Animato was formed in 2002 by Lorna Skinner, Helen Goodwill, Maureen Burnett and Isabel Paterson in response to local demand for high quality classical music entertainment. In 2010 Rachel Farmer joined the quartet to give Helen a chance to persue other interests as well. The Quartet performs regularly at weddings and private functions. The quartet participated in the Highland Festival 2003 and in 2010 was invited to perform at the Inverness Music Festival Winners Gala Concert in Eden Court Theatre.
The members of the quartet are all highly regarded musicians in their own right and delight in bringing their individuality and charm to achieve the highest standard of performance. Currently, our regular players are:
Lorna Skinner (‘CELLO) Lorna studied cello and piano at the RSAMD and cello at the RCM (post grad). As well as teaching in Ayrshire, London and now on the Black Isle since 2002, she has enjoyed writing and recording cello music for several singer/ songwriters. She has composed for piano and cello in classical and Scottish genres. She won the Inverness Music Festival Open Composition class in 2006 with ‘Inside Out’ for unaccompanied cello, then in 2012 with Joie De Vivre for solo Piano. Her arrangement of Paganini’s Caprice No 24 for violin and cello duo was published by Spartan Press. Lorna has always loved improvising, particularly in a worship setting and often ministers to others through improvisation.
Lorna has released two CDs: ‘Kiss of Grace’ is of improvised piano music for rest and relaxation, and ‘Song of Songs’ is a few short classical compositions for piano, both albums are available as MP3s on her website www.riversofmusic.co.uk
Isabel Paterson (VIOLIN) Isabel studied violin, voice and piano at school, and toured several times in Europe with the Spectrum Youth Orchestra, but it wasn’t until after completing a Business Marketing degree at Stirling University that Isabel decided to pursue her love of music further, completing a Music Diploma with the Open University.
As well as her violin and piano teaching practice on the Black Isle, Isabel has also written and arranged some of the music that ‘Animato’ regularly plays. She has also undertaken a number of recording projects both writing for and recording violin across a broad a range of musical genre including classical, folk, rock and opera.
Isabel plays regularly for ‘Prospects Across Scotland’, a church for people with learning disabilities, other local churches, and also for the ‘Inverness Prison Fellowship’.
Sarah Murray (VIOLIN/VIOLA) attended St.Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh where she studied violin with Nigel Murray. At school she enjoyed chamber music repertoire, and playing with NYOS.
Sarah then went to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London where she studied violin under Pauline Scott. Whilst at Guildhall she joined the Covent Garden String Quartet, playing for functions and concerts in the south east.
In 1994 Sarah moved to Cardiff to join the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and joined the Corinthian String Quartet with other members of the Orchestra. In 2004 she moved back to Scotland where she and her husband, David, ran a hotel for 12 years.
Now happily settled near Nairn, Sarah enjoys playing in several local ensembles. In her spare time she loves playing golf, and going for walks with the dogs.
Maureen Burnett (VIOLIN/VIOLA) Maureen has been playing the violin since age 7. She attended the Junior Department of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow for both violin and piano lessons. She also plays the viola. She has played with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. She has always kept up with her playing through solo, chamber and orchestral performances wherever she has been based.
Maureen has also performed and competed extensively in scottish fiddle music. She has won the prestigious Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship held at Blair Atholl Castle, over 3 consecutive years. She is a past winner at the Royal National Mod and has won all the major championship titles in Scotland. She has performed many times on TV and radio.
In addition, if one of our quartet members is unavailable to play on your function date, we may use the services of a depute player. Our depute players are also professional musicians playing to an exceptionally high standard, thus our clients can be assured that they will receive only the best performance from the Animato String Quartet.