The quartets came from our original woodwind trio called Regency Winds which was formed in the 90’s. Some of our concerts and functions required a quartet, so I added a bassoon to the flute, oboe and clarinet. I also formed a sax ensemble later on in the 90’s which was called the Kondos Sax Quartet. The name is actually a hereditary name from my father’s side. After playing in West End shows for nearly 40 years and having to double or treble on these shows playing saxes, flutes and clarinet, I thought I could combine my own two groups by finding players that could play both wind and sax instruments equally well. We did our first concert playing two sets of music in November 2022; the first set on woodwinds and the second set on saxes. It was very well received by the Friends of Torbay Music Society for their Torbay Music Weekend. I have attached a couple of YouTube links so that you can check out our ensemble.
The Kondos Wind Quartet
The Kondos Sax Quartet
Here is a review of our concert –
‘It is a rare occurrence at the annual Torbay Musical Weekend for a presenter or recitalist to be invited to perform in consecutive years. But, so impressed were we with the versatile talents of Andy Panayi and his group at the event in 2021, that we were delighted to invite him to return again for this year’s Weekend. Not only does he play multiple instruments but his players are able to meet the high standards he sets on more than one instrument. His ensemble this year consisted of three other highly talented musicians, and there were two contrasting halves to their recital. First we enjoyed Flute, Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon as a woodwind ensemble playing works from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras, plus an arrangement of the music from My Fair Lady, and some well-known Duke Ellington tunes. The second half was all Saxophones – soprano, alto, tenor and baritone – playing a wonderful mixture of ‘light’ classical arrangements, a 1920’s silent movie classic, a little jazz, and four movements from one of Andy’s own compositions – Noah’s Aviary. The recital ended on a fun piece to round things off: Sam Pottle’s – The Muppet Show Theme. Truly, something for everyone.’ John Isaac, Chairman, Torbay Musical Weekend.
Here are biographies of the musicians (Andy’s is already on this website on the Home menu).
JULIET LEWIS
Based in London, Juliet enjoys a varied career as an oboe and saxophone player. She has worked with many of the major symphony and chamber orchestras in the UK including the BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and London Mozart Players. She has held the principal oboe position with Scottish Ballet and played in numerous West End theatre productions since 1996. TV and studio work includes the band for Strictly Come Dancing, Royal Variety Performance Orchestra , Ball and Boe and ITV All Star Musicals. She has also played both oboe and saxophone with the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra.
JANE TUFF
Jane Tuff is a freelance woodwind perfomer and teacher of saxophone,clarinet and flute.
After studying at The London College of Music and The Royal Academy of music Jane started her performing and teaching career. She worked in the West End and The National Theatre. Shows include Cats , Cabaret, Crazy for You, Carmen Jones, 42nd street and Guys and Dolls .
Her passion for The big Band was fulfilled by working with Duncan Lamont, Geff Hooper, The Vile Bodies, Michael Garrick and Bruce Forsyth. Orchestral performances include CBSO and RPCO. Pop artists include The lightning Seeds and The Pogues.
For 30 years Jane chose to combine her performing with teaching in schools/colleges and building a private practice. These include Chelsea College , London College Saturday morning school, Waltham Forest county council, Ashdown house and Brambletye school.
She has always been passionate about her teaching and continues to teach individuals and coach Saxville a saxophone group and a clarinet and flute ensemble. Online saxophone,clarinet and flute tuition using zoom is her latest asset enabling her to reach people around the world.
DANIELLE HARTLEY
Danielle graduated with an MA from The Royal Academy of Music in 2011, having previously studied at Trinity College of Music and Haute École de Musique de Lausanne, Switzerland on the Bassoon & Piano.
Since graduating music college Danielle has worked all over the world as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician playing the Bassoon & Contrabassoon. However, Danielle made the decision to specialise as a multi-instrumentalist during her master’s degree and has now built a career also working in London West End theatre circuit as a ‘reed player’ already having played for productions such as Dreamgirls, Follies, Gypsy, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the multi Olivier Award winning productions of Caroline, or Change and Merrily We Roll Along.
Danielle has performed, recorded, and toured with a number of world-famous artists throughout the UK, as well as performed for Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace. She has also performed with orchestras such as the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Ulster Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the orchestras of the English National Opera and Welsh National Opera.
KONDOS WIND/SAX QUARTET – Here is a sample of our repertoire.
Woodwind Ensemble
Georg Philipp Telemann – Tafel-Musik (Andante from the D Minor Quartet)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade no 13 for strings in G
major) K.525
Felix Mendelssohn – Octet in Eb major (arranged for four musicians)
Sergei Prokofiev – Peter and the Wolf Op.67
My Fair Lady – book & lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Frederick Loewe
Duke Ellington Medley – arranged by Andy Panayi & Jane Tuff
1) Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
2) Sophisticated Lady
3) Take the ‘A’ Train (Billy Strayhorn)
Oliver – Lionel Bart
Saxophone Ensemble
John Philip Sousa – Liberty Bell March (the Monty Python theme)
Georges Bizet – Carmen (Chanson du Toreador)
Freddie Hubbard – Little Sunflower
Alice Keating Howlett – Smile when the Raindrops Fall
Billy Taylor – Film 71-98 Theme Tune
Andreas Panayi – Noah’s Aviary
1) The Woodpecker’s Drill
2) Duck Billed Blues
3) Swan Song
4) Dove’s Progress
George Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue
Edward Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance Military March
Edvard Grieg – March of the Dwarves op. 54 no. 3
Sam Pottle – The Muppet Show Theme