Beth Spendlove

Postgraduate Certificate RAM; LRAM; ARCM Hons; Dip RAM; Cert Mus; FISM

Beth received her earliest musical training at the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Purcell School and the Colchester Institute. As an ABRSM scholar at the Royal Academy of Music, Beth studied with Frederick Grinke and David Martin, and was awarded a number of prizes including the Millibern Fellowship, a Countess of Munster Award and the much-coveted J & A Beare Bow Prize.

Beth's career as a soloist has taken her to the Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert and Wigmore Halls and alongside performing much of the major violin concerto repertoire, Beth has collaborated with Contemporary composers and been the dedicatee of several new pieces, giving performances at the Kodály Society and for Brighton New Music. As a recitalist Beth has a duo partnership with the pianist Nigel Clayton and has explored her passion for Chamber Music with the Kingfisher Ensemble, which she established in 1991. Beth led both the East of England Orchestra and the Colchester Symphony Orchestra for several years, and alongside freelance playing at St John's Smith Square, she also directed the Colchester Sinfonietta. In 2011 Beth founded the Kingfisher Sinfonietta, one of East Anglia's most popular orchestral and chamber groups which has become affiliated with many of the region's most eminent choral societies and the internationally renowned conductor and composer Elgar Howarth.   

Alongside her performing commitments, Beth teaches a wide variety of pupils in Suffolk and Essex, currently aged between 4 to 80, and as an experienced and committed educator Beth has held teaching positions as a visiting violin teacher at Ipswich High School, Orwell Park School, Morley College, Oxford House School and formally mentored advanced students at the Colchester Institute Centre for Music & Performing Arts and has been the first violin coach for the Essex Youth Orchestra.  

Beth has successfully prepared students for undergraduate and postgraduate entry to all of UK’s leading Conservatoires, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, the National Children’s’ Orchestra, Aldeburgh Young Musicians, the Suffolk & Essex Youth Orchestras, and her students regularly attend Chamber music course at Pro Corda. Beth has helped to inspire many adult pupils over the years to return to playing the violin, and several pupils have often enjoyed courses at Benslow Music and contributing the local world of amateur music making in East Anglia.