Hazel is a specialist in early violin, working in the field of historical performance. Described by Gramophone as ‘accomplished and knowledgeable’, her performing career focuses principally on the following areas:

Violin Recitals

Hazel has performed as a recitalist across Europe and in most major venues in the UK.  She has a longstanding musical partnership with harpsichordist David Pollock in Duo Dorado. Performing familiar composers such as Bach and Vivaldi alongside more unusual repertoire, and praised for their accessible yet high-quality performing style, the Duo were Making Music selected artists 2015-16.  They have released a number of critically acclaimed recordings, including premiere recordings of early English sonatas, edited by Hazel from manuscript sources.  Hazel is sought after as a player of this repertoire.

Hazel also performs in England and abroad with organists Martin Knizia and Robin Walker. Of particular note is a performance of early Italian repertoire in the lavish 1620s baroque nave of the Badia Fiorentina, Florence, playing a copy of an Andrea Amati violin from 1564 alongside the Zeffirini organ of the Badia, dating from 1558.

Leading and directing

Hazel is frequently asked to lead orchestras and enjoys appearing as a concerto soloist.  Groups she leads, has guest-led, or played concertos with include: The Frideswide Ensemble, The Brook Street Band, Greenwich Baroque, The Sweelinck Ensemble, Charivari Agreable, Fiori Musicali, Vivace!, Bradford Baroque, Capella Fede Players, and the City Bach Collective.

The City Bach Collective specialises in performing the cantatas of J. S. Bach and is directed by Hazel from the violin.  More information here.

Other Groups

Other ensembles and orchestras with which Hazel plays the violin include The Sixteen, St James’s Baroque Players, The Kings Consort, The Hanover Band, Haydn Sinfonietta Wien (Austria), The Parley of Instruments, Florilegium, Ex Cathedra, Steinitz Bach Players, Brandenburg Sinfonia, New London Consort, London Handel Orchestra and The Feinstein Ensemble.

Viola d’Amore

This once popular instrument is largely neglected nowadays outside its annual appearances in Bach’s St John Passion. Hazel plays it extensively, exploring lesser-known repertoire from early manuscript sources, through concertos and cantatas by Vivaldi, Bach and Telemann, to music written by contemporary composers. The frequent use of scordatura in baroque music for the viola d’amore ties in with Hazel’s interest in scordatura writing for the violin.

Hazel performs on the viola d’amore in England and Germany in partnership with leading viola d’amore specialist Daniela Braun.

A particularly memorable project was the recording in 2012 of Odysseus in Ogygia, a new work by composer Rachel Stott for six viola d’amores in three different tunings.

Background

A graduate of Clare College, Cambridge, Hazel went on to study the violin at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Leipzig, then the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where she was awarded a scholarship to specialise in Early Music.  She won the Christopher Kite Prize, the Bankers Trust Pyramid Award and was a finalist in the chamber music competitions in York and Antwerp. Principal teachers have included Rosemary Rapaport, Fred Roth and Micaela Comberti.

Hazel has given masterclasses, workshops and coaching sessions at GSMD, Trinity College, University of Southampton, Early Music West Midlands and Aust Music.