meet avenue ensemble
Tom Greed
Hi, I’m Tom and I’m a violinist with Avenue Ensemble. I love my instrument because we always get all the best tunes, kind of like being the lead singer of a band! I really hope this group gets the opportunity to perform in front of lots of people who haven’t experienced this kind of music before. Sharing what we do with new audiences is one of the most exciting things about this job in my opinion, and I’m really looking forward to this upcoming series.
My favourite classical composer is Jean Sibelius, and I enjoy other artists including Joni Mitchell, Bon Iver, Everything Everything and love a bit of Motown! When I’m not playing the violin I like to watch football and make home-brewed beer.
Dan Bull
Hi, I’m Dan, I’m a cellist and I play with Avenue Ensemble. As a cellist I get the best of both worlds, because the cello often has the bass line that is the foundation of the music, but we also get to play a good tune once in a while! I’m really passionate about making all sorts of music available to people who might not normally experience it, because whilst it might seem like a different language at first, there’s so much to be shared if you get underneath the surface.
I have a mixed taste in music, my favourite classical composer is Mendelssohn, I love electro swing, the Arcade Fire, Daft Punk, Radiohead, Stevie Wonder and anything with a good driving bass line!
I’m a big foodie, a cyclist and one of the chief tasters of Tom’s home-brew.
Jenny martins
Hi I'm Jenny, a pianist with Avenue ensemble, and I have a busy self-employed career with a mix of playing, teaching and some bits of choir directing and early years music-making thrown in! I love playing with the group because we explore all different styles. Great music is great music regardless of the genre, and as much as I love classical music, I'm keen on playing and listening to all sorts, and it's great to be in group of like minded people who are also friendly and easy to talk to. My favourite composer is probably Bach, but I love playing Debussy and Rachmaninov. I like to listen to Rufus Wainwright when I'm in a good mood, Morrissey if I'm in a bad mood and S Club 7 if I'm cleaning.
Kim Becker
Hi, I’m Kim and I’m a viola player from Manchester. I love the viola for its rich, beautiful sound and also the juicy harmonies it gets in music! I would love to be able to share my love of my instrument and music with an audience that doesn’t yet know how great it is.
In my spare time I enjoy exploring the outdoors, cooking and I recently started making my own clothes. Music is a huge part of my life and I listen to it all the time! From Elton John to Laura Marling, I will listen to anything and love discovering new artists. My all time favourite singer though is the incredible Aretha Franklin”