Pippa Rans is a freelance orchestral cellist, performing with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.

She graduated with Distinction in the Postgraduate Diploma in Performance from Trinity College of Music in 2005, where she was a scholar studying with Lowri Blake and Joely Koos. She was principal cellist of the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras and won many prizes including the Classical Concerto and the Solo Bach Competition. Pippa gained her undergraduate degree at the University of Birmingham, where she led all the orchestras, won the Concerto Competition and was invited to perform the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto with the University Sinfonia.

Pippa has been giving recitals as soloist and chamber musician to great acclaim, including a platform at the Wigmore Hall and a recent performance of Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations with St Paul's Sinfonia as well as education work with the City of London Sinfonia. She is a member of the Sonas Quartet with whom she has travelled the world as guest entertainers on board Saga Cruise Ships.

Pippa lives in Surrey and plays an old English cello by Thomas Smith (1754).

Ruth Beedham studied at Trinity College of Music with Alison Wells and Natasha Pavlutskya. Whilst at Trinity, Ruth won the Leonard Smith Prize for string duo and also gained a scholarship to continue her studies with Natasha on the postgraduate diploma course. Ruth now studies with Naomi Butterworth.

Ruth performs regularly as a chamber musician. She is a member of The Backman Trio who give recitals for music clubs and societies across the country and have recently performed at St James's Piccadilly and Blackheath Halls. After a successful tour of Finland in summer 2009 they have been invited back by popular demand in 2011. Ruth has also been guest soloist with Wandsworth Symphony Orchestra, and performed Tchaikovsky's Pezzo Capriccioso with St Paul's Sinfonia in April 2008.

Ruth also has several teaching posts including cello teacher at City of London School for Boys. In her spare time, she enjoys running and in 2006 ran the London Marathon. Ruth hopes to run it again sometime soon and preferably faster!