The City Bells

Ellie Steemson - Soprano

www.elliesteemson.com

Ellie is a versatile saxophonist and performer. With an eclectic background, she is involved in a variety of projects which aim to cross traditional boundaries between musical genres.

Ellie is particularly keen to promote new music and has worked alongside emerging composers on a number of projects in London and abroad. She often performs original material as part of a duo with pianist Edward Pick, and with percussionist Caz Wolfson in their ensemble Joiette.

In November of 2007, Ellie gave the UK premiere of Mike Mower’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Orchestra with the Guildhall Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

She has also performed solo, chamber and large ensemble works in venues including the Barbican, LSO St Luke’s and the Wigmore Hall.

Chez Taylor - Alto

www.chez-taylor.co.uk

Her involvement in countless musical groups, from opera to jazz trio, gives Chez a wonderful ability to add her own unique sound to any style of music. Doubling sax with flute and clarinet, she has proven popular within the musical theatre circuit around London. Her passion for jazz has been advantageous around the gig scene, leading her bands to play such main stages as Lovebox Festival, Victoria Park, The Duke's Hall, Royal Academy of Music and even the Houses of Parliament. Chez has been heard on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 2 as well as within the BBC Television Broadcasting House.

Beyond the role of performer, Chez has an unending enthusiasm for teaching and is proud of the progress being made by her students and ensembles within Surbiton High School for Girls. Her community masterclasses have been complimented as "...a constant stream of talent, evoking an energising atmosphere for students to comprehend the knowledge surrounding them." (Pambazuka News, Africa)

As a young composer, Chez is fortunate to have had several pieces receive public acclaim. She has collaborated with such reputable composers as Nigel Osborne, Sally Beamish and Rick Wentworth. She has written works from solo piano through vocal ensemble to orchestral works and electro-acoustic music. This wide range of genres has led Chez to scoring for short film and games, to contemporary symphonic works.

When not doing all of the above, Chez also strives to compose/arrange as much new material as possible for the sax quartet, to help maintain its sparkle and contemporary edge.

Simon Hendry - Tenor

www.simonhendry.co.uk

Simon started playing music aged five and braved his first saxophone four years later. Through his teens, Simon studied jazz with Katie Brown and was the leader of the Delice Saxophone Quartet, winners of the 2005 Under-21 National Saxophone Quartet competition.

When not indulging in his study of physics at Edinburgh University, Simon served as both president and musical director extraordinaire of the Edinburgh University Jazz Orchestra and is now lead alto of the University of London Union Big Band.

Simon is both a freelance musician and sound engineer and has been fortunate to work alongside some first class acts in both London and Scotland including Pendulum, Alistair McGowan, We Are Scientists, Futureheads and Belle & Sebastian.

Rob Downing - Baritone

Rob attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and attained a BMus(Hons) degree under the direction of reputable saxophonists Christian Forshaw, John Harle and Martin Hathaway.

He is the quartet's epic multi-instrumentalist, doubling on flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and piano. This love of instruments has made him much in demand for show and session playing.

Rob plays with numerous soul and function bands, leads his own jazz trio and is the saxophonist/bass clarinettist for the Essex Sinfonia. His teaching work for the London borough of Barking and Dagenham includes workshop leading, wider opportunities whole class tuition and African drumming alongside standard woodwind peripatetic teaching.

As a composer/arranger, Rob has contributed countless charts to The City Bells pad and continues to expand the group's repertoire list with more classics topped with his signature "Downing" style.