Players > Information > Edinburgh Quartet

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.

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.

Jessica Beeston, viola: Jessica Beeston studied violin at the Guildhall School of Music with David Takeno and Krysia Osostowicz, and viola at the Mozarteum, Salzburg, with Thomas Riebl. She received a first class Masters degree from the Mozarteum and was awarded scholarships to study by the Countess of Munster Trust, the Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarship, the Cross Trust and the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund. As a student Jessica won the Waddell memorial prize for strings and was a soloist in the 2009 ROSL strings competition. She became a member of Live Music Now with pianist Andrew Johnston, the Nephele Ensemble, recent winners of the Tunnell Trust award, and participated in the Prussia Cove master classes and the Mendelssohn on Mull chamber festival.

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).