Jess Gillam saxophone with Far Flung Trio

Jess Gillam is a celebrated saxophonist and presenter. With her electrifying performances, vibrant stage presence and magnetic personality, she has been invited to play on the world’s major stages since becoming in 2018 the youngest ever soloist to perform at the Last Night of the Proms. She is equally at home behind the microphone, and her award-winning weekly show This Classical Life on BBC Radio 3 is now in its seventh season. In 2016 Jess made history when she became the first saxophonist to reach the finals of BBC Young Musician of the Year. She has been the recipient of a Classic BRIT Award, a Times Breakthrough Award nominee, and was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2021 for services to music.

Katherine Hunka was leader of the Irish Chamber Orchestra for 26 years. She directed performances worldwide from the violin, played concertos and premieres and collaborated with many extraordinary musicians. As well as with the Far Flung Trio Katherine is a busy chamber musician, performing across Ireland and the UK. Her Solas Quartet champion female composers and have performed several of Katherine’s own compositions. She is a mentor to young musicians and is currently a lecturer at the MTU Cork School of Music and artistic director of ConCorda, a chamber music programme for young musicians.

Dermot Dunne has pioneered his instrument in Ireland and has premiered 40 works written for the accordion. He is a regular at Irish and international concert halls and festivals. Performance highlights include the BBC Last Night of the Proms from Belfast, and chamber music with violinist Pekka Kuusisto and cellist Natalie Klein. He has been a regular soloist with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and accompanied them on their tour to China and Singapore.

Malachy Robinson is a prize-winning graduate of London’s Guildhall School and holds a Masters degree in Historical Musicology from the University of London. He is principal double bass with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Malachy is active as a composer of music and singer of songs, and as a player of banjo and viola da gamba. He is a faculty member at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, specialising in historical performance.