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The Berkeley Duo

Flute & Piano Duo

Friends for over 20 years, since studying together at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Jenny and Jane have continued to perform and make music together. Based in Gloucestershire and South Wales, they have performed together at venues such as: Bristol’s St. George’s Brandon Hill and the Colston Hall; St. David’s Hall in Cardiff; the Royal Academy of Music and St. David’s in Pembrokeshire. Established musicians in their own rights, they also present themselves as the Berkeley Duo; a contemporary flute and piano duo, performing a mixture of popular music from classical to jazz. They offer a wide repertoire and can be booked for weddings, events or functions, with a program carefully chosen to suit the occasion.

Contact the duo: please click to send e-mail

Jane Groves

Jane Groves, originally from Hartlepool, studied the flute with David Haslem in Newcastle and then, while at the Welsh College of Music & Drama, with Doug Townsend and Jonathan Burgess of Welsh National Opera. After graduating in 1990 Jane freelanced with the BBC and WNO. She plays regularly with the Welsh Sinfonia and Bristol Philharmonic. It was during her time at the Welsh College of Music & Drama that she first met and performed with Jenny also in 1990 Jane teamed up with harpist Eluned Scourfield to form Mwynion Mai Flute & Duo. Jane also performs with the Welsh Flute Trio and founded CAFÉ (Cardiff Amateur Flute Ensemble) of which she was Musical Director until 2006. Jane teaches the flute at Howell's School, Cardiff as well as running her own private teaching practice. When not performing or teaching she works with her husband Tim at Creighton's Collection which provides IT & music publishing services.

Jenny Rees

Jenny Rees started to learn the piano at the age of 9 and the clarinet at 10. From a young age, Jenny has performed music, progressing through the Bristol Schools Symphony Orchestra, Avon Schools Symphonic Wind Band, Juggernaut Big Band and the Tuxedo Junction Swing Band amongst others. Jenny’s interest in music led her into arranging and composing. Her first major public success was a Sinfonietta for Wind Band completed in 1987 while she was studying at the Welsh College of Music and Drama (1986-1989). The college wind band gave the work its first performance at the Colston Hall in Bristol, resulting in a Radio Bristol interview and a favourable write-up in Winds magazine. After 3 years studying the clarinet with Martin Ronchetti, Jenny graduated with a Performer’s Diploma and an award for her contribution to chamber music. Whilst at the Welsh College, Jenny discovered her talent for accompanying others on piano, often with Jane for recitals and other performances. She soon established herself as a freelance professional musician and teacher and has enjoyed continued success in her chosen career. Jenny is currently accompanist to two choral societies and regularly performs with other soloists. More recently, she has turned again to composing; her first published piece is called 'Joviality' for clarinet quartet and is available through Queen's Temple Publications; they also publish 'Oon Tunes' - five fun pieces for BassOon! Other music by Jenny is available through Creighton's Collection or by contacting her directly. The Duo includes ‘Continuity’ in their repertoire; a contemporary classical duet composed by Jenny. Jenny was Musical Director for Sodbury Vale Musical Comedy Club's 2006 production of Little Shop of Horrors. Reviewed by the Rose Bowl Awards, they considered “The Orchestral input was sensitive and supportive and with good musicality, and with excellent underscoring at all times"

Our wedding package ITS what makes this duo more than your average musicians

We first worked together in 1989 and our vast experience enables us to help you with the selection of music suitable for the style of your wedding.You can book us for your ceremony (religious or civil), your pre-drinks reception or the reception or any combination. We always work with the bride and groom to ensure you get the service you wish for, the following is a guide to what we normally undertake, but if you have any different requirements please just let us know.

Wedding Music we will offer a consultation to select the music for a wedding ceremony but here are a few ideas

Some example of music used for Processionals
Bridal Chorus (Here comes the Bride) - Wagner
Llety’r Bugail - Eleri Owen
Trumpet Voluntary - Clarke
Hornpipe - Handel
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Handel

Some example of music used for Recessionals
Hornpipe - Handel
Trumpet Tune - Purcell
Wedding March - Mendelssohn
Breuddwyd y Frenhines - Gilmore Griffiths
March from Scipione - Handel

Music for pre Reception Drinks & Wedding Receptions

We have a very extensive repertoire of music suitable for playing at pre Reception Drinks and Wedding Receptions.

Click here to view our Wedding Reception music repertoire

Contact the duo
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What we offer We can play music to suit your event

Wedding Ceremonies:-
The duo perform at civil & religious ceremonies. On the day the Duo normally play background music for 1/2 an hour prior to the start of the ceremony to entertain the guests and during the ceremony itself they usually play four pieces:-

One selected piece for the Processional March
Two selected pieces during Signing of the Register
One selected piece for the Recessional March

We offer the chance of a meeting to select the Ceremony Music. At the meeting the Duo play a variety of different tunes to help you choose music to suit their style of wedding. If you want a particular tune for the ceremony that is not in our repertoire we will do our best to write a special arrangement. Providing the duo has already been booked for the wedding there is no charge for the meeting or for writing a special arrangement.

Wedding Receptions:-
We can be booked for either the pre reception drinks the reception itself or for both parts of the reception. A meeting to select music is not required for receptions. You only need to let us know sort of Reception Music you would like. During the Welcoming Line Up we are happy to play specific requests from our repertoire. Also if the Bride & Groom are making an entrance into the dining room after the guests are seated the duo can play a specific piece, perhaps the same Recessional March as used at the ceremony, as the couple enter the room and proceed to the top table. When playing during the wedding breakfast we do not put a time limit on the performance. We start playing when your guests enter the room and do not finish until the end of the meal, so that we can depart before the speeches start.

Concerts & Recitals concerts and recitals for festivals, Music CLUBS & fund raising events

Concert Music Sample concert programmes

Sample Evening Classical Concert
J.S. Bach – Sonata in G minor
Gaubert - Madrigal
Debussy – En Bateau & Claire de Lune
Morlacchi – Il Pastore Svizzero
(Interval)
Gershwin Selection
Glück – Dance of Blessed Spirits
Fauré – Fantasie
Godard – Suite de Trois Morceaux

Sample Lunchtime Recital
J.S. Bach – Sonata in E minor
Fauré – Morceau de Concours
Mozart – Andante in C
Mendelssohn – Songs Without Words
Berkeley – Sonatina
Rees – Continuity
Enesco – Cantabile et Presto

What we offer We can play music to suit your event

Concerts & Festivals:-
The Berkeley Flute and Piano Duo can be booked to perform concerts and recitals for festivals, fund raising events, corporate entertainment and private parties. Jenny Rees & Jane Groves are highly experienced performers who delight in performing in a concert / recital environment. They have given recitals at many venues including Bristol’s St. George’s Brandon Hill and the Colston Hall, St. David’s Hall in Cardiff, the Royal Academy of Music and St. David’s in Pembrokeshire. The flute and piano duo welcome enquiries from promoters and are able to provide suitable programmes for all occasions - please contact Jenny or Jane to discuss your requirements.

Contact the duo
click to e-mail

Other Events
Private Parties, Office Openings, Product Launches, Conferences, Exhibitions and VIP visits

The Duo can be booked for any event which would benefit from Live Music - for Private Parties, Office Openings, Product Launches, Conferences, Exhibitions and VIP visits but they are most commonly booked to perform at Drinks Receptions, Dinners and Formal Banquets.

The success of Live Music is normally assured by discussing your requirements with the artists before hand, something the duo is always keen to do. The duo has a very wide repertoire which they will tailor to your requirements, for events such as a formal banquet they would provide suitable quiet background music, where as at other events you may wish them as a centre piece.

The duo can perform at events with guest attendance ranging from 12 to 2,000. For large events amplification may be required.

Click here to view our event music repertoire

 

Contact the duo
click to e-mail