A new daytime string ensemble starting in January 2027
North Shore Strings is a friendly chamber string group for players in and around North Tyneside who want to enjoy making music together in a relaxed, welcoming setting. The group launches on Monday 4 January 2027 and will meet every Monday during school term time.
We are looking for string players at approximately Grade 4 standard or above. Whether you have recently returned to playing, play regularly, or simply want to rediscover the enjoyment of playing with other musicians, you are very welcome.
When and where?
Start date: Monday 4 January 2027
Rehearsals: Every Monday during school term time.
Rehearsal Time: 10:00am–11:30am
Break: A short tea break will be included in the middle of each rehearsal.
What will we play?
Our repertoire will be predominantly classical and contemporary classical music, with a mixture of styles and works chosen to be enjoyable, interesting and rewarding for a range of string players.
Get involved – come and try it out
January is the perfect time to come along and see whether North Shore Strings is right for you. New players are invited to try the group for free during January, with no commitment required. Come along, meet the other players, pick up your instrument and enjoy making music together.
You do not need to be a professional or an advanced player. We are looking for players around Grade 4 standard or above who can read music and are keen to develop their ensemble playing while enjoying the social side of making music.
Membership and cost
Your January trial is completely free!
After the trial month, membership costs £14 per person per month, paid by monthly payments.
Keeping in touch
Members will be added to a dedicated WhatsApp group so that rehearsal information, music, reminders and other important details can be shared quickly with everyone. By joining North Shore Strings, you will therefore be invited to join the group WhatsApp.
We’d love to welcome you
If you have been looking for a reason to get your instrument out again, want to meet other string players, or simply enjoy playing classical music as part of an ensemble, North Shore Strings would love to hear from you. If you are interested in joining North Shore Strings, please register by completing the online registration form below.
Register today and come along for a free try-out during January 2027.
Chris Turnbull – Conductor
Originally from Washington Tyne and Wear, Chris has been playing the Tenor Horn from the age of 10. Following in the footsteps of his dad, Chris joined the NASUWT Riverside Concert Band. He then became a member of the Young Musicians Programme at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and joined the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. In 2016 Chris moved to Wales to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he studied with Owen Farr and Dr Robert Childs. Whilst studying at the college Chris played solo Horn with the college brass band and was involved with numerous chamber ensembles, qualifying for the Phillip Jones Brass ensemble final, held at the college in 2020.
Whilst studying, at the RWCMD, Chris set up the Prestige 6 Orchestra with renowned composer Daniel Hall, a progressive hybrid orchestra that fuses the world of pop and classical together.
Since relocating back to the north east, Chris works around the region teaching brass and strings at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music and in local secondary schools. He is Solo Horn of the Fishburn Brass Band, a member of the Double Bass section in the North East Film Orchestra and a freelance Trumpet player in the North East musical theatre scene.
