Anna Downes - Sophisticated Solo Violin

Do you charge per hour or per event? Per hour

If needed, would you be able to work extra hours? Yes

How do you charge extra time? per hour

Do you cover more than one wedding a day? Yes

Are you able to travel? Yes

Is there a charge for traveling? Yes

Do you work alone or do you have a team of professionals? Alone

Repertoire: Classical Selection Canon - Pachelbel Wedding March - Wagner Wedding March - Mendelssohn Trumpet Voluntary - Jeremiah Clarke Flower Duet - Delibes Air on The G String - Bach Ave Maria - Schubert Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring - Bach Ave Maria - Bach/Goundod Habanera - Bizet Jupiter - Holst Theme from New World Symphony - Dvorak Ode to Joy - Beethoven Rondo in D minor - Purcell   Spring - Vivaldi    Swan Lake - Tchaikovsky    A Musical Joke - Mozart   Air (from the Water Music) - Handel Ave Maria - Schubert  Entr'acte (from Rosamunde) - Schubert     Jerusalem - Parry   Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach Largo (from Xerxes) - Handel    March (Nutcracker) - Tchaikovsky O For the Wings of a Dove - Mendelssohn Sarabande - Handel Theme from Schindler's List - John Williams Jewish Town - John Williams Remembrances - John Williams Allegretto - Beethoven Light/Jazz But Not For Me - Gershwin I Got Rhythm - Gershwin I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise - Gershwin Love Walked In - Gerswin The Man I Love - Gershwin NIce Work if you can get it - Gershwin Oh Lady Be Good - Gershwin Someone to Watch Over Me - Gershwin Summertime - Gershwin They Can't take that away from me - Gershwin Ain't That A Kick In The Head - Dean Martin Come Fly With Me - Frank Sinatra Me and My Shadow - Sammy Davis Jnr My Way - Frank Sinatra Somethin Stupid - Sinatra the Tedner trap - Sinatra That's Amore - Martin What Kind of Fool Am I? - Sammy Davis Jnr You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You - Martin TV/Film Theme from the Thorn Birds - Henry Mancini Another Way to Die - Alicia Keys GoldenEye - Tina Turner Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey Licence to Kill - Gladys Knight Live and Let Die - Paul McCartney and Wings The Living Daylights - A-ha The Nam'e Bond - David Arnold Tomorrow Never Dies - Sheryl Crow You Know My Name - Chris Cornell The World is Not Enough - Garbage Born Free - John Barry Georgia on my Mind - Ray Charles I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston I've Had the Time of my Life - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes Kiss From A Rose - Seal Eye of the Tiger - Sullivan Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now -Hammond and Warren Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash Stayin Alive - Bee Gees Band of Brothers - Michael Kamen Campion - Nigel Hess Irene's Song - Geoffrey Burgon Jeeves and Wooster - Anne Dudley Miss Marple - Howard and Blaikley Mission Impossible - Schifrin The Odd Couple - Neal Hefti The Persuaders - John Barry Poirot - Christopher Gunning Pride and Prejudice - Carl Davis Pop/Shows A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procul Harem A Hard Day's Night - Lennon and McCartney Dancing Queen - ABBA He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother - The Hollies Eternal Flame - The Bangles Mull of McIntyre - McCartney Show Me Heaven - Maria McKee Unchained Melody - Alex North No Matter What - Lloyd Webber All This Time - Hector, Mac, Tennant Clocks - Coldplay Born to Try - Deltra Goodrem Cry Me A River - Justin Timberlake The Closest Thing to Crazy - Katie Melua Leave Right Now - Will Young Life For Rent - Dido Mad World - Orzabal The Voice Within - Christina Aguilera Something Beautiful - Williams and Chambers Blue Eyes - Elton John Crocodile Rock - Elton John Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me- Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John I Guess that's Why They Call it the Blues - Elton John Rocket Man - Elton John I'm Still Standing - Elton John Sacrifice - Elton John Someone Saved My Life Tonight - Elton John Tiny Dancer - Elton John As If we Never Said Goodbye - Lloyd Webber Close Every Door - Lloyd Webber Memory - Lloyd webber Phantom of the Opera - Loyd Webber Pie Jesu - Lloyd Webber Don't Cry for me Argentina - Lloyd Webber Superstar - Lloyd Webber Unexpected Song - Lloyd Webber Whistle Down the Wind - Lloyd Webber Any Dream Will Do - Lloyd Webber Getting to Know You - Rodgers Hopelessly Devoted to You - John Farrar My Favourite Things - Rodgers The Music of the Night - Lloyd webber Smoke Gets in your Eyes - Jerome Kern Take That Look Off Your Face - Lloyd Webber Willkommen - John Kander On My Own - Schoenberg Love Changes Everything

Is it possible to request something that's not in the repertoire? Yes, up to a maximum of 4 songs, and with a month's notice before the event.

Experience: Having been born into a family of professional musicians, Anna started her studies at an early age. In 1998, after receiving lessons from Malcom Latcham of The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, she graduated from the University of Exeter with an honours degree in music. As an student, she played with The English Mozart Players and also appeared as a soloist on BBC radio 2. On returning to the Midlands Anna studied violin with David Gregory of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, for a number of years . Anna enjoys a busy career as a free-lance violinist. Between 1998 and 2005 she played regularly with Natonal Musicians Symphony Orchestra and Queen's Park Sinfonia. More recently she has performed with English Symphony Orchestra in concerts at Worcester and Gloucester Cathedrals, and with National Symphony Orchestra in performances with Katherine Jenkins and Russell Watson Anna is in regular demand as a guest leader. Recent engagements have included leading the Elgar Camerata in a performance of Bach's B minor mass with the Elgar Chorale in Pershore Abbey, conducted by Donald Hunt, and the Beauchamp Sinfonietta in a 'Gala Night' as part of the Evesham Festival of Music. She has also been invited to lead Sinfonia of Birmingham, Heart of England Orchestra and Vivaldi Camerata on many occasions. Anna is the lead violinist with both VLO String Quartet and the Lynwood Lea Quartet, playing regularly at weddings, functions and coporate events. She also deputises for Wignornia String Quartet, Astaria String Quartet and Reflection Strings on a regular basis. In 2000, Anna completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education. She started her teaching career at King's School in Wolverhampton before becoming Head of Music at The Crestwood School in Kingswinford. She currently holds the position of Head of Instrumental Studies at Old Swinford Hospital, a boarding school in Stourbridge, West Midlands. In 2001 Anna founded Central England Ensemble which is made up of postgraduate musicians, music students and other talented musicians. The group has two main aims: to promote the music of Midlands composers and to provide a high standard performance platform for young talented musicians in the area. Since its conception CEE has performed over fifty concerts with a work by a Midlands based composer in each one. The orchestra has also toured in Northern Germany and in Paris, giving concerts in prestigious venues such as La Madeleine. The orchestra also runs its own Concerto Competition. In 2008 the first winner was Sarah Sew, playing Elgar's Violin Concerto and the second, in 2010 was Martyn Jackson, playng Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. In addition to this, as a former leader of Midland Youth Orchestra (2000-2003), and recipient of the James Langley Memorial Award (2000), Anna has just been appointed as a Trustee of the James Langley Memorial Trust in recognition of her education and communitty work. Anna lives in Worcestershire with her husband, Mike, and two very lively young sons, Oscar and Maxwell.

Do you have your own equipment? Yes

Do you need specific materials or conditions to offer your service? No

Do you do open-air acts? Yes

How much time do you need to prepare for an act? Very little - my act is polished and ready to go!

What is the length of time of the act? Up to 4 hours

How far in advance should I contact you? As far in advance as possible in order that I am available as weekends get very booked up.

Form of payment: Deposit in advance in form of a cheque/bank transfer, and bank transfer for balance the week before or cash on the day.