Mackenzie and Julian both have a background in professional orchestral music, but they’ve always been curious to explore beyond its traditional boundaries. They trained at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music and have since worked with ensembles including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra.

Along the way there has been chamber music, jazz, touring shows and a few unexpected adventures. Julian has performed as solo fiddle with Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance and spent a season with the Indian Symphony Orchestra in Mumbai. Mackenzie has worked with the jazz group Orient House Ensemble at Ronnie Scott’s and the Brecon Jazz Festival.

They eventually met through the Lunaire String Quartet, which started life in a small south London flat and went on to perform at places including King’s Place and the Canterbury Festival. When the quartet came to an end, they decided to explore the possibilities of the duo format. For them the appeal of the violin and viola duo lies in its simplicity, flexibility and endless potential for musical conversation.