Coffee Concert No. 763

Hetta Falzon vocals and piano

Hetta is a singer and pianist from Somerset and is currently based in Manchester. She combines her jazz, pop and classical past to inspire a unique melodic world, which is driven by her desire to move people. Hetta has graced stages across the UK, including the prestigious Glastonbury Festival. From the Manchester Museum to The Lowry Hotel, Hetta is renowned for her captivating voice and unique renditions of crowd pleasing covers.

Emily Harpley Gebbels violin

Emily  was born in 2003 in Birmingham and is currently studying at the RNCM with Jim Clark. Career highlights to date include performing the first movement of Dvořák’s Violin Concerto with the Ealing Youth Orchestra in 2022, leading the London Schools Symphony Orchestra in three concerts in the Barbican in 2022 and performing regularly with the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra in Cadogan Hall in 2024.

Chamber music is another one of Emily’s main musical interests and she plays in two chamber ensembles at RNCM: the Gebbels piano trio and the Azure Quartet. Formed in November 2022, the Gebbels piano trio has received numerous coachings including from the renowned Alexander Sitkovetsky. In 2024, they played Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No 2 in a masterclass with the Paddington Trio and the Beethoven’s Ghost Piano Trio in the final round of the Hirsh Chamber Music Prize at RNCM. The Azure Quartet, formed in the summer of 2023, have covered a range of classical repertoire and have recently performed in Southport as part of the Christ Church lunchtime concerts with clarinettist Andrew Roberts. They have also worked with pop students from RNCM and other universities.

Steph Roberts viola

Steph is currently studying for her Bachelor’s degree at the RNCM under the tutelage of Louise Lansdown. As a keen chamber musician, Steph has performed in the Azure Quartet in recordings for the BIMM Music Institute, concerts at the Liverpool Arts Club and a performance of 4 Landscapes written by Theodore Maher-Williams, dedicated to the string quartet. Steph is currently in various viola ensembles within RNCM, which includes receiving coaching from Robin Ireland in preparation for performance as part of the luthier’s exhibition of the 360° festival at the Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competition in 2025.

Before coming to the RNCM, Steph studied with Gwendolyn Cawdron, Associate Principal Viola of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Steph was Principal Viola with the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and the Early Music as Education Youth Orchestra, for which she now also tutors. EMAE pride themselves for their performances in an authentic baroque style using baroque bows, and they have given concerts in Paris, Netherlands, Barcelona, and Sardinia.

Steph is grateful to be supported with a scholarship for her studies at RNCM which was made possible by Jellis Beques.

Maya Tucker cello

Maya is a highly dedicated and passionate cellist, currently in her third year of study at the RNCM. Born in South London, Maya started music with the Bromley Youth Music Trust and began her cello studies under the guidance of Ivan Andrews and Sally Pendlebury. Within BYMT, she was principal cellist of the Symphony Orchestra and renowned youth orchestra, Bromley Youth Chamber Orchestra. With BYCO, Maya toured Europe and ended her journey with the orchestra in Wells Cathedral as soloist in Boccherini’s Concerto in B flat.

Maya pursued her formal education in music at the RNCM, where she received the Marie Thecla Kieran Award on entry. She has studied with teachers such as Nicholas Trygstad, Jennifer Langridge and Eddie Pogossian. As Maya starts her third year of college, she is grateful to have a place on the BBC Philharmonic Professional Experience Scheme and is looking forward to a masterclass with Hannah Roberts.

Maya plays on a nineteenth century Bavarian cello loaned by the Benslow Music Trust and is forever grateful for their generosity and support.

Esmé MacBride-Stewart French horn

Esmé is a Manchester-based, Edinburgh-born musician studying at the RNCM and the University of Manchester on the Joint Music Course. She is a passionate collaborative musician, performing frequently with her wind quintet, the Cardinal Quintet, as well as various orchestras and ensembles around Manchester.