The Sortelung Wind Quintet was formed in the Michelmas Term of 2009 at Oxford University, when three of the musicians, Amy, Hilary and Vicky, decided to form a wind quintet in order to take a Chamber Music module as part of their degree. They joined with two other principal players of the Oxford University Philarmonia and soon began performing in recital series around Oxford, including at New College and St Anne’s College. The quintet is named after the birth place of Carl Nielsen, the composer whose work was chosen to be performed in their final recital.

Amy Thompson (flute)

Amy began playing the flute at the age of seven. She studied with Lisa Nelsen for two years before moving to Oxford University to take up a place to read music at St Anne’s College. During her time here she was actively involved in all styles and genres of music, both as a soloist and as an orchestral player.  She played with the Oxford Philarmonic Orchestra as Principal Flute and was also called upon to play for a number of opera productions around Oxford, such as ‘The Marriage Of Figaro’ in the Sheldonian Theatre and ‘Don Giovanni’ at St Peter’s College. After having entered the Oxford University Concerto prize, she was awarded a concerto with the Oxford String Ensemble, which was successfully performed in June 2009. Amy also performed as the soloist in Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G Major with the St Anne’s and John’s Orchestra in December 2009 and as the solo flautist in a performance of Mozart’s Flute Quartet in A major with the Rivoli String Quartet. For the past three years she studied flute with Kate Hill (Royal Academy of Music) and supplemented this with numerous masterclasses by world renowned players such as Michael Cox, Antarah Ben Tovim, Ian Clarke and Peter Lloyd. Since graduating with First Class Honours in June 2010, Amy has been combining her performances with working as a music teacher at Felsted School.

Hilary Cornwell (oboe)

began playing the oboe at the age of twelve after gaining music scholarship to Leeds Girls’ High School. Whilst at school, she was a member of the Leeds Youth Orchestra with whom she performed the Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto in 2006. Upon leaving, she was awarded the Alice McGill Award for musical contribution and the De Beurre Bursary for outstanding musical achievement. In 2006, she gained a place in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain where she spent two years. The autumn of 2007 saw her take up her place to read music at St Catherine’s College. Hilary was an active participant in the Oxford music scene, playing with the Oxford University Orchestra, Philarmonia and Sinfonietta. She currently studies with Celia Nicklin and plays on a Howarth XL oboe made of cocobolo.

Harry Thorrington (bassoon)

began playing the bassoon at the age of eleven. He studied with Peter Harrison for two years at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music, where he was principal bassoon of the Academy Orchestra – playing with conductors including Peter Stark and Sir Colin Davis – and where his wind quintet came Very Highly Commended in the 2007 Dame Ruth Railton Chamber Music Prize. He participates in many music festivals, most recently playing for Meyrick Alexander, among others. Harry, who studies with Robert Porter, is reading for a degree in Music at Oxford University, where he is in demand as a bassoonist for numerous ensembles.

Alex Robinson (French Horn)

Originally from Sheffield, Alex took up the horn aged 12, studying with Paul Kampen (Opera North) and John Thornton (Northern Ballet).  Membership of the Yorkshire Youth Orchestra led to the development of a keen interest in orchestral music, which he continued to pursue after arriving at university in 2002.  He was a member of Oxford University Orchestra and also spent several years as principal horn of Oxford University Philharmonia, with whom he performed in the Musikverein, Vienna, in 2007.  In addition, he appeared regularly with the university's contemporary music groups - Sinfonietta and Ensemble ISIS - and has performed across the UK with a variety of chamber ensembles. On a lighter note, he also performed frequently with the university's Wind Orchestra and (on tenor horn) Brass Band, appearing several times as a soloist and guest conductor with the latter.  He was recently awarded a doctorate in Inorganic Chemistry by Lincoln College, Oxford, and continues to be in high demand as a horn player with a number of orchestras in Oxford and London.

Victoria Sheehan-Dare (clarinet)

Victoria started playing the clarinet at the age of nine, until recently studying with John Mellor from the Orchestra of Opera North. At the age of sixteen she gained a place in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Recent concerto appearances include Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in Leeds Town Hall and Copland’s Clarinet Concerto in Ripon. Victoria broadened her musical skills during her time at Oxford; last year she was joint president of New College Music Society as well as the principal clarinettist of both Oxford University Philharmonia and Oxford University Orchestra, and in 2009 she managed and conducted Oxford New Orchestra. After graduating with First Class Honours in June 2010, Victoria has been combining playing with working at Wildkats, an arts PR firm in London.