ABOUT

Sequoia is an artistic partnership between Australian violinist Alice Rickards and Scottish cellist Sonia Cromarty. Since joining forces in 2010 they have firmly rooted their place in the Scottish arts scene, performing duo recitals and creative collaborative projects in festivals, concert halls, public spaces, schools and gardens around the country, and holding a two-year post as Chamber Music Scotland’s ensemble in residence.

Described by The Strad as a ‘potent voice for the beauty of the natural world’, Sequoia use their role as performers to promote social-environmental sustainability. They take their name from the extraordinary tree genus, and the conservation movement it inspired.

Sequoia are committed to championing Scotland’s music and expanding the repertoire for String Duo. They perform music across a wide range of genres and have commissioned work from a host of contemporary composers including Stuart MacRae, Hanna Tuulikki, Martin Kershaw, Judith Weir, David Fennessy and Chris Stout.

Sequoia’s recent project WATER MUSIC source to sea won the New Music Programme category at the 2023 Scottish New Music Awards. In the same year Delphian Records released Earth, thy cold is keen, an album of new work by Stuart MacRae for Sequoia and mezzo soprano Lotte Betts-Dean, which has met with critical acclaim. Their debut album ISOLA was released in 2022, showcasing music by young Scottish-based composers. Past performance projects include TRANSPLANTED: Sounding Scotland’s Wild Plants in Music and NOCTURNAL: An exploration of light and sound after dark, with lighting design by Kai Fischer.

"I have found my own interactions with the duo to be unexpectedly thought-provoking, and it’s been energy-giving to have worked directly with the performers through all stages of the commissioning and composing process"

- Judith Weir, Master of the Queen's Music

Alice Rickards

violin

I am green fingered and love my garden, wildflower meadow and allotment in Glasgow. When my hands aren’t covered in soil they are playing the violin in the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

I have also performed with the RSNO, Dunedin consort and the Australian Haydn Ensemble in my home state of New South Wales.

Over the past year I have enjoyed seeing more of Scotland, with highlights including trips to the

forests of Glen Affric and the peat bogs and coastline around the

Flow Country.

Sonia Cromarty

cello

I love the diversity of life as a

musician and have enjoyed playing across the globe, from symphony orchestra concerts in South America to school workshops in Japan and trio performances on a ship in the Arctic.

I freelance with Scotland’s leading orchestras: the BBC SSO, Scottish Opera, SCO, GRIT orchestra, RSNO and the Scottish Session Orchestra. I also teach cello and enjoy helping students of all ages and abilities discover the joys of music making.

Chamber music is my biggest love, especially performing in remote corners of Scotland. When I'm not playing cello I like being outdoors and searching for Sequoia trees with my two young daughters.