We are delighted to announce the names of this year’s recipients of our Camerata 360° Ruth Sutton Fellowship. Created with the generous support of The Ruth Sutton Trust for Music, these five northern-based fellows will each receive a paid, year-long bespoke training programme, during which they will gain vital experience in all aspects of a musical career, our work, and the impact it makes.
Rebecca Stubbs – Viola
Rebecca initially studied the violin and viola at her local music service, Musica Kirklees, where she gained early experiences in youth ensembles that inspired her love for music. She graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with a First-Class Honours, and later completed a Master’s degree at the Royal Northern College of Music. Here she was awarded the RNCM Viola Prize and in 2022 became the Junior Fellow in Viola. Rebecca enjoys her work as an instrumental tutor and is passionate about accessible music provision. Previously an upper strings tutor and co-conductor of the ‘Mini Maestros’ junior strings ensemble in West Bromwich, she now teaches and directs workshops at the North of England Centre for Music and Arts in her hometown.
Orla McGarrity – Violin
Orla McGarrity is an Irish violinist based in Manchester, where she graduated from the RNCM with First-Class Honours Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees studying with James Clark, Cecily Ward and Pavel Fischer. During her studies, she has performed in masterclasses for Arabella Steinbacher, Barbara Doll and Vera Vaidman. During 24/25, Orla was one of the Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble’s Young Artists, receiving coaching on and performing contemporary repertoire. She has since gone on to freelance with the ensemble as well as NI Opera and the Hallé. Orla’s big passion as a musician is chamber music, and she was a Young Artist at this year’s Chamber Music on Valentia in County Kerry. Orla’s love for curating chamber events led her to work as the Programming Assistant at the RNCM in 2022/23 and to co-direct the Enys Chamber Music Festival in Cornwall. She also enjoyed interning at Weesp Chamber Music Festival in the Netherlands and working as an ad hoc chamber music tutor at RNCM’s Junior Department. In 2024, Orla set up the Mourne Chamber Music Festival in Newcastle, County Down, which aims to increase engagement with classical music in Northern Ireland and provide performance opportunities for young professionals.
Nathan Jackson Turner – Cello
Growing up in the Peak District, Nathan has strong connections with the North West, notably performing Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with the High Peak Orchestra. He has recently completed a Master’s in Cello Performance with Jen Langridge and Eddie Pogossian at the RNCM. During his studies, he was fortunate to receive mentorship from Hannah Roberts, Nicholas Trygstad and Leonard Elschenbroich. In 2024, he was the recipient of the Shirley Catterall award for Cello and appeared in the Finals of the Concerto competition and the John Barbirolli Cello Award.
With a keen interest in chamber music, Nathan is a board member for the Mourne Chamber Music Festival, which he looks forward to returning to this Summer.
Nathan is also a keen performer of baroque music, which he enjoys studying with Jonathan Manson and Roger Hamilton on a period instrument. He currently plays a 1845 French cello by Charles Plumerel, with generous support from the Loan for Musical Instruments Fund.
Caterina Bordoni – Violin
Caterina is an accomplished violinist with extensive orchestral experience across the UK and Europe. She has performed with ensembles, including the BBC Philharmonic, The Hallé and Opera North, among others. She leads the second violin section for orchestras such as New Sinfonia, Manchester Film Orchestra, and the City of Stoke-on-Trent Symphony Orchestra. She also led the RNCM Symphony Orchestra, the Monferrato Classic Orchestra and many others. She recently performed at Wigmore Hall with the Hera Piano Trio, and she was a prize-winner at the Zanuccoli and Mariánské Lázně competitions. Caterina has performed as a soloist with the West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra and has been mentored by artists such as Augustin Hadelich, Ning Feng and James Eens.
Ben Pinto – Clarinet
Ben Pinto is a clarinettist based in Manchester. Since 2021, he has frequently performed with Chineke! Orchestra, often as principal clarinet. This has taken him to prestigious stages including the BBC Proms, Lucerne Festival and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, as well as renowned venues across the world.
In addition to his orchestral work, Ben has recorded and performed with major organisations such as Disney, Marvel and DC. His contributions extend to the commercial music scene too, collaborating with artists including Stewart Copeland, Beverley Knight and Little Simz. A self-proclaimed “nerd,” Ben counts his work with Marvel and DC among his career highlights, particularly performing as part of the Infinity Saga tour.
