The Mendelssohn on Mull Music Festival

Levon Chilingirian was born in Cyprus to Armenian parents and was introduced to music from a very early age through his pianist mother and violinist great uncle. When the Chilingirian family emigrated to London in 1960, Levon concentrated on the violin, studying at the Royal College of Music where he is now a professor. His early influences in music were his uncle, the violinist Manoug Parikian, his teacher Hugh Bean, musicologist Hans Keller, and the Amadeus Quartet.

His long-standing partnership with the late Clifford Benson was launched by winning the first prizes in both the 1969 BBC Beethoven Competition and the 1971 Munich Duo International Competition. Recital appearances took the duo to most European countries and their recordings include works by Schubert and Frank Bridge.

In 1971, along with cellist Philip De Groote, Levon founded the Chilingirian Quartet. Today, the Quartet is one of the most active and celebrated string quartets on the international scene with tours to over fifty countries on six continents. Its highly regarded and wide-ranging recorded repertoire spans classical to contemporary works. This year marks the Chilingirian Quartet's 40th anniversary.

Levon also performs as a soloist, in recitals and concerto appearances with numerous orchestras, and with other chamber music partners. He performed the Sinfonia Concertante on the Amadeus soundtrack with Sir Neville Marriner and was invited by Steven Isserlis to lead a performance of the Schubert Quintet to end the millennium's music at Wigmore Hall. He has been the artistic director and first violin of the Camerata Nordica in Sweden and is also the artistic director of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival and of the Pharos Festival in Cyprus.

Levon received the Cobbett Medal and, in January 2000, an OBE in the Queen's Honours List. In Armenia, he has organised two competitions for young string players and numerous chamber music festivals.

Born in England, violist Susie studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School. She is a professor at the Royal College of Music and has been principal viola with the Camerata Salzburg, as well as a regular chamber music partner of her teacher, violinist Sandor Vegh.

In 1977, she made her Wigmore Hall debut in a duo with Yehudi Menuhin and performed with Vladimir Spivakov and Arthur Grumiaux. She won the Gold Medal at the Royal Overseas League competition and was a string finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year.

Susie was also co-founder of the Villiers Piano Quartet and leader of Kent Opera for several years, as well as leader of several chamber groups including the Fitzwilliam Quartet. She has also taught at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Purcell School.

Cello mentor

Stephen Orton was born in Ripon, Yorkshire, where he was taught the cello by Pauline Dunn, before winning a scholarship to study with William Pleeth at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

He has been principal cello with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, and with the City of London Sinfonia. In 1985 Stephen became first cello with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and has enjoyed playing concertos with the Orchestra. He has often acted as principal cello with the London Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia, and his wide experience of chamber music has included performing with the Delme Quartet for 10 years, and performing with the Chilingirian Quartet on many occasions. He now plays with the Academy Chamber Ensemble, touring internationally and making numerous recordings.

Stephen enjoys most sports, including cricket, which he played for his local team in Hertfordshire

Marcia Crayford made her Royal Festival Hall solo debut while still a student at the Yehudi Menuhin School and went on to perform concertos with Sir Adrian Boult, Sir Michael Tippett and Sir Simon Rattle.

For 25 years she was leader of the Nash Ensemble which has a remarkable worldwide reputation for its performances of a wide range of music. She has made many prize-winning recordings with the ensemble and her performance of the Elgar Violin Sonata was recently named the benchmark in the BBC Music Magazine.

On leaving the Nash Ensemble she was invited to lead the London Symphony Orchestra working with many of the great conductors. She appears regularly as guest leader with all the major orchestras, and some highlights include the last Star Wars film with John Williams and the LSO, performances at Covent Garden and concerts at the Edinburgh Festival and the BBC Proms with Donald Runnicles and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

She is a mentor with the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival and is Co-Artistic Director and leader of the newly formed Mid Wales Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Soloists. She also teaches and mentors chamber music in the Brecon Beacons where she now lives.

Maggie Miller was born and educated in Perth and continued her viola studies with Michael Beeston at the RSAMD, winning the Viola Prize in her fourth year. After graduating, she freelanced at home and abroad with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Scottish Ensemble, the BBC Radio Orchestra, the STV Orchestra and the City of Glasgow Philharmonic. She became a full-time member of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in 1988 and returned to freelancing after the birth of her children. She has always enjoyed chamber music and has performed with many different ensembles. She toured extensively with the Glasgow Viennese Strings before becoming a founder member of the Trossachs String Quartet. She also played regularly with the Scottish Bach Ensemble with whom she performed the Telemann Viola Concerto.

As well as directing the Mendelssohn on Mull Children's String Summer School, Maggie teaches violin and viola at Dollar Academy, coaches for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra's "Scrapers and Tooters" and has coached the NYOS Children's Orchestra. Maggie also works regularly for Artlink, bringing music into dementia wards.

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Our Mentors 2012

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