Our musicians
Laura Murphy
Laura is from Wrexham and began studying the bass aged 17. She very much enjoyed playing in youth music ensembles in North Wales and in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, where she met one of her long standing teachers and fellow Welsh bass player, Richard Lewis. Laura studied a Bachelors in Music at the University of Nottingham before heading to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama for a Masters, studying with Kevin Rundell.
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Laura subsequently enjoyed membership in Southbank Sinfonia, and went on to participate in the Hallé/RNCM String Leadership Scheme. She had a successful freelance career before joining the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 2018, and then became a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra in February 2020. Despite no longer living in Wales, she loves returning to perform with NEW Sinfonia, and is passionate about ongoing music provision in North Wales.
Gwyn started playing the cornet in school lessons provided by the William Mathias Schools Music Service. He also played with the Menai Bridge and Beaumaris Brass Bands, Gwynedd & Mon Music Ensembles and the North Wales Youth Orchestra, and of course - Band Jazz Ysgol Tryfan. He went on to be a member and later principal cornet of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and then principal trumpet of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. He has also been a member of the European Youth Brass Band, and a reserve member of both the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and European Youth Orchestra. He competed regularly in the Urdd and National Eisteddfod - winning the Instrumental Blue Riband Award in 2016. After studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
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Being a part of the NEW Sinfonia gives us so many opportunities to perform and connect with our audiences and young musicians here in North Wales. It often feels like another musical family whenever we get together to rehearse! The association with the NWIMF is also such a brilliant platform for us to perform such a wide scope of repertoire in the Festival every year.
Gwyn Owen
Gwyn Owen
Gwyn started playing the cornet in school lessons provided by the William Mathias Schools Music Service. He also played with the Menai Bridge and Beaumaris Brass Bands, Gwynedd & Mon Music Ensembles and the North Wales Youth Orchestra, and of course - Band Jazz Ysgol Tryfan. He went on to be a member and later principal cornet of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and then principal trumpet of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. He has also been a member of the European Youth Brass Band, and a reserve member of both the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and European Youth Orchestra. He competed regularly in the Urdd and National Eisteddfod - winning the Instrumental Blue Riband Award in 2016. After studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
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Being a part of the NEW Sinfonia gives us so many opportunities to perform and connect with our audiences and young musicians here in North Wales. It often feels like another musical family whenever we get together to rehearse! The association with the NWIMF is also such a brilliant platform for us to perform such a wide scope of repertoire in the Festival every year.
Merin Rhyd
Trombonist, Merin Rhyd graduated form the Royal College of Music in 2020 and is currently studying for his Masters at the Royal Academy of Music. Whilst studying he is also a London based freelancer and has worked with The London Brass Ensemble and the BBC Concert Orchestra. During the last two years he has been on pathway schemes with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the English National Opera. He has recently become a London Philharmonic Orchestra Future First.
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Merin appears regularly with the Bone-afide Trombone Quartet who won the 2020 International Trombone Association Quartet Competition and are recipients of the Tunnel Trust Award.