Formed
in 1988 from the string principals of the Scarborough Spa Orchestra,
Status Cymbal has become one of the most sought after string quartets
in the UK today. Their diverse repertoire, allied to a dynamic
style of performance, captures and enthuses audiences of all ages
and backgrounds. With the catch phrase 'The Different String Quartet'
they are able to delight audiences everywhere with an evening
of original works by the great Classical Composers, a Palm Court
programme, or themed entertainment using the best of popular song
from the Victorian era to the present day. The members are all
conservatoire trained professional fulltime symphony musicians
whose varied careers reflect the diversity of their repertoire,
working for major professional orchestras, session work (pop as
well as classical), West End Shows and in television.
The Status Cymbal approach to popular music is both refreshing
and adventurous. From the beginning, works from some of Britain's
finest string arrangers were commissioned, so that its unrivalled
library now extends from Bach to Rock via Strauss, Gershwin, Bernstein,
Duke Ellington, the Beatles, Abba, the Carpenters, Led Zeppelin,
Radiohead and Queen, to name but a few. The haunting and the beautiful,
the lively, the tearful, the passionate and the humorous, all
can be heard in a Status Cymbal recital. Variety, originality
and entertainment are its watchwords.
Alongside its concert work, Status Cymbal has a foothold in every
other field of entertainment. They perform for corporate events,
weddings and other private functions, playing in hotels, banqueting
and livery halls, stately homes and have made several TV appearances.
In 1995, Des O'Connor invited them to perform on his Central Television
network peak time show Pot of Gold. At the 2003 opening of Andrew
Lloyd Webber's collection of Pre-Raphaelites at the Royal Academy
of Arts, the BBC Arts Correspondent, Rosie Millard, was so taken
with Status Cymbal she began her 10 o'clock news report with their
performance of Stairway to Heaven.
Status Cymbal performances are enjoyed not only in Britain, but
throughout the world as well as on the high seas. During a two
month contract on Holland-America's MS Noordam, passengers voted
the quartet near perfect marks in a customer satisfaction survey.
Cunard invited them to perform three concerts on the prestigious
MS Caronia (sister ship to the QE2) during its transatlantic cruise
to the Caribbean and P&0 chose Status Cymbal as opening entertainment
at the launch, in the presence of the Princess Royal, of their
flagship Adonia, as well as entertaining guests at a charity ball
aboard the Aurora and a subsequent Caribbean cruise aboard the
Arcadia.
So whether it is a recital, corporate event, wedding, anniversary
or any other type of prestigious occasion, playing the works of
the classical masters or music from their unique repertoire of
modern arrangements, Status Cymbal will be delighted to entertain
you.
