Beethoven Razumovsky Quartet

While Beethoven's struggles to overcome deafness and personal disappontments have become legend, Smetana's struggles - though lesser known - were every bit as heroic, if not more so. In addition to complete deafness he endured the tragic deaths of his daughter and first wife. With both men, their struggles seeped inexorably into their music, shaping them into profound testimonials of the human spirit. In the first Razumovsky quartet, Beethoven's quest for individual freedom completely shatters the classical constraints of Haydn and Mozart, while Smetana therapeutically pours out his soul in the deeply personal "From my Life" quartet.

• Smetana String Quintet no 1 in E minor “From my Life”
• Beethoven String Quintet op 59 no 1 “Razumovsky”

The Young Musicians Series
The Cambridge Camerata Academy is committed to giving the future musicians of tomorrow public performance opportunities today. By pairing these outstanding talents with an established professional they get to share their love for chamber music with Cambridge audiences while at the same time getting a taste of professional life. There is a deeply entrenched Cambridge tradition of it's top musicians going on to pursue professional careers. This is the perfect opportunity to come and enjoy them now.

Joshua Lynch cello
Recipient of the Freda Dinn and Ida Marbett Award, St James Chamber Music Prize and Prix de Musique de Chambre Festival Ravel, Joshua Lynch is a passionate devotee of chamber music and has already enjoyed a diverse and creative career. Joshua studied with Emma Ferrand and Gillian Thoday at the Royal Northern College of Music and then continued his studies with Ursula Smith at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He also enjoyed mentoring by Peter Cropper, Oliver Wille and Simon Rowland-Jones.

Joshua is the cellist of the Cambridge String Quartet, who are ‘Quartet in Residence’ at Hughes Hall, Cambridge University. He has enjoyed several European tours as part of the ‘Le Dimore del Quartetto’ network alongside performing at the Wigmore Hall, The Crucible (MitR) and St Martin-in-the-Field. Joshua has also enjoyed performing with the LSO and Britten Sinfonia.

Away from performing, Joshua is passionate about teaching with positions at the Stephen Perse Foundation and St John’s College School in Cambridge, as well as an extensive list of private students. He is a regular tutor at Aboyne Cello Festival, Cambridge Camerata Academy, NLMS Summer School and ProCorda. He is the Instrumental Lead for the Cambridge Community Music Festival and is also on the Advisory Council for the London Cello Society.