“…not only is Shulah an amazing violinist but her ability to engage with the audience,

whether they be toddlers or centenarians, is brilliant…”

 

A fun-filled ‘Carnival of Music’ - a concert ideal for families & children. During this musical extravaganza,

Shulah will introduce & perform a selection of classical, film & popular music.

The concert will also feature the sweet & heart-warming story of “Ferdinand the Bull” a little bull who,

unlike like all his friends, likes to just sit quietly smelling the flowers!!

So why not come & join us - a perfect Summertime treat for the whole family.

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Shulah Oliver-Smith is a well-respected soloist who has regularly been invited to perform around the U.K and Europe and has performed in Sri Lanka in the presence of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister. She is a sought-after chamber musician including lead violinist/founder of Selina Bella Strings, The Musical Storytellers, Fordante and Duo Armande. As a soloist and ensemble member she has played in many of the leading concert venues in Europe and been invited to play in festivals such as the Paganini London Festival, Norfolk & Norwich, Three Choirs, and St. Endellion Festivals. Shulah freelances with orchestras including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Hallé, Opera North, English Symphony Orchestra, Longborough Festival Opera, Northern Ballet Sinfonia, and has been invited to guest lead and principal 2nd for orchestras including Scottish Ballet, Orchestra of the Swan, Bampton Classical Opera, Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra and CHANDOS Symphony Orchestra.

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In 2021 Shulah was delighted to be appointed Artistic Director of The Midland Sinfonia and alongside her innovative and accessible concert programming she has established a varied Outreach and Education Programme. During the COVID Pandemic she set up a Lunchtime Concert Series online and since lockdowns ended it has become an established ‘in-person’ concert series at St Georges Church, Barbourne, Worcester.

 

Shulah is also involved in many Education and Outreach projects including Family Concerts, School Workshops and performances in community settings such as nursing homes, hospices and day care centres. She has trained with ‘Mindsong’, a charity that works through music and song, with people living with dementia and has gained experience of presenting both concerts and videos specially designed for people living with dementia.

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She gained a Distinction for her Masters at the Royal Academy of Music, having studied violin with Howard Davis and was awarded the Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music for an outstanding Final Recital. Her studies were assisted by awards from the Elmley and EMI Music Sound Foundations, Musicians’ Benevolent Fund and Winifred Disney. In 2004, Shulah graduated from the Royal College of Music with a First Class Honours Joint Principal (violin / viola) degree. 

She has been a finalist and received commendations in competitions including the Haverhill Sinfonia Soloist Competition, Delius Prize, Wilfred Parry Prize, Winifred Small Prize and Sir Arthur Bliss Prize, and received awards including the John Mundy and D-Day Fund Prize Awards from RAM. 

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Shulah enjoys researching and performing the works of composers who are little known or works that have been forgotten and has recorded and has released two CDs featuring some of these works including a recording of Vaughan Williams Lark Ascending.

Shulah loves to spend time with the Guide Dog Puppies her family walk and has raised nearly £60,000 by performing recitals and busking at Christmas. Shulah also raises funds for other charities – she has organised two concerts in aid or Young Lives VS Cancer (formerly known as CLIC Sargent) in Worcester Cathedral, raising over £25,000 for the charity.  She has also run the Worcester City 10k in aid of Guide Dogs, Young Lives vs Cancer and Support Dogs.​

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In her spare time she loves spending time walking with her 2 golden retrievers and her other half Simon.

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Janine Parsons studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where she gained a B Mus (Hons) degree and a Post Graduate Diploma. She studied piano with Frank Wibaut and Professor Malcolm Wilson. In 1997, she appeared as finalist in the Young Accompanist of the Year competition and during the following years worked as a repetiteur for The Birmingham Royal Ballet.

As soloist she gave her debut recital at the Purcell Rooms, London and since then has worked as a soloist, chamber musician and has given concerto performances including Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Chopin’s piano concerto no 1, Haydn’s piano concerto in D Major and Mendelssohn’s concerto in A Minor.

As accompanist, she has worked with numerous singers and instrumentalists in concerts and competitions, including performances broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Shropshire.  She performed for many years as part of an all-female trio ‘The Sirens’ giving concerts nationally and internationally.

Janine became Head of the Elgar School of Music in Worcester in 2015, where she also taught and performed regularly.  In 2022 she was appointed Head of Keyboard at Bromsgrove School.

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