Gough Duo
violin & organ

08/09 Season Tours
2008: October 25 through November 9
2009: April 14 through May 10

The Gough Duo began performing in 1997 to extend a musical partnership established when Rupert and Rachel were married three years earlier. From their home near London, where Rupert is the choral and organ professor at Royal Holloway, the couple travels widely performing in Britain and abroad throughout Europe as well as in North America at a variety of venues. Audiences are delighted at the beauty and effectiveness of this combination of instruments and the quality of its repertoire. Every concert program is tailored to suit the venue and can include baroque sonatas as well as popular arrangements of favorites such as Massenet's "Meditation" or the Rachmaninov "Vocalise," together with original repertoire for violin and organ. The duo also has launched a commissioning program for new music for their combination of instruments and recently performed one of these works, by Timothy Salter, at the London concert hall St. John's, Smith Square.

The Gough Duo was formed in 1997 to explore the original repertoire of music for violin and organ. Being the only regular violin and organ duo in Britain, their performances have aroused much interest and they now pursue a busy concert career across the U.K. and abroad. The Duo regularly tours the USA and has performed in cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC. The have also been featured at a number of Music Festivals in England, Denmark and Germany and recent UK concerts have included performances in the cathedrals of Canterbury, Exeter, Manchester and Edinburgh. Their first commercial recording ìRomance,î for violin and organ was released in 2000 to high acclaim and they have since featured on two further commercial recordings. The American Record Guide wrote of ìRomanceî: "The playing is spectacular, the music is wonderful and the recording is superb." The Duo are represented in the USA by Philip Truckenbrod Concert Artists and elsewhere by PVA Management Ltd.

Rachel Gough studied the violin with Gillian Sansom for eleven years before attending the University of East Anglia, where she won performance scholarships enabling her to study with Hugh Maguire. With a scholarship from The Wall Trust she entered the Royal College of Music, studying with Frances Mason and receiving regular chamber music coaching from the Chilingirian Quartet. She graduated in 1997 with an MMus Degree in Advanced Performance. Rachel is a violin tutor at Wells Cathedral Specialist Music School and pursues a busy freelance career in the west of England working regularly with a number of chamber ensembles, including the Bath Pump Room Trio, the Southern Sinfonia and the Sarum Chamber Orchestra, as well as other solo, chamber and orchestral work.

Rupert Gough enjoys a busy career as recitalist, conductor and accompanist. He was a prize winner at the most recent St. Alban's International Organ competition and he has also been a finalist in the Royal College of Organists "Performer of the Year" competition. He has already been involved in over twenty-five commercial recordings as an organ soloist, accompanist, harpsichordist and conductor on many labels including Hyperion. For a number of years Rupert was Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral where he accompanied and assisted in directing the nine sung services every week. He appeared regularly with the choir in concerts all over the world and on frequent radio and television broadcasts. He is currently Director of Choral Music and College Organist at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is increasingly in demand as a choral and orchestral conductor and is fortunate to work with such soloists as James Bowman, Emma Kirkby and Anthony Rolfe Johnson.

"The playing is spectacular, the music is wonderful, and the recording is superb...A fantastic recording. The organ and violin are partners of equal sound and weight...and the ensemble between violin and organ is superb." (American Record Guide)

"The Gough Duo was the most successful concert in the history of St. Peter's Concert Series. They were stunning, and the crowd reaction was immediate. They were so popular they sold out every CD they had brought to the concert!" (Harry Musselwhite, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Rome, Georgia, presenter)

"An evening of uniquely beautiful music....sheer joy and pleasure...delightful and satisfying from all angles." (Paul L. Reynolds, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee, presenter)

"As natural a partnership as Gilbert and Sullivan or strawberries and cream...impressive, confident, and very stylish violin playing (with) command of a broad range of tone and consistently imaginative phrasing...a splendid concert which was very warmly received by the audience."
(Dr. Michael Nicholas, Ipswich, Suffolk, presenter, former organist of Norwich Cathedral and CEO of the Royal College of Organists)

"The playing from both is very fine throughout, with a warmth of sound from the violin, and some considerable virtuosity on display."
(Organist's Review, England)

"Absolutely top-quality...one of the most talked-about performances of the Festival...we will never forget it!" (Christopher Helyer, Dart Music Festival, presenter)

"The Gough Duo proved themselves consummate artists....It would be a privilege to welcome them again." (John Brooks, St. James Episcopal Church, Lancaster Pa, presenter)

"The playing was exquisite throughout with a highly musical rapport between the two players...enjoyed and appreciated by all present."
(Andrew Millington, Exeter Cathedral, presenter)

"The instruments blended well and balanced perfectly, and the effect was magical. Rachel has a most beautiful sound, and she and Rupert put together a fascinating programme. I warmly recommend the Gough Duo."
(Margaret Phillips, Royal College of Music, London, presenter)

"We enjoyed having the Gough Duo immensely. Their ability to adapt to our organ and acoustical space was impressive. they are both charming and exhibit a musical communication between the two of them which is extraordinary." (John Fenstermaker, Trinity Episcopal Church, Naples FL, presenter)

"Each the master of their own instruments, they play exquisitely together as an ensemble. They held the audience spellbound, and the wonderful performance was a highlight of our classical season."
(Dan Schmal, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, presenter)