Christine Townsend & Stephen Robbings
Biography Christine Townsend & Stephen Robbings
Christine Townsend
studied the violin at the Royal Academy of Music and has since enjoyed a varied and successful career as a chamber musician and principal orchestral player. She was a regular guest principal with the London Philharmonic and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and guest leader of the Hallé. She has given highly acclaimed concerto performances as a soloist at the Edinburgh and Salzburg Festivals, performed in Europe and the USA and has been involved in an
eclectic variety of recording projects including work with leading pop artists. Christine has been in demand as a teacher, adjudicator and chamber music coach.
Stephen Robbings
studied the piano as an Associated Board scholar at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded almost every prize for performance. He has given concerto and recital performances throughout the UK at venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall, and the Queen
Elizabeth Hall and has appeared on BBC Radio and Television. As a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician he has performed in Europe, the Far East and the USA, with an interest in contemporary music, giving first performances of a number of new pieces by prominent composers. He has also worked as a vocal accompanist and harpsichordist and is an experienced recording engineer and producer.
Robin Stevens
Born in Wales in 1958, and growing up in a musical family in the south of England, Robin’s lyricism and his love of harmony may be traced to his years as a treble and (once his voice started to break) an alto singing in church choirs. Initially a first study cellist, at sixteen he performed the Elgar Cello Concerto, complete, with the Dartington College Orchestra. At eighteen he began the Joint Course at the Royal Northern College of Music (which he didn’t particularly enjoy) and Manchester University (which he did), graduating with honours in 1980. A year later, whilst completing an MA at Birmingham University, Robin wrote a String Quintet, his first major composition. Then followed five years working on the staff of a church in York as Music Director and Pastoral Worker, where he wrote a good deal of sacred vocal music, after which Robin taught for three years, heading up the Music Department of a Senior School in West Yorkshire. His fortunes took a serious dip in 1990 when he contracted ME, a debilitating illness from which he only recovered in 2007, after which, whilst continuing to compose, he earned his living as a personal tutor, mainly teaching nine- and ten-year-old children.
A committed Christian, Robin continues to be involved in church music, as cellist, keyboard player, vocalist and composer/arranger. In 2018 Robin was the grateful beneficiary of a considerable family legacy which has enabled him to embark on the project of recording all his major compositions with some of the foremost musicians in Britain. His works include a Te Deum for choir, soloists and orchestra; Mourning into Dancing for symphony orchestra; Brass Odyssey for brass band and six percussionists; concertos for bassoon, for cello, and for viola; two string quartets; a Sonata for Solo Cello; and Fantasy Sonata and Sonata Tempesta for violin and piano. Unsurprisingly, Robin has also written a large quantity of cello miniatures, including a meditative online collection entitled An Inward Journey, which he performs himself. Robin has also recorded two albums of songs, Fire and Inspire, and Whispers in the Wasteland.
Beyond his musical activities, Robin is a regular at parkrun in Wythenshawe, Manchester; tries to cycle rather than drive; is a voracious reader, especially of thrillers and biographies; preaches every couple of months at St. Mary’s Church, Sale; loves giving dinner-parties; and, despite his best efforts, remains Christendom’s most reluctant bachelor.
