Our Musicians

Liz Lundie - Violin / Viola

Liz grew up in Bolton and graduated from the RNCM in 2007. Since then she has enjoyed an active freelance playing career, regularly performing with numerous professional orchestras and bands around the UK and Ireland.

She is currently the lead violin with Anything For Love - The Meat Loaf Story, and is very much in demand as a recording artist and a pit musician. Liz founded the Rondino String Quartet in 2012.

Liz also performs as a soloist for weddings and solo recitals. She is also the proud owner of one husband and 4 rescue cats.

Lucy Thomson - Violin

Lucy is originally from South-East London and studied Music at The University of York. She then studied for a Postgraduate degree at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Lucy is a busy freelance player around the North-West and further afield. She now mostly performs for weddings and shows but has tutored the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, Performed with Orquesta do Norte in Portugal, and worked as Deputy 2nd Violin in Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre in Londons West End.

Lucy keeps busy with 4 young children and loves to swim. She is also a keen traveller and has a big interest in Latin-American Music as her family originate from Costa Rica.

Ben Kearsley - Viola

Ben graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2018 and currently holds a busy freelance career of playing, teaching and conducting.

As a viola player, Ben has played with many professional orchestras across the North and Scotland. Ben currently teaches for Wigan Music Service and at Rossall School, he thoroughly enjoys passing on his knowledge to the next generation of young musicians.

His conducting journey started with Congleton Youth Orchestra and has led him to becoming principal conductor for Paddock Orchestra and deputy conductor for Holme Valley Orchestra. As a keen chamber musician Ben is very much looking forward to working closely with Rondino Strings. 

Danny Norbury - Cello

Danny studied at the RNCM and enjoys a busy career as a freelance player and teacher. He combines this with occasional composition, some of which have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

As well as creating numerous recording projects with fellow musicians at home and abroad, he has also written several solo works, and released several albums.

When not working he enjoys cooking, preferably accompanied by a large glass of red wine.

Kathleen Ord - Violin / Viola

Cumbrian-born multi-instrumentalist Kathleen began learning music at an early age, with a strong background in traditional folk. She went on to study violin at the Royal Northern College of Music, and now has a blossoming reputation as one of this country’s most versatile session musicians, having toured and recorded extensively throughout the UK and beyond.

As violinist and vocalist, she is known for her work with BBC Folk Award winners The Unthanks, Simply Dylan, The Horse Puppets, and many more. She regularly collaborates with Haystack Records (folk & trad. based label) and is very much in demand writing string arrangements for studio recordings.

A true music enthusiast, Kathleen enjoys performing in a wide variety of musical settings, as comfortable playing with an orchestra or string quartet as she is singing in a folk club.

In her free time she is a keen yogi, loves to bake and knit, and adores snuggling up with her cat, Snowy.

Despina Reid - Violin

Originating from Bucharest, Romania, Despina was born and raised in a musical family.

Since graduating from the RNCM in 2007, Despina settled in Manchester and enjoys performing both in the UK and abroad, taking part in various orchestral, chamber and solo projects, including session work with AoReA Music.

She has also worked and toured with the National Symphony Orchestra and played as a guest principal with the Darwin Ensemble and Baroque in the North.

Gaynor Sutcliffe - Violin / Viola

After graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2002 Gaynor has to date enjoyed a varied career as a musician in all different styles and genres from classical to pop and folk to jazz/swing.

As well as being a regular member of Rondino Strings and having a passion for chamber and orchestral music, she has also performed with various orchestras such as the Halle, Liverpool Philharmonic and Lancashire Sinfonietta in venues such as London Barbican theatre, Manchester's Bridgewater Hall and various other arenas, theatres and iconic buildings throughout the UK and Europe.

Gaynor also plays with the well known Swing Commanders as a jazz musician and fronts her own Western Valley Swing band as a multi instrumentalist and singer.

As well as being a mum to 2 girls and a qualified teacher of dance she graduated as a fitness instructor 10 years ago and enjoys fell running with her collie, Merlin.

Greg Morton - Cello

Originally from Scotland, Greg Morton moved South, studied at RAM Junior Department, the Purcell School and the RNCM before setting off on a career that has seen him play and record with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Skipton Camerata and various other session orchestras and chamber groups.

He was the featured solo cello on the Channel 5 documentary, "Slum Britain: 50 years on" and the BAFTA Award winning film, "For Sama".
In a musical double life, Greg has also sung and played keyboards for the likes of the Revillos (as Hymo), Don Felder (Eagles), Tony Christie, Rick Wakeman, John Miles, Steve Steinman’s “Anything for Love” featuring Lorraine Crosby, and Ren Harvieu.

He performs regularly around the Manchester area, the rest of the UK, and abroad.