BIOGRAPHY
Adrienne was born in North Wales. She studied Musicology at the Royal Northern College of Music, and performs as a violinist and violist with several orchestras and chamber groups based in the North West of England.
Her two String Quartets both have inspiration in gardens: the first, Bodnant, from Bodnant Gardens in North Wales in early spring, and the second, day, turning, from sitting in a garden, with its varied topography, pond, plants and wildlife, watching the day go by during the COVID-19 lock-downs.
A 12-player string ensemble is used in Eyebright, a work commissioned by the Lindow Ensemble whose genesis was in visits which Adrienne made to wildflower meadows being created and conserved in Cheshire.
Adrienne’s natural lyricism extends to song and poetry too. Her song cycle for tenor and string orchestra, True Plain Hearts, explores contrasting poems by John Donne on the theme of love and relationships. In her works for String Orchestra, Adrienne delights in uncovering the expressive possibilities of a Welsh folksong, or the flamboyant spirit of an Irish jig. Her Concordia Suite, commissioned to celebrate the Concordia String Orchestra's 25th anniversary in 2014, was warmly received by them, and her three Suites for Strings have been enjoyed by many amateur string orchestras too.
Adrienne also arranges works for various ensembles, from those of English Renaissance composers to Christmas carols and folk tunes.
'Her string music is wonderfully idiomatic.....the influence of folk song is strong and cleverly incorporated. If your string orchestra has embraced Holst's St. Paul's Suite or Britten's Simple Symphony, then Adrienne's music will certainly bring fresh repertoire to your next concert programme'
'Audiences have very much enjoyed Adrienne's String Suites, especially No. 3 which has an especially beautiful second movement. Her music is recognisably English and the influence of Finzi and Elgar can sometimes be detected'