Following a wholesome state-education in Derbyshire and Cheshire, Heather Birt read music at Oriel College, Oxford, and went on to win scholarships at Trinity College of Music for two postgraduate diplomas in viola and baroque violin. Heather works as a freelance baroque musician with ensembles such as The Sixteen, The English Concert, Charivari Agréable and The Gabrieli Consort. Heather plays Double Bass in Allen Beechey’s Bright Stars of Jazz, and with the John Petters Swing Band. She is regularly invited to play bass with many other bands and solo artists, including Sammy Rimmington on his UK tours. A committed chamber musician, Heather is an active member of many ensembles including Minerva, OXUS, The Blagrove Quartet, The Gregynog Ensemble and Equinox. Heather has been Head of Strings at the School of St Helen and St Katharine in Abingdon since 2002, where she has had enormous success expanding student participation in chamber music. She now co-ordinates a weekly rehearsal schedule of 17 ensembles. In her spare time Heather enjoys reading novels, languages including French and Italian, the outdoors, travel and cookery. (May 2009)