Naspa Stiftung. After his first public performance as soloist with orchestra, aged 5, he went on to win numerous competitions and prizes including Jugend Musiziert in Germany and performed extensively around Europe. He now lives in London and formed The Brodowski Quartet in 2005.
Catrin Win Morgan (violin). Welsh-born Catrin studied at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester before gaining her First-class BMus degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, where she studied with Wen Zhou Li. She went on to study with Maurice Hasson at the Royal Academy of Music, London where she was awarded the Henry Dixon and Sir Elton John Scholarships, graduating with a Distinction. She has received several Awards including the Sydney Perry Foundation Award, and was a beneficiary of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Tillett Trust. As a Chamber Musician she has performed throughout Europe including the Martinu Hall, Prague, the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and has been awarded the Nossek, Weil, Barbirolli and Bliss Prizes. Catrin has also been a recipient of the Leverhulme Chamber Music Fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Catrin joined the Brodowski Quartet in 2007.
Felix Tanner (viola). Scottish-born Felix began his musical studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and St. Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh. He completed both his undergraduate degree and postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London graduating with Distinction, receiving tuition from John White, Martin Outram and Katherine Mc Gillivray. While at the Royal Academy he was awarded several prizes including the Theodore Holland Viola Prize and the John Ireland, Vivian Dunn and Herbert Craxton Prizes for Chamber Music. As a Chamber musician he has twice been awarded the Leverhulme Chamber Music Fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music and has performed throughout Europe including the Gragten Festival, Holland, the Martinu Hall, Prague and the Royal Festival Hall in London. Felix joined the Brodowski Quartet in 2007.
Vanessa Lucas-Smith (’cello) began her studies at The Royal College of Music Junior Department with James Halsey (Bingham Quartet). She then moved to Manchester to study at the Royal Northern College of Music with Eduardo Vassallo. It was at the RNCM, with its superb chamber music department led by the inspirational Christopher Rowland, where she developed her passion for string quartet playing and was awarded many prizes for chamber music – including the Sir John Barbirolli Prize for String Quartet. She regularly performs throughout the UK and Europe and recently broadcast on BBC Radio as ‘cello soloist in Rutter’s ‘Out of the Deep’. Vanessa is a founder member of the Brodowski Quartet.