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Meet The Players
Matthew Spring
My research interests are centred on Early Music in general with a specialism in renaissance instruments. I also have interests in Folk Music and Ethnomusicology. Matthew has recorded some 50 CDs for labels such as Chandos, Hyperion, Gift of Music, Griffin and Metier.Matthew has given papers to many conferences: Utrecht Lute Fest, BSECS (Oxford), Cecil Sharp House (London), The International Pipe and Tabor Society (Gloucester), the Foundlings Hospital Standing Conference (London), Medieval and Renaissance Music Conference (Nottingham), the Chalemie Summer School (Oxford) and the Shakespeare Summer School (Cambridge).
As a workshop leader Matthew has directed sessions for NEEMF (Court of Maximillian, Paie Cantiones) and EEMF (Hildegard of Bingen with Sara Stowe), he teaches on the Chalemie Summer School and is an experienced Schools Workshop leader, and has directed projects with young people (New Oxford Consort, Pilgrimage of Grace in Louth).
Eleanor Carr
Eleanor started playing the bassoon at age 10 and has performed with numerous ensembles, including the Dorset Youth Symphony Orchestra and is currently a member of the Bath-based Crescent Chamber Orchestra, the Bristol-based renaissance wind band, The Favonius Collective and the waits group the Weston Wyndes. Having found a passion for renaissance music whilst studying at Bath Spa, Eleanor has attended several esteemed courses as a bursary student including Jackdaws, HISS and The Dartington International Summer School, performing on the dulcian, recorder and shawm. Eleanor has also performed in several historical contexts, including at the Regency Ball at the Holburne museum and the 250th Anniversary of the Royal Crescent in Bath. Having graduated with a First in BA Music and achieved the award for Ensemble Performer in the Bath Spa class of 2019, Eleanor went on to specialise in a Masters in Music Performance, in which she achieved a distinction. Eleanor also enjoys Gamelan, both playing with the BSU Gamelan ensemble and leading workshops for students. Eleanor was supported during her time at University thanks to the generosity of the Taunton Maids Bursary.
Kira Thomas
Kira is a recorder player, oboist and mezzo-soprano based in Bath who performs regularly around the southwest and the UK. Originally from South-East London, Kira was given a place at Blackheath Conservatoire to study violin at the age of 4 and began learning the recorder at age 6.
In 2015 Kira began studying Music and Psychology at Bath Spa University and in her first year achieved an ABRSM Diploma in Recorder Performance. Throughout her degree she continued to play the oboe in various ensembles both in and out of the university, however the recorder has always remained her primary focus. Kira graduated in 2018 and began studying for her Masters in music performance, during which she took a keen interest in early music and began to play the shawm and dulcian. She graduated in 2021 with a distinction and continues to work with Bath Spa University as a visiting lecturer alongside performing.
As well as being a soloist, Kira is a member of several groups such as
Sirinu, Crescent Chamber Orchestra, Weston Wyndes and The Favonius Collective and often undertakes session work on the oboe and cor anglais for local choirs and orchestras. She also sings with one of Bath's top chamber choirs Paragon Singers after being awarded their choral bursary in 2019.