Miho
Wada has the gift of delivering music to the world. Miho was born
in 1979 in Tokyo, Japan and moved to Christchurch, New Zealand with
her family in 1996. She studied the flute with Anthony Ferner at the
University of Canterbury from 1998 to 2001, where she graduated Bachelor
of Music with the National Golden Key Honors Awards and Dr. Bradshaw
Prize.
Miho's busy performance career took off
while living in New Zealand performing all around the country. She
was the winner of the Nelson Sonata Competition in 1998 as well as
being appointed as a soloist for University of Canterbury's String
Orchestra, Wind Ensumble and Contemporary Ensembles. The following
year she was invite as a guest soloist for the Christchurch Youth
Sinfonia to perform at the Christchurch Great Hall. Miho's overseas
debut took place when she was invited to Japan to attend the Nagaoka
Winter Festival (2001) and performed in a trio with Roger Vingoles
and Paul Edmund-Davies at the Nagaoka Lyric Hall.
She moved to London in 2002 first to
study with Paul Edmund-Davies (Former Principal Flute, London Symphony
Orchestra) and later enrolled to study for a Postgraduate Diploma
with Lynda Coffin (Former Principal Flute, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
at the Trinity College of Music. She became a member of Haydn Chamber
Orchestra in 2003 and performed under conductors Sir Colin Davis and
Joseph Wolfe. During 2004 she worked as the Co-Principal Flute player
with the National Orchestra of Malta.
Miho has given performances in New Zealand,
Japan, Italy, France, Switzerland, Malta and United Kingdom and travels
frequently to attend music festivals all around the world. She has
more recently studied Rock, Funk and Jazz at the London Centre of
Contemporary Music. Miho is ever enthusiastic to explore other genre's
and broaden her musical experiences. She is also a well established
teacher of flute and piano in London and Surrey.
Noel Billingsley was born in 1979 in
Osaka Japan and spent much of teenage years in Canada. He started
learning the electric guitar at the age of fifteen and changed to
the classical guitar when he was nineteen. Since he started playing
the classical guitar his musical talent was discovered and he went
to study the guitar with Toshio Kawakami, Michael Strutt and Vincent
Lindsey-Clark before enrolling at the Trinity College of Music, London
to study with Roland Gallery.
Noel has won several awards during his
studies at the Trinity College of Music. He won the Best String Player
of The Year Awards both in 2003 and 2005. As well as performing regularly
at concert venues throughout London, Noel attends festivals internationally.
He has appeared at the UK's biggest international guitar festivals
both in Bath and Dundee. In 2002 he performed "Watersmeet" by Stephen
Dodgeson with the legendary guitarist John Williams.
Noel is a founding member of the National
Youth Guitar Ensemble and he has performed with them since 2002. He
is also the leading guitarist for the Trinity Guitar Quartet. In 2004
Noel appeared as a guest soloist for the Trinity College of Music
Orchestra to play premier of concerto for guitar and orchestra written
for him. Noel often plays with orchestras around UK touring with Opera
companies.
In 2004 Noel gave a successful concert
tour in Brazil performing all around the country. His lecture recitals
and master classes at University were highly acclaimed. Since graduating
from the Trinity College of Music with the Silver Medal Award and
the Best String Player of the Year Award in 2005, Noel has been leading
a quiet life on a boat in Kent preparing for his performances and
teaching guitar students.
Patathea are acclaimed performers of
Astor Piazzolla's music and others from South America. Their wide
range of repertoire includes Classical, Jazz, Latin, Pop, Rock, Tango,
Gypsy and Spanish, Romantic, Irish, Folk, Blues songs, Ballads, Broadway
show tunes and Film music. Guaranteed to create the perfect atmosphere
for every occasion!
Classical & Tango .... Astor Piazzolla,
Jacques Ibert, Franz Petre Schubert, Joaquin Rodrigo, Charles Camille
Saint-Saen, Gabriel Faure, Bela Bartok, Edward Elgar, Spanish Love
Songs....
Jazz ... Autumn Leaves, Black Orpheus,
Misty, Summertime, The Girl from Ipanema, and many more!
The duo always take great care to listen
and liaise with you and offer advice or suggestions as required. Before
the event, Miho and Noel will discuss your requirements with you.
They are always happy to advise on choice of repertoire, and ensure
that their music compliments your tastes and your special event.
Also, if you like the look of the duo,
but want more, the duo can be joined by a few friends to give you
more choice of music for your event. . .Violin & Guitar, Flute & Violin
and Jazz Trio are also available on request.