TRISTAN GURNEY
Violin

Tristan Gurney studied the violin at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, with Yossi Zivoni and then at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, with Lorand Fenyves. Whilst at college, Tristan won numerous solo and chamber music prizes. He was also a leader and soloist with the RNCM orchestras and led the Gurney Quartet, who performed widely across the country, appearing at many prestigious festivals, including the BBC Proms Composer Portraits series, where they were broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. In 2002, Tristan began his professional career with a First Violin position in Northern Sinfonia, before joining the Edinburgh Quartet in 2007. In addition to his work with the quartet, Tristan regularly gives concerto and recital performances around the UK and is the Head of Strings at The University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He plays on a Ferdinand Gagliano violin kindly on loan from Philip Langridge.

PHILIP BURRIN
Violin

Philip Burrin studied with Jaroslav Vanacek and John Dyer at the Royal College of Music. In 1976 he went to Bermuda as second violinist of the Heller Quartet, working for the Menuhin Foundation for six years teaching and performing. In 1982 he returned to teach at Westminster school in London. The following year he became Principal Second Violin with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, where he remained until joining the Edinburgh Quartet in 1998. He plays a violin by Raffaele di Blasio.

MICHAEL BEESTON
Viola

Michael Beeston was a student of Frederick Riddle at the Royal Manchester College of Music. A passionate commitment to chamber music was fostered by Alexandre Moskovsky (of the Hungarian Quartet), and Cecil Cohen. In addition to regular guest appearances as principal viola with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and others, for some years he was Musical Director of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival and Assistant Director of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival. A member of the Edinburgh Quartet since 1971, he has also taken students for many years at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, St. Mary's Music School, City of Edinburgh Music School and the North East of Scotland Music School. He plays a viola by Victor Unsworth.

MARK BAILEY
Cello

Mark Bailey studied at the Royal College of Music on a Foundation Scholarship where he won all the major cello prizes. On leaving in 1978, he was invited by Paul Tortelier to study with him for two years in Nice with scholoarships from the French Government, the Countess of Munster Trust and the Suggia Trust. He was subsequently sub-principal cellist of the English National Opera for four years before joining the Edinburgh Quartet. His cello is by Jacques Camurat (1989).