Korros Ensemble consists of Eliza Marshall (flute), Nick Ellis (clarinet) and Camilla Pay (harp). They have been performing together since 2001 when they were studying at the Royal Academy of Music. They have played at chamber music festivals across the UK and internationally and have recorded two albums. The trio’s aim is to bring something new and original to the world of chamber music. Their HACS Harrogate Music Festival programme spans a wide range of musical styles from Haydn’s elegance and Debussy’s shimmering colours to Saint-Saëns’ dark humour and de Falla’s fiery rhythms.

Who inspired you to first start performing?

Eliza: A cassette of James Galway playing with The Chieftains. I fell in love with the sound of the flute and whistles.
Nick: My grandparents used to listen to a lot of jazz on the radio, I loved the sounds of the clarinet from Benny Goodman, which sounded to me like a songbird.
Camilla: I saw a harp in an orchestra at age six and was besotted.

What have been your music career highlights so far?

Eliza: Performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado with Peter Gabriel,Stunning lighting overhead, and incredible music.
Nick: Getting to work and tour with Zakir Hussain, one of the world’s legendary Tabla players – this was musicianship on an indescribable level.
Camilla: Working on the remakes of Disney films (Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Snow White) recording songs from my childhood.

What advice would you give upcoming artists wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Never give up. Always think outside of the box. Take your influences from all genres of music and be a supportive musician to all those around you. Prepare well – be open and always remember what you love.

What do you hope the audience in Harrogate takes away from your performance? We love how personal music is for each of us – we just invite our listeners to let their imagination transport them to where it goes.

Describe your programme in three words.

Colourful, diverse, personal.

Do you have any pre-concert rituals?

Eliza: A few stretches and a nice cup of peppermint tea.
Nick: A banana, some stretches and a pocketful of gratitude.
Camilla: A banana is always a friend before a performance.

What do you most enjoy about performing live and why is it still important in our digital age?

Interacting with the other musicians on stage and feeling an audience with you. Being only in the music and seeing what nuances happen in the moment. Being inspired by other players and responding. The energy given when the whole room has given themselves to that particular moment in time – it’s very special.

If you could collaborate with any other artist, throughout time, who would it be and why?

Eliza: Paul Simon. His soundscape inspires so much of my own writing.
Nick: Björk has been a huge inspiration through my whole life, she is unabashedly following her own musical universe and it’s captivating.
Camilla: Debussy. It’s the era when harp music became even more magical.

What music are you listening to at the moment?

Eliza: I’m obsessed with Efterklang at the moment. They push so many boundaries.
Nick: This week I’m obsessed with rapper Little Simz’s new single, ‘Young’. It’s a light-hearted and playful summer song which makes me smile.
Camilla: I listen to a lot of film music, I love Rota, James Newton Howard and John Williams. But with two young daughters taking over the playlist, it’s often Disney!

Korros Ensemble | Christ Church, Harrogate | Saturday, June 28, 7.30pm. Book online at harrogateinternationalfestivals.com or call the box office on 01423 562 303.