Musicians

Joanna Foster

Joanna (vocals, guitar) is an actor, singer and composer, theatre work includes leading roles at RSC, RNT and The Young Vic and recently Helen Chadwick’s Dalston Songs at Chat’s Palace, London. She has worked regularly for the BBC.

Her singing and composing embraces classical, jazz, folk and world music. Her song cycle Visions of 7 premiered at The Arcola Theatre in 2007 and toured as a concert piece. She composed for the Breathe project at The Royal Brompton Hospital with artist Jayne Wilton. She writes and performs with acapella group Anima and co runs Hackney Voices choir with Cleo Bayley.

Krisztina Gyura

Krisz (Viola & Kontra) Krisz studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Bela Bartok Music Institute, university of Miskolc. She is a classically trained chamber musician who has also played with the North Hungarian Symphony Orchestra and The National Theatre in Miskolc and has collaborated with the Avizo Quartet and Benzaiten Ensemble, Remenyi Ede Chamber Orchestra and twice won the Niveau Prize for Chamber Music performance in Debrecen (2004,2005)

An extremely versatile player, experienced in Hungarian and Romanian folk music she is a member of the fabulous Kontraband, masters of traditional Hungarian folk music. Performance highlights include Emeli Sande at the Royal Albert Hall and Bastille (Alan Carr Show)

Gary Bridgewood

Gary (violin) has toured globally and brings a multicolored and often unhinged element to the group – adding to Beskydy’s wild and lyrical nature.

Gary has played with the bands, 1000 Mexicans, The Real Tuesday Weld, Michele Stodart (Magic Numbers), Troubadour Rose, The Lucky Strikes, The Verklempt family, The Tupelo Uncles and The Book of Shame.

He is also a seasoned violin dealer, consultant, restorer and maker with more than 30 years experience at Bridgewood & Neitzert Ltd. in Stoke Newington, north London.

Peter Murphy

Peter (accordion) studied 20th century composition technique at the University of Oxford, and played French Horn in youth orchestras under such conductors as John Carewe and the late great Norman del Mar.

He also studied at Oxford under composer and Messiaen expert Robert Sherlaw Johnson and has produced a substantial body of compositions, including the cabaret/song cycle DESIRE which had its premiere at the Albany Theatre.

In recent years, Peter has concentrated on performance, particularly of central European folk music as well as collaborating as composer/arranger for Jazz Coleman working alongside Nigel Kennedy and Sarah Brightman.

Julia Doyle

Julia (double bass) has been playing her bass professionally for more than 30 years, co-founding The Guest Stars and The Holloway Allstars in her 20s. She toured and recorded with Brian Kennedy (The Great War of Words), and has made many non-commercial recordings (with Klezmer Klub, Los Mareados, Nshuks Bonga, Loverley, Cats Cradle and more).

She also trained as a free improvising community music workshop leader in the 1980s with John Stevens (when she co-edited his book, ‘Open Music Handbook’) and currently teaches music to young people with special educational needs as well as playing on both the improvising jazz,tango dance and folk circuits in the UK.

Dan Lipman

Dan (clarinet) a multi-instrumentalist, a great improviser, he has performed live and recorded regularly with a wide variety of talented artists, highlights being: co creator of Parsley Sound, touring with Bjork and Bryan Ferry and recording with John Cale, Goldie and 808 State.

His style of playing encompasses jazz, both modern and traditional , popular music, Latin and folk including East European gypsy and Klezmer.