"What a joy to welcome the Genovia Quartet back to Westbourne Music after nearly six years! Their programme was a true celebration of diversity, spanning everything from Prokofiev to Shao‑Fern Teo, and from Mozart to Florence Price.
Thank you for an unforgettable afternoon!"
Westbourne Music 11/02/26
"...a fantastic evening with the Genovia Quartet. Their imaginative programme, with many of the arrangements of works for this bassoon ensemble written by members, really showed the endless and superb possibilities of this often less familiar instrument, which as they said, sometimes hides at the back of the orchestra, out of the limelight! Not only did they play at the highest level, but they were also very engaging in introducing their repertoire and their sheer enjoyment of playing was evident throughout. Our sizeable audience were extremely appreciative and we heard many brilliant comments. Bravo!"
Biggar Music Club, March 2025
"yesterday's concert was excellent....A lot of people were astonished at its (the bassoon's) dynamic range. I have received nothing but praise."
Christopher Roads, Music Aberfoyle, March 2025
"..they were a delight to have both as individuals and as a quartet to listen to. The feedback after the concert was excellent, thoroughly enjoyed by all. They clearly put their all into the performance, and the introductions to the music were clear and witty. Overall delightful!"
Angus Ross, Skye Chamber Music, October 2023
"Simply put, superb. Great playing, lovely people - church full... and already I'm being asked to have them back!! Rural Yorkshire has been converted to the delights of the bassoon."
Colin Reid, Music@Junction50, Thirsk, September 2021
"a wonderful concert..... certainly delivered on their promise to take us on a whirlwind musical tour! ... a variety of pieces ....demonstrated how amazingly versatile the bassoon can be..... truly talented musicians."
Friends of St Conan's Kirk, April 2019
"You were fabulous. It is such a pleasure to see performers who demonstrate such joy in what they do. That transmits to the audience and I cannot imagine there was a single person who did not leave the concert uplifted and with a smile on their face. You should be available on the NHS!"
Raymond Williamson, Westbourne Music Society, October 2018
"Great Westbourne concert in Glasgow yesterday - well done! Varied programme, excellent arrangements, brilliant playing and lots of fun for the audience who were with you all the way."
Jonathan Smithers, audience member October 2018
Genovia Quartet / bassoon quartet
Please contact daisy@classicalmusiciansscotland.com for more information or to book The Genovia Quartet.
The Genovia Quartet is a dynamic bassoon ensemble formed of four graduates of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The members are some of the most sought-after orchestral and chamber bassoonists in Scotland and abroad. Since forming in 2015, the quartet has enjoyed exploring an eclectic repertoire spanning many time periods and genres. Their unique arrangements allow them to put their own stamp on even the most iconic of works. Outwith the quartet, members of the group regularly perform and tour with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra among others. They are also highly regarded teachers and educators, such as in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Sistema Scotland, where they enjoy coaching young bassoonists as well as larger ensembles.
Bagatelle no. 1 op. 47, Dvorak
Rhiannon Carmichael
Since graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2019, Rhiannon is in demand as a freelance bassoonist and has been fortunate to perform with a number of leading orchestras in the Uk and Ireland, including BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, The Hallé, Royal Northern Sinfonia, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Ulster Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, among others. Highlights include performing at the BBC Proms several times with both the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
With a love to travel, she has been fortunate to experience many Orchestral tours, most recently to South Korea with the BBC SSO in December 2024 as part of the BBC Proms festival.
Rhiannon currently teaches at the RCS Junior Conservatoire, having previously held positions at Dollar Academy, High School of Glasgow, Hutchesons Grammar School and Renfrewshire Council. When not playing the bassoon she is likely out and about with her bearded collie Babs!
Meine Lippen sie küssen so heiss, Lehar (from Giuditta)
Gillian Horn
Gillian grew up in Glasgow, Scotland and took up the bassoon at the age of 10. Her passion for music was ignited in the local concert bands and youth orchestras before studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She attained both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at RCS well as several scholarships and awards, including the Mary D Adams Prize for achievement in Chamber Music (with Genovia Quartet).
Since relocating to Stockholm in 2020, Gillian has performed all over Sweden with Norrlands Operan, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Kungliga Hovkapellet and more. In 2024 she was made a permanent member of Västerås Sinfonietta as Co-Principal Bassoon.
‘Pato, Pato!’, Raffaele De Giacommetti (commission)
Victoria López
Victoria started learning bassoon at the age of eight, completing a total of nine years of Juniors Conservatoire in her hometown, Ávila (Spain). At the age of 17, she moved to Cardiff to study her Bachelors in bassoon at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she graduated in July 2015. She then moved to Glasgow where she completed a Masters Degree in performance at the RCS graduating in July 2017. Victoria has performed with many orchestras including Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Ballet, HM Royal Marines Band and Opra Cymru. She also performs regularly as part of two chamber music ensembles, Sirocco Winds and Genovia Quartet.
In addition to performing, Victoria wants to share her passion for music with children so that she can inspire them the way she was inspired when she was young. She started her teaching journey in 2018, working as a bassoon tutor for Queen Victoria School (Dunblane). Victoria is currently teaching for Renfrewshire Music Services, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (deputy bassoon cover at the juniors department) and for Sistema Scotland, as the Double Reed instructor of Big Noise Raploch (Stirling). Victoria also enjoys participating in a lot of musical outreach and community projects with Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Greg Crowley
Greg is from Dublin and was appointed Section Principal Bassoon of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland in May 2021. He obtained his undergraduate degree in 2019 studying with Janet Bloxwich at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he was awarded a first class honours. In 2020 he then completed a Postgraduate Diploma at the RCS under the tutelage of David Hubbard, Alison Green and Graeme Brown.
During his studies Greg won the RCS Classical Concerto Prize which culminated in a performance of Weber’s Bassoon Concerto with the RCS Symphony Orchestra in 2018. He also won the inaugural RCS Bassoon Prize in his final year of study. Other concerto engagements include the Hibernian Orchestra in Dublin and in July 2023 he made his concerto debut with the National Symphony Orchestra playing Strauss’ Duet Concertino.
Sample programme (60 minutes):
Dvorak: Two Bagatelles, Op 47
Michel Corrette: Concerto “Le Phénix”
Sibelius: ‘Ballade’ from Karelia Suite
Verdi arr Buford: La Traviata, Prelude to Act 1
Felix Mendelssohn: Scherzo from String Quartet no 6
Ensemble Tblisi: Georgian Folk music
Piazzolla arr Jackson: Tango Suite
Performances:
8.30pm, Saturday 10 April 2027 – Linlithgow Arts Guild (after AGM)
7.30pm, Wednesday 23 February 2028: Strathearn Music Society, Crieff
2.30pm, Sunday 27 February 2028: Moffat Theatre
Saturday 14 February 2026 – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
3pm, Sunday 15 February 2026 – Dunfermline Music
1-2pm, Wednesday 11 February 2026 – Westbourne Music, Glasgow Art Club
3-4pm, Sunday 16 March 2025 – Music Aberfoyle, St Mary’s Church
7.30pm, Saturday 15 March 2025 – Biggar Music Club
2.30pm, Monday 2 September 2024 – Ross Priory
2.30pm, Saturday 28 October 2023 – Portree for Skye Chamber Music
Thursday 2 September 2021 – Junction 50, Thirsk
Sunday 15 November 2020, Dunfermline Music
Wednesday 19 February 2020 – Westbourne Music Society
Saturday 15 June 2019 – Spire concert series, Glasgow
Saturday 20 April 2019 – St Conan’s, Loch Awe
