Who's Who
Our talented orchestra leaders!
They bring passion and expertise to our music, whilst guiding our members.
With their leadership, we create beautiful performances that inspire and connect with our audience. We are proud to have them at the helm of our orchestra!
We are excited to welcome our new Musical Director.
Musical Director David Chatterton
David Chatterton studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and Manchester University on their Joint Course, where his trumpet teachers were Alan Stringer, John Dickinson and Howard Snell.
As a trumpeter he played with orchestras such as the RLPO, CBSO, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Shakespeare Company, Manchester Camerata, Royal Opera House, Gabrieli Consort, Northern Chamber Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
He subsequently joined the full time staff at the world renowned Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, becoming Head of Brass and Percussion and finally Assistant Principal at Chethams’, whilst also teaching trumpet at the University of Huddersfield since 1992. He has regularly examined and adjudicated as an external examiner at the Royal Northern College of Music.
David has conducted a huge range of Chethams orchestras, ensembles and bands in performances and collaborations in the UK and abroad. He has also coached ensembles such as the National Youth Chamber Orchestra, National Youth Wind Ensemble and National Youth Concert Band, and directed at festivals and courses in Europe and as far afield as South Korea. David was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2005.
Deputy Musical Director
​
​Laura Parfitt
Orchestra Leader
Brenda Willoughby
​Laura Parfitt studied Viola at the former Royal Manchester College of Music under Frederick Riddle and Ludmilla Navratilova. Upon leaving she joined the Ulster Orchestra before moving to the Midlands, to undertake a busy freelance career working with the CBSO, English Sinfonia and BBC Orchestras. Since moving to Cornwall she has continued her playing career with the International Film Orchestra.
She started conducting in 2016 studying with John Longstaff, Denise Ham, Rodolfo Saglembeni and Dominic Grier. She has been a regular member of the George Hurst Conducting Course.
Laura has conducted concerts with St Mewan Sinfonia, West Cornwall Strings, Truro Sinfonia and is Musical Director of Kernow Philharmonic.
​Brenda won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music when she was sixteen. She studied with David Martin and Frederick Grinke and won several prizes. When living in Hertfordshire she combined playing and teaching with bringing up three children.
For many years she was leader of the St Albans’ Chamber Orchestra and the Cambridge Symphonia. She moved to Devon in 1987 and combined teaching and an active playing career, playing with the Ten Tors Orchestra, Divertimento, The Pressenda Ensemble,Truro Three Spires and more recently the Lyric Chamber Orchestra.
​
