Frame Ensemble is a quartet of Northern UK-based improvising musicians:
Irine Røsnes (violin)
Irine is a violinist, academic, improviser and specialist in performance of repertoire for violin and electronics. Currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Huddersfield, she has presented numerous premieres across Europe and North America and appeared at festivals such as Huddersfield Contemporary, Borealis, Gaudeamus, Chicago New Music, and Wonderfeel.. Educated in Bergen, Düsseldorf, Utrecht and Chicago, Irine’s concert repertoire extends from the music of the early Baroque era to works of the 21st Century. Irine is passionate about educating and inspiring young women to explore music and sound technologies and is a director of Yorkshire Sound Women Network. She is a visiting lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton (campus in Leicester) teaching modules of academic research and violin performance.
Liz Hanks (cello)
Liz is a Sheffield based cellist, session musician and collaborator working in a variety of musical genres. She has performed throughout Europe with an eclectic array of artists including Smokey Robinson, Liam Gallagher, Kate Rusby, Wayne Hussey and Thea Gilmore. As a session musician her album credits include Duane Eddy, Richard Hawley and Paul Heaton and has performed on many film scores, TV soundtracks and music for radio plays. Improvisation is key to much of Liz's creative output and is something she has developed through her involvement with many theatre, dance and film projects. She has a family connection to the history of silent films as Stan Laurel was her great-grandfather's cousin.
Trevor Bartlett (percussion)
Trevor graduated with a Masters Degree in Percussion performance from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2011. He has an active solo career, as well as performing regularly with a number of chamber ensembles including Harp and Percussion Duo Sticks&Strings and Manchester based contemporary group Sounds of the Engine House. Trevor became Associate Musician for Yorkshire Silent Film Festival in 2017 and regularly performs silent film accompaniments around the UK. As well as his solo and chamber work, Trevor currently freelances for various orchestras and performs in pit orchestras all across the UK. Trevor performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms broadcast live on BBC Radio 4. Trevor has performed in countries all over the world including Hong Kong, China, Italy, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Spain and all over the UK including venues such as Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, Symphony Hall Birmingham, Philharmonic Hall Liverpool, and the Bridgewater Hall. As well as performing, Trevor is very passionate about music education, and holds numerous teaching positions teaching percussion and drum kit throughout the North West of England.
Jonny Best (piano)
Jonny studied piano at Chetham’s School of Music and drama at University of London - and the combination of music and dramatic storytelling has run through his career ever since. He began his career as a pianist and musical director in West End and regional musical theatre production, before moving into directing and joining the RSC as an assistant director. He left the RSC to join the National Theatre and then worked in opera (with Royal Opera, English National Opera and Opera North), in classical music (with bands including City of London Sinfonia and Aurora), and arts festivals (including Queer Up North International Festival and Festival of the North East). In 2014, he returned to his roots as a pianist and began accompanying silent film. Jonny is now one of BFI Southbank's house pianists and performs regularly around the UK and internationally, most recently with the International Film Festival of India, Leeds International Film Festival, and Hippodrome Silent Film Festival. Jonny founded and directs Yorkshire Silent Film Festival and researches contemporary and historic silent film accompaniment practices.