Performer

Emma is a violin player and has performed with numerous orchestral, folk and jazz ensembles. She has performed in the UK, Europe and the US, and has recorded three albums.

Classical music

Emma is a classically-trained violin player (RWCMD) and has a wealth of experience as an orchestral player, having performed many symphonic works with a number of orchestras in the UK. She is a confident orchestral musician with experience of sectional leading, and has also performed classical string quartet repertoire and solo 20th Century works on violin.

Most recently she has been a member of the Bishop’s Stortford Sinfonia and Salisbury String Quartet, and previous ensembles include:  Sinfonia Cymru, Opera at Craig-y-Nos Orchestra , Orchestra of RWCMD, Torbay Symphony Orchestra, Wales’ Philharmonic Orchestra, Exeter Music Group, plus a range of one-off orchestral performances.

She has performed contemporary classical music by Thomas Ades, Peter Sculthorpe and David Bedford, as well as being jazz violinist in Ahoy! By Alexander L’Estrange and Jazz Psalms by Scott Stroman. Emma is equally confident learning music by ear and improvising with a group, and has a number of fiddle tunes from the UK, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Tunisia in her head, ready to play at a moment’s notice!

Folk and Jazz

Emma has also developed a portfolio of performance work within other genres, most significantly folk music of the Britain and Europe. As a fiddle player she has toured with two Welsh folk bands in festivals spanning the UK, but also in France, Germany and the United States.

Groups and Performances

Ahoy! Sing for the Mary Rose (Alexander L’Estrange). Jazz violinist. 2016-2018

Jazz Psalms (Scott Stroman),  Jazz Violinist, Exeter Cathedral 2015

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Orcestra Typique (2011) Community Tango Orchestra, violinist

Ffynnon (2005-2007) Celtic Jazz-Folk Fusion Quartet, violinist
Performances at: Chicago Celtic Festival, St Donat’s International Story-Telling Festival, Gosport Folk Festival, Rough Guide to Wales Tour.

Allan Yn yr Fan (2002-2007) Welsh Folk quintet, violinist. Performances at: Dolgellau Folk Festival, Lorient Interceltique Festival, Trowbridge Folk Festival, Pontardawe Folk Festival Brampton Live, Priddy Folk Festival,

No Fit State Circus (1998) now.here  (multi-discipline production) Violin and Saxophone, devised performance.

Recordings

Ffynnon

Adar Gwylltion (Taith Records)

adar_gwylltion

“What a combination! Ffynnon have concocted a brew here that is both traditional and radically their own, combining many strains into a consistent whole, presented with outstanding musicianship. CD is both unique and defines the best in Welsh and Celtic music today.” JK, Celtic Beat

“…folk music with a distinct jazz flavour……….a spirit of innovation” David Kidman, Netscape

 “A wonderful album of inventive instrumentals and heartfelt and bold songs” Delyth Jenkins, Taplas

“The quartet experiment, improvise, include other traditions … the strength .. lies precisely in their innovation and absorbing other influences” Folk and Roots

Allan Yn Yr Fan

Belonging (Steam Pie Records)

Belonging cover

“This likeable cosmopolitan album contains instrumental folk dance music of a Welsh internationalist flavour……  This red bull of a dance set deserves to be adopted by folk dance bands everywhere”  Paul Matheson, FROOTS

“top Welsh twmpath band…” Radio 2, Folk and Acoustic

Off The Map (Steam Pie Records)

Offthemapcover

“skilful playing, especially Emma Trend on fiddle, adds to the appeal…” FROOTS

“a cracking young Welsh band” Folk on Tap

“Welsh traditional music has a sound all its own, and this is as good an introduction to the music as I’ve heard” Jim Lee, Dirty Linen

“One of the best Celtic bands in Wales” Matthew Blythe, South Wales Argus

Solo Performance (examples)

Alone for solo violin; (Peter Sculthorpe)
Performance at Dartington International Summer School

Catch  for cl, vln cb, pno; (Thomas Ades)
Performance at Dartington International Summer School.

Tunisian Music for solo violin
MA performance of traditional Tunisian Arabic melodies arranged for solo violin, guitar and darbukkah. Performance in Dartington College of Arts Masters Showcase

Instrumental Skills/Musicianship

Violin, first study conservatory-level performance; Piano, second study; Clarinet (grade 8); ability to play: alto saxophone, guitar, bass guitar, recorder, banjolele/ukulele, tenor horn.

Music ability to learn by ear, secure sight-reading, improvise with others, transpose and transcribe music by ear, arrange, compose and conduct musical repertoire.

Music Technology skills: Traditional notation and score production to a professional standard (Sibelius). Music production and recording. (Garageband, Logic, Sequel LE.)