String tuition

Julian Metzger

Cello

German-born cellist Julian Metzger is a versatile and compelling musical voice whose career spans concerto playing, chamber music and orchestral performance. Raised in a family where music was both vocation and inheritance—his father a music teacher and choral conductor, his uncle a professional cellist—Julian began playing the cello at the age of four, forging an early and enduring relationship with the instrument.

His formative years led him from his native Bad Berleburg to England, where he studied at Wells Cathedral School under Dr Ioan Davies, former cellist of the Fitzwilliam String Quartet. He continued his studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Stefan Popov, later refining his artistry through private mentorship with Raphael Wallfisch. Along the way, musical encounters with David Strange, Steve Doane, Yfrah Neaman, Paul Roberts and Norbert Brainin further shaped his expressive depth and interpretative insight.

As a concerto soloist, Julian brings intensity, elegance and narrative clarity to the stage. He has appeared with a range of orchestras under conductors including Alexander Walker, Adrian Brown and Jacques Cohen, performing works from the central cello repertoire alongside lesser-known concertos by composers such as Tartini, Monn, Bridge, Kabalevsky and Miaskovsky. Upcoming performances include Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and Brahms’s Double Concerto.

Chamber music lies at the heart of Julian’s musical identity. He has collaborated with artists including Christopher Redgate, Lisa Nelsen, Giovanni Guzzo and Marco Fatichenti, and has appeared at festivals such as the International Casals Festival, Buckingham Summer Festival and Musicfest Aberystwyth. A committed advocate for ensemble music, he founded the Metzger Ensemble and co-founded Enigma14 and the English String Trio, exploring repertoire from intimate string works to adventurous mixed ensembles.

Alongside performing, Julian is a dedicated teacher, working across leading schools and universities and maintaining a busy private studio. Many of his students now study at major conservatoires. Rooted in lyricism and driven by curiosity, Julian Metzger continues to shape a career defined by collaboration, exploration and the evolving voice of the cello.

To find out more about tuition with Julian, get in touch via:

Martin Owen

Violin

Martin began playing the violin at the age of twelve, having started his musical life as a Classical Guitarist and Boy Soprano. Just four years later, he was accepted as a 1st Violinist with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. It was then on a North Wales Youth Orchestra course that he was talent spotted by Penny Stirling and awarded a full scholarship to Wells Cathedral School to study with Catherine Lord, it's here his love of chamber music began, playing in multiple chamber groups at school, culminating in concerts at the Purcell Room in London.

In 1990 he went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music where his teachers were Jean Harvey, Clarence Myerscough and Howard Davis. He then went on to play with the Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchester, coached in the 1st Violins, by the late Prof. Alfred Altenburger and performing all over Europe conducted by Claudio Abaddo, Bernard Heitink, Neeme Jarvi, James Judd and Pierre Boulez. Taking this opportunity to involve himself in as much chamber music as possible organising several concerts of numerous works including, Mendelssohn Octet, Ravel Quartet, Mozart 'Dissonance', and Shostakovich Piano Trio's.

In 1997, Martin began his freelance career with the BBCNOW and WNO having trials with both Orchestras before having a terrible car accident which very nearly ended his career in 1999.

With the support and kindness of the late Howard Davis (Alberni Quartet), Martin re-learnt to play the violin from scratch and two years later auditioned for the London Philharmonic Orchestra for a 2nd Violin post and was invited to play 1st Violin! He then spent 9 years in the 1st Violins playing under Kurt Mazur and Vladimir Jurowski to name but a few, touring Europe and beyond including recording ‘The Lord of The Rings’ trilogy with Howard Shaw, amongst many other recordings on the LPO's own record label.

Martin has also enjoyed an extensive freelance orchestral career playing with numerous professional orchestras; highlights include the BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Bournemouth Sinfonietta, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, RTE National Symphony Orchestra, Oxford Philharmonic, English Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Swan, Dorset Opera, Longborough Festival Opera, Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, “Chicago” in the West End and Welsh National Opera.

Teaching & Coaching has been a personal passion throughout Martin's professional career and since moving to Birmingham he also enjoys working at the Royal Birmingham Junior Conservatoire and King Edwards School.

To find out more about tuition with Martin, get in touch via: violin.martinowen@gmail.com