The Manager of the Mowbray String Quartet

Katie Jarvis (Viola)

Katie was born in Ripon in 1981. When she was 8 years old she moved to Bermuda, where she started learning violin, and at the age of 12 she won a scholarship to Giggleswick school, learning violin with Jim and Suzanne Swainson. She was then awarded a place at Chethams School of Music in Manchester, where she switched to viola and studied with Roger Bigley (ex Lindsay String Quartet)

In 1999 Katie was awarded a place at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she continued her studies with Roger Bigley and, in 2000, she won the prestigeous Cecil Aronowitz Prize for Viola. During her time at RNCM she played in all the college orchestras, acting as principal viola in both the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.

In 2002 she left Manchester to join the Orchestra Do Algarve in Portugal as co-principal viola. After returning from Portugal, Katie lived in Glasgow for two years, playing regularly with Scottish Ballet and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, before returning to Ripon. She now also plays with Welsh National Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and many others, and is currently on a 60% contract with Opera North in Leeds.

As well as managing the MBSQ, Katie is also a member of The New World String Quartet, performing Candlelight Concerts and recitals across the north of England.

When Katie has any free time, she enjoys walking, travelling, reading and baking for her very successful walker's cafe 'Smeltbakes', which is based at her home on the Nidderdale Way, near Brimham Rocks in Nidderdale.