Our soloist - Darin Qualls

A native of Portland, Oregon, USA, violinist Darin Qualls studied at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music with master violin pedagogue Dorothy DeLay.  He was awarded the Starling Prize for excellence in music performance, providing a full tuition scholarship and the opportunity to perform as a soloist. Following his studies, he joined America’s musical academy, the New World Symphony, under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, where he performed as leader of the orchestra and as a featured soloist. In 1996 he commenced his professional career with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra in Amsterdam taking part in several world tours and in 2000 joined the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic under the direction of Edo de Waart. Darin is now based in the UK and performs throughout Europe, America and Asia as chamber musician and soloist. He has performed at London's Barbican Centre, Amsterdam's Concert Gebou, New York's Avery Fisher Hall, Tokyo's Bunkamura Orchard Hall, and Birmingham's Symphony Hall.

Darin is an ardent Francophile with a real love for Debussy, Ravel, Bizet and this year’s centenary composer, Camille Saint-Saëns.  He is also a big admirer of Django Reinhardt and performs regularly as part of The Gypsy Jazz Quartet, a tribute to the legendary Quintet du Hot Club. e France

Darin plays on a violin made in 1768, in Rome by Jacobus Horil.