Formed specifically for performances on top class cruise ships, the Duo has now played on several award-winning ships.  In 1992 they made their debut on the Crystal Harmony, which won that years Berlitz award for “top cruise liner of the year”.  Their next contract was for four months on the six star Silver Wind in 1996-1997, which won the Conde Nast awards for “best holiday destination” and “top cruise line of the year”.

Surely this can be no coincidence!

Duo d’Amore’s concert programmes comprise a combination of Romantic, Baroque and Virtuoso music, including some of the most famous melodies for violin, with light-hearted and informal presentation

Laurence Rowden-Martin
Violin

A former leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Laurence Rowden-Martin was awarded his LRAM Performer’s Diploma on violin with Honours at the age of only fifteen.  It was however not violin but viola and viola da gamba he chose to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, leaving after four years with Recital Diplomas (the highest award) on both instruments and five prizes for both chamber music and solo playing.  A series of major scholarships enabled him to continue his studies for eighteen months in Vienna and Salzburg, and for shorter periods in Cincinnati and Prague.

Since 1981 his solo career has taken him to Asia, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Scandinavia and Europe, and he has made several recordings.  Highlights; include a New York Carnegie Hall concert and World Tour with the Swiss early music ensemble, Schola Cantorum Basillensis, a recital at Viola Congress 9 in Toronto, a visit to Tokyo to record a concerto specially written for him, and an award-winning performance of a viola concerto by Stamitz which formed part of a collected edition of the composers works, recorded in Prague.

In 1981 he was appointed visiting professor of viola da gamba at the Musik Akademie der Stadt, Basel, Switzerland, a position he held for eight years.

Since 1988 he has been principal viola of the Masterplayers, a Swiss-based touring chamber orchestra comprising leading musicians from all over Europe with which he has made two World Tours, one as soloist.

He was leader r of the prestigious European Symphony Orchestra in 1991 for a much-publicised televised concert in Germany, and later the same year spent three months as Associate, leader of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, engaged initially as co-soloist with Nigel Kennedy to play, the Bach Double Concerto, and leading the orchestra for Sydney’s successful Olympic bid.

In the field of Chamber Music, he has worked with Pierre Bouleź Ensemble intercontereporain in Pads, where he also co-founded Strings & Co., a group based around string quintet, wind quintet and piano, set up to perform works for unusual chamber combinations.  He has given Master Classes in Canada, USA, and Japan and has sat on the jury of several International music competitions.

He was leader of the English Philharmonic Orchestra - one of Britain's leading light-music orchestras - for ten years, and has played on the Orient Express and on exclusive cruises as far a field as Africa, South America and the Middle East.

Amanda Rowden-Martin
Piano

Amanda Rowden-Martin studied music at Sheffield University, England, specialising in piano.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree in 1982, with Honours.  A research scholarship then enabled tier to study Baroque musk., in Venice, Florence and Bologna, Italy.

In 1983 she was offered a place to study for a post-graduate degree in music, but chose instead to concentrate on an already flourishing performing career as an ;accompanist and soloist on piano and harpsichord and also as a freelance violinist.  As a pianist she has established a reputation for her interpretations of the late Romantic repertoire of such composers as Chopin, Debussy and :Schubert.  She has twice sat on the jury of international music competitions in Switzerland and Italy, along with the President of the Warsaw International Chopin Piano Competition.

In 1981 she formed Tafelmusik, a Baroque chamber ensemble which she directs from the harpsichord, and in 1984, she became a member of the Renaissance trio, Grynwode, playing harpsichord and early stringed instruments.  With these ensembles Amanda has played at most of the major London conceit halls, numerous Stately Homes and at several Festivals in the UK and Europe.  Grynwode gave a private recital for members of the Royal Family in 1987 and in 1989 gave a series of concerts at the British Festival in Perth, Australia.

Also a violinist, Amanda has been a member of Masterplayers, the Swiss-based International chamber orchestra, since 1993, and was Principal Second violin of the English Philharmonic Orchestra for a number of years.  She now plays with the British Sinfonia and is also in demand as a freelance violinist with many orchestras, often as leader.

in 1990, Amanda formed the Quintessential Quartet, specifically to provide background music for elite functions.  They have subsequently performed at most of the major Stately Homes of England, many fine hotels, and at major events of the Season such as the annual Henley Regatta and polo matches at the Guard's Club, Windsor.

Amanda has made three recordings; and several radio and television broadcasts.  She has also gained a high reputation as a piano teacher, with an outstanding record of pupils' achievements, including 100% music exam success rate over fourteen years, and music scholarships. to public schools.

Through music, Amanda has traveled extensively and has performed in Australia. the Far East U.S.A., and Europe.