Yvonne Cheng (piano), Julia Foellmer (clarinet) and Tabitha Tuckett (’cello) met through UCL Chamber Music Club and formed Bentham’s Body Ensemble in 2018. Specialising in music for clarinet, ’cello and piano, the ensemble aims to bring Classical music to unusual venues and new audiences. They have performed in the UK and Germany with a repertoire ranging from Beethoven, Brahms and Bruch to Rota and d’Indy. Yvonne studied piano at the Hong Kong Academy Of Performing Arts. Julia was a multiple prize-winner in Germany’s national Young Musician competition, studied at the Robert Schumann Conservatory in Düsseldorf and was chosen as principal clarinettist in the University of London Symphony Orchestra which brings together players from music colleges and universities across the city. Tabitha is a committed chamber-music player, having performed in ensembles ranging from the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Orchestra Of The Age Of Englightenment to Laura Cannell's improvised Baroque folk ensemble Horses Brawl. She also co-founded an award-winning music in hospitals project, and in 2023 the trio were awarded honorary membership of the Friends of the Royal London Hospital in acknowledgement of their work with patients and staff. In 2022 the group were selected as Music Futures ensemble in residence at UCL. During 2023-2024, the University's Music Scholarship scheme has supported coaching from the Guildhall School Of Music And Drama. At UCL they studied Architecture, Civil Engineering and Library Studies respectively. When not being performing musicians, Yvonne has composed music for films, Julia is working on a PhD on soundscapes in the built environment, and Tabitha is a rare-books librarian.
