Consort 1700 is a dynamic Baroque chamber ensemble formed in 2005. The group consists of Martyn Shaw / Baroque Flute, Emma Dixon / Baroque Cello and Charlotte Wilson / Harpsichord. All the players are now based in the north-west following study at the Royal Academy of Music, Royal Northern College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. As individuals the members of Consort 1700 have performed in venues across the country including St Martin in the Fields, York Centre for Early Music, Bridgewater Hall, Royal Festival Hall and The Barbican Centre. As an ensemble they have performed together throughout the UK. Recent engagements include recitals at the Whitworth Art Gallery, Bridgewater Hall and Christ Church, Manchester, Ardudwy and Harlech Music Society, Glossop Concerts Society, West Kilbride Concerts Society, the Kirkgate Arts Centre Cockermouth, Crosby Hall and Warwick Arts Centre. In April 2008 Consort 1700 performed their debut for the Leeds International Concert Season. The group presents programmes of historical repertoire in an engaging and vibrant manner to a variety of audiences in different contexts and environments. In addition to their performances in recital, Consort 1700 regularly presents interactive educational concerts and workshops for Live Music Now!. Forthcoming engagements include recitals in Harlech, Lancaster, for the Linconshire Barton Arts Festival and the Ripon International Festival.

Martyn Shaw / Baroque Flute studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and subsequently at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded a double Entrance Scholarship. He was recipient of the British Land award in 2003, MBF award and winner of a Jerwood Foundation scholarship. More recently Martyn was given the Jean Vincent Award by the Dalcroze Society UK, in recognition of his work in this area. Currently he is studying towards a PhD in Performance Practice at the University of Birmingham. Martyn has played with several leading ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, English Touring Opera, Welsh Baroque, the Eighteenth Century Concert Orchestra, Armonico Consort and London Handel Orchestra. He is a member of the Hampton Court Palace early music ensemble, and founder member of Consort 1700. Martyn is Lecturer in Flute and Historical Performance at Leeds College of Music.

Charlotte Wilson / Harpsichord Last year Charlotte received excellent reviews following her début recital at London’s Handel House, for The British Harpsichord Society, and for her recital in the Weymouth Concert Series. She won joint second prize in the Broadwood Harpsichord Competition in Fenton House, London, and gave a recital at the Bruges International Harpsichord Exhibition. In 2007 Charlotte graduated with distinction from the RNCM. As a chamber musician Charlotte has performed with Melinda Maxwell and Mike Thompson, Ensemble 360 and Nicola Bennedetti. She also performed in a public master class with Emma Kirkby at the RNCM. As an orchestral musician Charlotte regularly appears with the New English Orchestra. Engagements with NEO include Colston Hall, the Bridgewater Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall. In December 2006 Charlotte performed Brandenburg Concerto no.5 with the NEO in the Liverpool Cornerstone Festival. She has upcoming performances at Handel House and Chetham’s School of Music. She currently studies with renowned Norwegian harpsichordist Ketil Haugsand.

Emma Dixon / Baroque Cello completed her BMus(hons) degree and recently a Masters Degree in cello performance at the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied with Jenny Curtis and Kim Dinitzen. As a chamber musician and orchestral player she has performed across the country and abroad. As a baroque cellist, Emma has received lessons from Richard Tunnicliffe and has performed with the RNCM Baroque Ensemble, the Britten Pears Baroque Orchestra, for the Yorke Trust and for Kirklees Baroque Ensemble under directors including Richard Egarr, Gary Cooper and Simon Jones. Emma is currently in the final stages of completing a Certificate in Dalcroze Eurythmics, for which she has been awarded the Ann Driver Scholarship by the Dalcroze Society UK, and is continuing to study the Baroque cello privately whilst working as a freelance cellist and developing music projects for venues around Manchester.

Emma will be working with Consort 1700 on a series of recitals in Autumn 2008.