Lunchtime Classical Recital | The Westerly Trio

Friday 5th December 2025 | 1:10pm

Rachel Jeffers (flute), Jessica Graham (violin) and David Murray (piano)

The Westerly Trio was formed in 2012 when three good friends decided to get together to explore the delightful and extensive repertoire for violin, flute and piano. The name Westerly was chosen because two of the musicians own sailing yachts built by the legendary Westerly boatbuilders and all three are keen sailors.

Rachel Jeffers
Rachel studied flute at the Royal Academy of Music, winning the J J Brough Flute Prize there in 1993 and a year later the Lawrence Beauregard Flute Competition in Quebec. She relocated to Newcastle 20 years ago and since then has freelanced with several orchestras including the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the English Philharmonic, Orchestra for Alnwick Choral Society, Orchestra of Hexham Abbey Festival Chorus and the British Philharmonic. She was Principal Flute with the Northern Orchestra from its inauguration in 2016.
She was appointed head of woodwind studies at Newcastle University in 2022, having taught flute in Newcastle for many years. She also teaches at Northumbria and Durham Universities, local schools and privately.

Jessica Graham
Jessica trained at the Royal Northern College of Music, studying both the violin and Baroque Violin. She was one of only a few in her year selected to study on the joint course with the University of Manchester working on two degree courses simultaneously. Whilst at the Royal Northern College she won numerous awards for chamber music with the Hatfield String Quartet.
After having worked as a freelance musician based in Manchester with orchestras such as the Hallé, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and Opera North, she spent many years as a full-time member of the BBC Philharmonic, broadcasting regularly on radio and touring extensively around the world.
Jessica now lives in Morpeth and is much in demand as a freelance violinist, performing regularly with orchestras such as the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Opera North, BBC Philharmonic, and Northern Ballet Sinfonia, as well as in venues across the North as a chamber musician and soloist.

David Murray
David, who lives in Monkseaton, has been recognised as one of the North East’s most acclaimed pianists, and is in constant demand as a soloist, accompanist and chamber music partner. He has accompanied top musicians in recitals all over the world.
He is also well known as a choral trainer and conductor and is permanent conductor of Bishopwearmouth Choral Society and Hexham Abbey Festival Chorus.
In recent years, David has been instrumental in establishing a new chamber music series in Whitley Bay which proved highly successful, attracting artists of international standing

A LIVE Lit & Phil Event | FREE

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