Marino Strings | Members

Jessica Lawless

Hannah Garty

Mark Lee

Rachel Leigh

Jessica graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales in August 2017, where she spent two years studying full-time for a Masters of Music in Solo Performance (violin). This course involved extensive orchestral, solo and chamber music performance. Jessica took lessons with Lowri Porter (co-principal violin in the Welsh National Opera) and performed across the UK in iconic venues with world-class conductors. Since her postgraduate studies at this prestigious National Conservatoire, she has worked as an upper strings teacher (violin and viola) for Berkshire Maestros, one of the UK's leading music services. Prior to qualifying as a Master of Music, she spent one year year running a small teaching business and continuing her studies with university violin teacher, Caroline Balding. A total of 3 years was spent studying for a BA (Hons) in Music from the University of Southampton.

Jessica began playing violin at school aged 8 after having been on the waiting list for almost 1 year! Jessica attended an incredibly supportive state college/sixth form where she received free violin, theory and piano tuition for two years. During those two years, Jessica also sung in the college choir and all-female chamber choir, achieved ABRSM Grade 8 Distinction in violin, took piano and theory exams, led the Fareham and Gosport Area Youth Orchestra, and played in the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra and their Chamber Orchestra. Jessica's highlight in this orchestra was their performance of Mahler's 2nd Symphony at Winchester Cathedral.

Following college studies Jessica undertook a BA (Hons) in Music at the University of Southampton, where she performed in SUSO (Southampton University Symphony Orchestra, including two foreign tours to Nice/Cannes then Valencia), the Southampton University Sinfonietta (Chamber Orchestra), and other music department historical projects. Conductors she worked with during this time were Robin Browning, Jonathan Lo, Dane Lam and Maxime Tortilier. Jessica has performed in string classes with cellist Paul Cox and received Baroque training from Adrian Chandler 'La Serenissima'. Jessica also played 1st violin in a string quartet named 'Euphoria' for two years. For the culmination of 3 years of education, she played a Russian recital of Shostakovich and Prokofiev.

Jessica is grateful for the overwhelming support and assistance which she has received throughout her student years: postgraduate bursaries from the William Price Foundation and the Wessex Society for Young Musician's Trust, a string scholarship onto an Easter orchestral course, a bursary to Dartington International Summer School (where she led the Dartington String Orchestra), two co-principal bursaries to perform with the Rehearsal Orchestra in Trinity Square London, and finally the Gillian Halse bursary as co-principal at the Rehearsal Orchestra's Edinburgh course in alignment with Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2016.) Jessica also received full funding to perform Wagner's Tannhauser with the Edinburgh Opera Players Group in Portobello.

Jessica studied for two years under Lowri Porter (co-principal of the Welsh National Opera) at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff and occasionally took tuition also with Itzhak Rashkovsky and Rachel Podger. She worked with Wyn Davies, David Jones and Carlo Rizzi at the Sherman Theatre, the Dora Stouzker Hall and St Davids Hall. Jessica performed with the RWCMD Symphony Orchestras, Chamber Orchestras, REPCO orchestras, Opera Orchestras and Conductors Showcase Orchestras. Jessica co-led a production of Mozart's Le Nozze Di Figaro, and during this time had the pleasure of performing on a £10,000 George Hudson Violin kindly on loan from the Benslow Instrumental Loan Scheme. Jessica also played in a contemporary, five-piece ensemble - The Nightingale Ensemble, who gave performances in Wales and London to high critical acclaim. One of the highlights of her time at college was a 3-night run of Kurt Weill's gritty opera, 'Street Scene.'

Jessica currently lives in Mitcham, Surrey and runs a small instrumental teaching business (violin, viola and piano) and reallys enjoy performing in her spare time. She play viola in the Havant Symphony Orchestra for fun and play violin in numerous local orchestras, including the Charity Symphony Orchestra, the Havant Chamber Orchestra and the Solent Symphony Orchestra. Jessica borrows a beautiful Lowendall viola and a Lucci Workshop contemporary violin kindly on loan from a nearby teacher and mentor.

Hannah started to play the violin aged two, encouraged by her professional violinist mother. She attended St. George’s College, Weybridge, on a music scholarship for violin, piano and singing. From the age of fourteen she was a member of Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra and took part in tours to Spain, France and Italy and from there went on to play in the London Schools Symphony Orchestra which played in the Royal Albert Hall and toured to Prague.

Hannah graduated with a BMus (Hons) in 2017 from the University of Leeds where she studied with Raimonda Koco from the Opera North and Northern Ballet Orchestras, and spent a year abroad at the Conservatorio di Verona studying under Roberto Muttoni. She will begin a Masters of Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in September 2019, studying with Rivka Golani and Simon Smith.

Having freelanced throughout her college and university years she is no stranger to a variety of settings and enjoys getting involved in a wide range of musical endeavours. She led the Musical Theatre and Stage Musical Society orchestras at University of Leeds for productions of Cabaret, Evita, Jekyll and Hyde and The Last Five Years and Opera Society’s Carmen and Don Giovanni. From musical theatre pit bands, to opera orchestras, electric Bollywood trios, flash mobs, classical string quartets and symphony orchestras she has relished the varying opportunities her musical talents allow, not only on the violin but also performing in roles such as Rapunzel in Sondheim’s Into The Woods. Hannah has led the Hounslow Symphony Orchestra, co-led the Kingston Third Age orchestra with Madeline Easton and is now leader of the Illyrian Ensemble and Orchestra Nouveau. Hannah freelances in and around London and runs Music Time, music classes for toddlers in West London. She is thrilled to be a part of the newly-formed Marino Strings team and hopes to collaborate with the group in ways not limited to the classical quartet.

Mark (Hun Sik) Lee is a Korean-born violinist and has been a freelance violinist and violist across the country for the past decade.

Having initially gained a scholarship entry to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, he primarily studied under Susanne Stanzeleit (Maggini & Primrose Quartets) as well as further tuition from Robin Ireland (The Lindsays) and Lucy Russell (Fitzwilliam Quartet), graduating with First Class Honours. He was a recipient of the Sylvia Cleaver Prize and also graciously received financial support from Loan Fund for Musical Instruments, EMI Music Sound Foundation and the James Langley Memorial Trust for the duration of his studies at Birmingham.

In addition, he has been fortunate enough to have had masterclasses and coaching with international artists such as Dmitri Sitkovetsky, Linus Roth, Jian Wang and Timothy Ridout.

He balances a busy and varied freelance schedule of orchestral, chamber and solo work nationwide, having played and held principal positions with ensembles such as London City Philharmonic, Edlin Ensemble, Piccadilly Sinfonietta, Britten Sinfonietta and Orion Orchestra. He also regularly performs other styles of music professionally such as pop, film and jazz, most notably being a regular artist in Candlelight Concerts by Fever across the country.

In addition to his music career, he has recently completed his Medical degree at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry and holds a dual career between both disciplines, which is more than enough to keep him out of trouble!

Rachel is a London-based cellist and a graduate of the Royal College of Music. She began her cello journey as a child in Bournemouth where she performed solo recitals at prestigious events, including the Winchester Festival, as well being recognized with the Don Riddell Memorial Prize.

Since moving to London, Rachel has developed into a versatile musician, frequently performing chamber music in both formal and commercial settings. She enjoys playing in orchestral projects and musical theatre, recently being in the pit band for the workshop performance of "Redcliffe."

In addition to her performance work, Rachel is a respected teacher in the Lambeth and Southwark areas, providing tuition in both private and state schools as well as through her own private practice.