Jane Walker studied oboe performance and musicology to Master’s level at the University of Sheffield and then worked as a music producer for Channel 4 and the BBC until leaving UK in 1992 to spend 20 or so years travelling with her husband in the diplomatic service. Musical opportunities along the way included the New Delhi Symphony Orchestra, the Bombay Chamber Orchestra, the Cyprus State Orchestra, and various chamber groups in Belgium and Holland. Now based in Canterbury, Jane plays oboe 2/cor anglais with the Maidstone Symphony Orchestra, and is a member of the octet Canterbury Winds, the Invicta Concert Band, the Josat Festival and plays for local choral societies, operatic and chamber groups, including newly formed woodwind trios: Singing Reeds and the Tallis Trio.

Sue Lowen was introduced to the bassoon at the age of 11, and took full advantage of the then flourishing music service in her native Somerset, playing in the county youth orchestra from the age of 13. As an adult, Sue continued this association playing in the Somerset Chamber Orchestra. Sue went on to study music at Birmingham University where she studied with Andrew Barnell, principal bassoon of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. After university Sue worked for the Nottinghamshire Music Service, delivering woodwind tuition across the north of the county and playing principal bassoon in the Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra. After a career break to produce her own brood of talented musicians, Sue worked for Kent Music. She had joint responsibility for the management of instrumental tuition in south Kent, where she also administered the South Kent Youth Orchestra. Sue has been principal bassoon of the Folkestone and Hythe Orchestra for nearly 20 years and is in demand as an orchestral player across the county. In 2016 Sue retrained as a theatrical costumier and she now spends her days at her cutting board, dedicating her evenings to making music with her friends.

Genessa West started playing the clarinet at school, then went on to become a Junior Exhibitioner at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and principal clarinet in Bromley Youth Orchestra. After leaving school, she gained a place at the Guildhall, to study the clarinet with Yona Ettlinger, principal clarinettist of Israel Philharmonic. who despite his early death, changed the art of clarinet playing in Israel and Europe, especially in the UK. After finishing her degree, Genessa went on teach clarinet and saxophone in schools in the London area, mostly working for Croydon Music and Arts, where she was Clarinet Coordinator. She also conducted Croydon Youth Concert Band and Croydon Youth Clarinet Choir. Throughout her teaching career, Genessa has always performed herself, and over the years she has played with many orchestras, bands and chamber groups, including Morley Chamber Orchestra, Somerset Chamber Orchestra and Kew Sinfonia. She has also performed with innumerable ad hoc groups to accompany choral societies, operatic groups and dramatic productions. Genessa’s greatest love is playing chamber music. She has performed with various wind quartets, quintets and octets. Since her recent move to Canterbury, she is able to give more time to this. Hence the formation of an octet and the Tallis Trio.