William Shield rose from relatively humble beginnings to become the ‘house’ composer to Covent Garden, for which he wrote stage works full of panache and tunefulness. He met and befriended Haydn who was to prove a lasting influence. In 1782 Shield published his Six String Quartets, op.3, some of the most richly rewarding works of their type in 18th-century England. The transparency of parts, use of imitation, infusion of Sturm und Drang elements as well as the bucolic and folkloric writing, all demonstrate Shield’s art, as does the progressive writing of the last of the six, in C minor.

The Dorrit Ensemble has been performing regularly throughout Australia and New Zealand since 2019.

Violinist Elizabeth Layton was winner of the UK Concert Artists Trust Competition and has performed as a soloist with major orchestras worldwide; her recordings include the complete Beethoven piano trios (nominated for a Gramophone Award) and violin and piano works by Schubert (Daily Telegraph ‘CD Choice’).

Violist Caroline Henbest was violist of the highly acclaimed Mistry String Quartet (resident at the University of York) and the Scottish Ensemble. Violinist Elizabeth Sellars’s recording, in collaboration with pianist Kenji Fujimura, The Messiaen Nexus, was chosen as the 2014 Limelight Chamber Music Recording of the Year.

The Dorrit Ensemble:
- Elizabeth Layton (violin)
- Elizabeth Sellars (violin)
- Caroline Henbest (viola)
- Edith Salzmann (cello)