The Musicians

Graham Cracknell (violin)
Graham has appeared as leader, soloist or member with many leading chamber orchestras and most of the symphony orchestras in London. He has toured worldwide, and made recordings of various kinds of music. He has worked with popular performers such as Paul McCartney and Shirley Bassey, and played at the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

Alison Cracknell (violin)
Alison studied violin at the Royal College of Music and was a founder member of the European Baroque Orchestra. She has freelanced and made recordings with many Early Music ensembles in London and toured throughout Europe, the U.S.A. and Israel. Alison also teaches violin and is now a qualified pre-school teacher. She is married to Graham and they have three children.

Ray Northcott (percussion)
Ray began his musical career at the age of seven as a drummer with a Salvation Army Band. At 15 he was the first percussionist ever invited to join the National Youth Band of Great Britain, and was immediately featured as a soloist on tuned percussion. At 18 he joined the Royal Airforce Band, and soon after that the London Symphony Orchestra. During his time, Ray has worked with most of the great composers and conductors of the 20th century, travelling to almost every continent on three world tours.

Judith Brearley (cello)
Judith was a foundation scholar at the Royal College of Music and later studied with Andre Navarra. She has freelanced with many London orchestras and was a member of the Royal Opera Orchestra, Covent Garden. Judith is much in demand as a cello teacher and a chamber music player. She is married to John who is a professional viola player and they have four grown-up children.

Pete Desmond (trumpet/keyboard/arranger)
Pete studied music at the University of Leeds and education at Birmingham University. For over 18 years he was head of music at three inner-city secondary schools. Since January 2002 he has been head of music and performing arts for Haringey Education Service. Pete's first instrument is the trumpet. He has a wide and varied performing career including several national radio and TV appearances. He has played in brass quintets, jazz quintets, big bands, orchestras and pop bands. Pete has also worked extensively as a composer and arranger. Pete and his family are members of Enfield Baptist Church.

Andy Coomar (guitar and vocals)
Andy is a graphic designer by profession and has been playing the guitar since he was eight. He toured with Helen Shapiro from 1994 to 2003 as a vocalist and accompanist. He loves jazz and, with a small group of musicians from Face2Face, has played at a few jazz café events and visited some prisons to present music workshops to the prisoners.

Nina Cook (vocals)
Nina began singing at 16 and studied with Guildhall professor Richard Ford, then with Jessica Cash and is currently with Nicholas Powell. She performed with many London-based groups and with the Kent Opera before choosing family over career for several years. She loves to sing anything really, and is very happy to move from Bach to Gershwin and from Handel to Simon and Garfunkel. She has been a member of Face2Face for the past 11 years, and has been privileged to travel to Russia with them several times.

Ian Anderson (double-bass/arranger)
Ian studied double-bass and piano at the Royal Academy of Music, and worked for many years with leading London orchestras. He now works as a piano teacher and is much in demand as an accompanist. In his spare time, he plays jazz bass and arranges music for Face2Face.

Maria Prowse (viola)
Maria studied at the Purcell School and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She is a freelance viola player and has played with orchestras including the London Mozart Players and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Maria has also broadcast for the BBC World Service and has worked with Cliff Richard. Maria is a teacher in Hertfordshire, is married to Jeremy, and they have three children.