Francis Newman

Inspired to take up the violin at the age of 3, my performance career began as a young child playing short pieces in my father’s church. I grew up in Hong Kong where I developed my skills as a violinist. Returning to the UK in 2012, I earned a place in the Britten Sinfonia Academy before moving in 2014 to my present position as a chamber music scholar at the University of St Andrews, where I also read for a degree in Physics. I also serve as concertmaster for the St Andrews Symphony Orchestra, St Andrews Chamber Orchestra and the New Music Ensemble. I play first violin in the Hetty Buchanan Scholarship String Quartet; we are regularly coached by the world-renowned Fitzwilliam Quartet. I also hugely enjoy playing for events such as weddings, and I have a great deal of experience doing so, primarily as a solo performer, but also as part of a quartet. I have many solo arrangements of famous and popular songs or pieces, classical or popular, and am willing to discuss the requirements of each event with the organiser - and, if necessary, to create new musical arrangements - to ensure the best possible experience for the guests.