Lauren recently accepted the position of third horn with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, moving there from her position as third horn with Scottish Opera. Before her move Lauren won Principal trials with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Opera North and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. She has also worked with the BBC Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Scottish Ballet. These performances have allowed her to play in the Proms, Edinburgh Festival, and travel as far afield as Japan.
Lauren began her studies on horn at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. After her Bachelor she moved to Austria to spend a year specialising in Vienna Horn with Hector McDonald, before moving to Germany to complete a qualification in solo performance with Professor Christian Dallmann. Whilst abroad she held the position of principal horn with the Mittelsaechsische Philharmonie in Freiberg and freelanced regularly with many of the local professional orchestras there. Lauren has recorded music for video games such as Avatar and Star Wars, as well as projects for film and TV.
After studies at The Royal College of Music, London, Ian was appointed to the horn section of the Royal Ballet Orchestra. He also worked extensively as a freelance horn player in both England and Wales, notably with The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Halle Orchestra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and The BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
He joined the horn section of The Scottish Opera Orchestra in September 2007 and also freelances frequently with other orchestras in Scotland.
Ian is also a qualified Piano Tuner and Repairer.
Stephanie studied at the Royal Northern College of Music from 2000-5. Following on from her studies Stephanie began her freelance career playing with orchestras including the Halle, BBC Philharmonic, Opera North, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Philharmonia, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Northern Ballet and Manchester Camerata. She also played on tour with Grammy Award-winning singer Adele.
Stephanie began her current post as Sub-Principal 4th horn at the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in 2009. She regularly participates in workshops and education projects with the BBC SSO including BBC 10 Pieces projects in primary and secondary schools and Tunes for Tots with pre-school children. Stephanie is also one of the regular coaches for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, and currently lectures at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, a post she has held since 2012.
Stephanie enjoys chamber music and as well as exploring horn music with the Rookh Quartet she frequently joins colleague from the BBC SSO for chamber concerts.
Born in Dundee, Andy Saunders grew up in Staffordshire where he began horn lessons as an excuse to miss science lessons! He studied Music at York University before moving back north to Glasgow to complete his Masters degree at the RSAMD with Hugh Potts.
After graduating he spent a season as Solo Horn of Slovenian National Opera and Ballet in Ljubljana, before returning to Glasgow. He now plays regularly with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Ensemble Modern, Le Concert Olympique, Daniel's Beard, and Rednote Ensemble.
A Board member for both The Night With… and New Music Scotland, Andy ran the 2024 Nordic Music Days festival in Glasgow and was awarded the Nordic Composers’ Council’s Honorary Prize for Contribution to New Music in 2024. He is also the Performance Consultant for the University of Glasgow’s music degrees.
Lauren plays a yellow brass Alexander 103
Stephanie plays a yellow brass Alexander 1103
Ian plays a yellow brass Alexander 1103
Andy plays a gold brass Alexander 103
None of them have much of a clue about the mouthpieces that they use, but Lauren has a very fancy mute!