MEET THE TEAM
As Elektra’s reputation has grown, so has their team and now they can literally be found performing in three different places of the world at once. Whether this be as headliners on a luxury cruise ship, a concert platform in the UK, an international corporate event or for a community education project, each member of Elektra brings their own unique sparkle and personality to the show.
As well as great music, Elektra is also about great friendships and this shines through both on and off stage!
HAZEL
Hazel is the founder member and manager of Elektra.
Hazel studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and after achieving a Distinction in performance as a postgraduate, she has since built an extensive and diverse portfolio that takes her all over the world. Hazel is in demand as both a soloist in her own right and as a session musician and leader, working across all genres of music and she was delighted to be chosen as a nominee and finalist for ‘Future Classic Women Awards 2020.’
Hazel has played with orchestras including BBC, Halle and CBSO and theatre companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, recently playing violin (and mandolin!) in the West end run of Don Quixote. She has also led tours and recorded with artists including Michael Buble and Bryn Terfel, as well as making TV appearances on the Brit Awards, Strictly Come Dancing and MTV Unplugged. Hazel has also written and created several independent projects, which have led her to tour internationally; these include her solo show ‘Tango Tzigane’
Hazel is passionate about music education and also utilising the power of music for social change.
Part of the 2020 cohort for the prestigious Ivy League curated ‘Global Leaders Program,’ Hazel’s work in the field of music for social change has been recognised in two articles published this year for the World Ensemble. As well as her ongoing work with Curanilahue, Chile, this includes her initiative to lift global barriers imposed by Covid-19 and empower local teachers to deliver an exceptional music education within their own community. Hazel is also a professional coach with client bases including UNICEF and the NHS.
LIZ
In her formative years, Lizz was classically trained and spent 5 years at the Royal Academy of Music (London). Yet, with a love of Jazz & Blues improvisation her playing takes her from intimate to international as an entertainer. Her career as a soloist has included concerts with choirs and bands across the UK. She continued to perform at zoom festivals and concerts throughout the 2020 lockdown. Foundational to her performance experience has been her 12 years of worldwide shows with Elektra.
Her most prestigious moments in previous years include performing and recording with Smokey Robinson, Richard Hawley, Newton Faulkner and Peter Gabriel. Playing live on BBC2 radio with Bob Harris and on TV for ‘Songs of Praise’ and ‘Later… with Jools Holland’.
Lizz enjoys the virtuosity of the violin spanning styles and exploring the extensive capabilities in tone quality from this wonderful instrument. She uses her violin extensively in her work as a music therapist with Dementia, Parkinsons, brain injury and profound learning difficulties. Until Covid restrictions, she performed regularly for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation at the bedside of many patients. She continues to connect via i-pads and cinematic screens where possible.
TEODORA
At the age of 11 Teodora won a full music scholarship to the prestigious Wells Cathedral School. During her school years, she won the coveted Concerto Competition. in addition to recording for BBC Radio 1 and she went on to continue her studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Teodora’s many professional stage appearances have included performances for celebrities and members of royalty, such as the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Charles Worthington and Vivienne Westwood.
Whilst classically trained, Teodora loves improvising alongside DJs and recording in other music genres. She has collaborated with Nicolette from ‘Massive Attack’, featured on the Michael McEntyre Show, Graham Norton and Britain’sGot Talent, as well as performing live with and recording with Bastille, Kodaline and the best-selling artist Emeli Sande. She enjoys the musical variety of playing both as a soloist and in ensembles, including Grafitti Classics and Bowjagles, as well as her own acoustic and electric all-female quartet ‘The Lady Godivas’, who can be seen performing regularly at the 2 Michelin star Mayfair restaurant Sketch
COREY
Corey was born and brought up in Sussex and has been playing violin since age 6. Having trained classically at the Royal Northern College of Music, she now works as a freelance musician in London and enjoys a varied career playing everything from musical theatre and folk to pop and club music! She specialises in musical theatre and has played in shows on London’s West End. She also plays in orchestras, session recordings and at large corporate events and weddings. Corey loves being part of Elektra first and foremost because she gets to play with such wonderful and talented violinists who she has formed close friendships with over her time cruising and working alongside them. The music is full of life and is always a joy to perform. It covers a range of classics and more modern songs that audiences everywhere can relate to and enjoy . Corey has also spent time playing in care homes around her local area of Surrey and also volunteered at a local charity called Epsom and Ewell Phab. It is an inclusive charity for able bodied and disabled children. A highlight of her time with them is the musical she co-wrote in 2018. She wrote the songs and lyrics for ‘Always Summer’ and the children performed to a packed audience at Epsom Playhouse Theatre! Corey also volunteers on the South East Fundraising committee for Cancer Research UK and her team put on large events each year to raise money. Last year she played with Elektra at their event ‘Relay For Life’ and the audience were blown away by the energy, choreography and fun nature of Elektra’s show!
JEN
Jen’s love for the arts and travel started very young after
spending half her childhood growing up in Italy. After moving
back to Scotland, a passion for music, dance and drama
soon began and led her to studying Acting and Music at
Rose Bruford College in London. Since studying, Jen has
enjoyed a fulfilling career in Musical Theatre, touring to all
major UK Theatres and Internationally. Past shows have
included: Chess The Musical (UK/Canada/Italy), Fiddler on
the Roof, Love Story, Sister Act (UK/Monaco), The Wizard of
Oz and Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat. Alongside
her musical theatre journey, Jen has performed sessions for
TV and Radio, enjoys performing with classical and pop
ensembles and also plays with one of London’s top Ceilidh
bands – folk music has always been close to her heart!
Alongside her musical journey, Jen has also had the
opportunity to perform as an actress and dancer –
sometimes merging all 3 disciplines at once in past shows!
When not traversing the globe on a cruise or on a show, Jen
enjoys collaborating with other bands and artists and can
often be found in her music studio at home recording strings
for various projects. Along with her playing work, Jen is a
passionate violin teacher and enjoys performing concerts for
local care homes and hospitality venues.
PHOEBE
Phoebe is an award winning violinist, production designer and educator based in South East London. She received a full scholarship to study at The Purcell School of Music, 2002, and in 2010 she received the Royal Society of Musicians funding scheme award to continue her studies at the Guildhall School of music and Drama. Phoebe achieved a BMus in Violin Performance at The Guildhall, under world renowned violinist and pedagogue, Simon Fischer.
Phoebe has been built a diverse career as a performer and recording artist, across a wide range of musical contexts and ensembles; from classical recitals with leading orchestras and chamber ensembles at many of the UK’s most prestigious venues, including The Royal Albert Hall and the Wigmore Hall. Session work includes the London Symphony Orchestra, Covent Garden Sinfonia, Down For the Count Jazz Orchestra and BBC, Liam Gallagher MTV Unplugged. She has also recorded with West End Stars Emma Hatton & Ria Jones, Jazz artist Anthony Strong, Urban Soul Orchestra and London Electronic Orchestra. Phoebe is currently a performing and arranging member of The City String Ensemble who have just released their first EP ‘Twenty Twenty’.
Phoebe also has a keen interest in teaching music education and leading workshops over the UK.. Phoebe has performed and lead workshops at St Thomas Hospital, London, as well as regularly leading workshops in care homes and SEN schools throughout the borough of Islington.
ELOISE
Eloise began playing the violin at 5 years of age and trained at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester and the Royal College of Music, London.
Since graduating, Eloise has been a regular freelance player with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (including worldwide tours, recordings and BBC Proms concerts ) and other ensembles including English National Ballet, Oxford Philharmonic, London Concert Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra and the Bert Kaempfert Orchestra.
She also has a love of Opera and has played in the orchestras for Grange Park, Longborough, Neville Holt, Carl Rosa and Birmingham opera companies.
Eloise’ theatre work includes Don Quixote at The Garrick Theatre, London. Royal Shakespeare Company at The Barbican Theatre and Wilton Music Hall, London. As well as the Kevin and Karen Clifton Tour, “ABBA: The Show” UK, Germany, Eastern Europe and Scandinavian tours.
In popular music she has performed with artists such as Sam Smith, Kanye West, Tim Minchin, Professor Green, Jamie Cullum, Mary J Blige, Gnarls Barkley, Alison Moyet, Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson, David Garrett and Il Divo.
On television she has appeared on The X Factor, Made in Chelsea, GMTV, Concert for Diana, Friday Night Project, This Morning, Top of the Pops, Parkinson, The Two Ronnies and The Brit Awards.
She has recorded with Katie Melua, Emeli Sandé, Sam Smith, Matt Cardle, the X-Factor finalists and Kanye West at Abbey Road.
