About Us

Strings Attached is a small string ensemble with around 20 players.

Musical Director-Trevor Wilson.
Leader -Julie Bates.

Our string ensemble draws its membership from Thirsk and the surrounding area. We rehearse at St Mary's Church, Thirsk, usually on Sunday afternoons, and perform two or three times a year, often with the Mowbray Singers, and occasionally with a soloist. We generally have about 5 rehearsals for each concert.

We select our repertoire from both the established and familiar string repertoire, but equally we love discovering innovative styles and pieces. We try to balance and reflect the needs and abilities of all our players so that there is sufficient challenge for our stronger players and technical development for others. Our Musical Director, Trevor Wilson, brings both huge talent and wonderful qualities and his guidance on repertoire enables us to be inclusive of a wide range of playing ability. The two founder members of the group, Julie Bates (leader) and Pauline Hagen, were both taught by Trevor whilst at Thirsk School over 40 years ago, so we like to think there is a lifelong musical relationship at the heart of the group!

Concerts

Upcoming Conerts

Poster

Sunday, 30th April, 2023: 3:30 p.m. (St Mary's Church, Thirsk):

Coronation Concert - Strings Attached and Thirsk Coronation Choir:

Zadok the Priest - G.F. Handel
I Was Glad - C. H. H. Parry
Crown Imperial March - W. Walton

Past Concerts

Saturday, 26th November, 2022: 7:30 p.m. (St Oswald's Church, Sowerby):

Shining Heavens - Strings Attached and Mowbray Singers:

English Folk Song Suite - Vaughan Williams
Songs of Travel - Vaughan Williams
Requiem - Gabriel Fauré

Friday, 16th September, 2022: 6:00 p.m. (Terrace Bar, Dunesforde Vineyard):

A string quartet from members of Strings Attached will play at the Friday evening Wine Tasting event at Dunesforde Vineyard. The quartet will play a well-known selection from their repertoire, including Elgar, Handel, and Rachmaninov.

Saturday, 23rd November, 2019: 7:30 p.m. (St Oswald's Church, Sowerby):

"John, George - and Tony": A concert of Baroque favourites, performed by Strings Attached and The Mowbray Singers, with guest solo guitarist Adrian Bramley.

Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, from Solomon - Handel
Music Spread Thy Voice Around, from Solomon – Handel
Lute Concerto in D Major, RV93 – Vivaldi
Sheep May Safely Graze – Bach
Sarabande in Dm from Suite XI HWV 437 – Handel
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring – Bach

See the Conquering Hero Comes, from Judas Maccabaeus – Handel
March, from Judas Maccabaeus – Handel
Ombra Mai fu, from Serse - Handel
Mandolin Concerto in C major, RV425 - Vivaldi
Zadoc The Priest - Handel

Sunday, 9th June, 2019: 4:00 p.m. (St Mary's Church, Thirsk):

Strings Attached Summer Concert: Works by Vivaldi, Dvorak and McDowell.
Conductor: Trevor Wilson.
Leader: Anne Norton.
Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be served after the concert. Donations will be in aid of St Mary's Church.

Saturday, 24th November 2018: 7:30 p.m. (St Oswald’s Church, Sowerby, Thirsk):

The main work in the programme will be Schubert’s beautiful Mass in G Major (D168), but the choir will also be performing well-known works from the early 20th century by Vaughan Williams and Elgar. Strings Attached will play the suite My Native Heath by Arthur Wood (which includes the theme music from The Archers) as well as arrangements of Elgar’s ever-popular Salut d’amour and Chanson de Matin; the whole programme faintly reflecting that time in England ending around a century ago this year….

Friday, 10th August, 2018: 7:00 p.m. (St Mary's Church, Thirsk):

Noye's Fludde (Noah's Flood) - Benjamin Britten
St Mary's Church are putting on Benjamin Britten's opera about Noah's Flood.

Sunday, 24th September, 2017: 3:00 p.m. (St Mary's Church, Thirsk):

Themes & Variations - Glazunov
Fantasie Pastorale Hongroise - Doppler (Flute: Nicky Dowell)
Suite No.1 for Strings - Wilson
Prelude, II Rhapsody, III Minuet & Trio, IV Allegro viace
Viola Concerto in G Major - Telemann (Solo Viola: Moira Challener)
Molly on the Shore - Grainger