The Goldcrest Ensemble

Performing at Wivenhoe St Mary’s Music Society on Friday 15^th July, 2022

Duke Dobing, flute, took up the flute aged 10, and four years later joined the National Youth Orchestra, where he became Principal Flute. He made his debut as a professional with the English Chamber Orchestra aged 18, and over the ensuing six years, participated in a number of Aldeburgh Festival concerts and recordings conducted by Benjamin Britten. Duke has played as Guest Principal Flute with most of London’s major orchestras, while his core commitment was as Principal Flute of City of London Sinfonia, a position he held for 25 years. With CLS, Duke appeared as soloist throughout the UK and on foreign tours, giving many broadcasts including the UK première of Jean Françaix’s Double Concerto. He gave the world première of John Rutter’s Suite Antique for flute and strings and subsequently recorded it for John’s Collegium label. The BBC chose Duke to be the flute soloist in Radio 3’s “A Breath of Virtuosity” series, playing concertos by Mozart and Nigel Osborne. Duke now concentrates on solo recitals and chamber music.

Raphael Hurwitz, viola studied the viola with Jonathan Barritt at the Junior Royal Academy of Music and began his career as section leader of the National Youth Strings Orchestra, London International Orchestra and subsequently went on to form the London FILMharmonic Orchestra in 2012. As a prominent multi-instrumentalist, his work has taken him around the world as well as performing in many West-End shows and independent theatre as a freelance Musical Director. Raphael has also worked in collaboration with Pizza Express Jazz Club Dean Street and King’s Place for the Global Music Foundation. As well as performing chamber music, Raphael also works as a fine instruments and bows dealer and specialist.

Miriam Keogh, harp was born in Dublin into a large musical family; both her parents were professional musicians. Miriam was awarded a Countess of Munster Trust Scholarship to study the harp with Osian Ellis at the Royal Academy of Music, and she undertook further studies with Renata Scheffell Stein.
As a freelance harpist her career has taken her to many countries including the USA, Europe and the Far East as Guest Principal harpist with leading orchestras, including The London Symphony Orchestra, The Philharmonia and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Miriam was awarded an ARAM by the Royal Academy of Music “for achieving distinction in the profession”.
As well as performing chamber music with several groups, Miriam enjoys teaching at the Royal Academy of Music, coaching for various youth orchestras, organising master classes and summer schools and has a busy private teaching practice.