Travelling Through Time

A meandering bicycle tour through the South West brings together musicians Emma-Marie Kabanova and Sarah Small to present a violin and viola da gamba concert in the beautiful setting of The Museum of East Dorset.

Connecting with their respective homes, the programme will include folk tunes by Thomas Hardy and Niel Gow, alongside pieces by well-known composers such as Bach and Handel and original compositions by the musicians, all taking the listener on a journey through the changing landscapes of time and place.

Danish/British violinist Emma-Marie Kabanova was born in Dorset. She completed Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music at Goldsmiths College and undertook further studies in Russia. Formerly based in Moscow, Russia, Emma-Marie performed with several leading ensembles and was artistic director of Globus Music baroque ensemble. Emma-Marie also taught music in schools, hospitals and prisons. In 2017 she was given a Points of Light award by the British Ambassador on behalf of the UK Government, for her work with vulnerable children in Russia.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Emma-Marie found it impossible to stay in Russia and returned to the UK. She has since been working as a freelance violinist, performing as a soloist and with ensembles around the South of England and has been featured on Classic FM. In 2024 she co-founded Wessex Baroque Collective, Dorset's only professional period instrument ensemble. She is currently Musician in Residence at Shaftesbury Arts Centre and organises the annual Shaftesbury Festival of Baroque.

Sarah Small is a freelance viola da gamba player based in the UK. She first came across the instrument whilst studying recorder at the Royal College of Music, and instantly fell in love with its sound. She holds a Master of Performance with Distinction, having studied with Reiko Ichise in London and Hille Perl in Bremen, Germany. 
Sarah performs and records with various ensembles across the UK and Europe, including Fretwork, Charivari Agréable, and her own ensemble, Hex.

Recent projects include Good Again?, a 4,500km self-supported concert tour by bicycle around the UK, drawing attention to our unsustainable touring practices and the role of musicians during a time of multiple crises.
A committed advocate for environmental responsibility, Sarah continues to travel and tour almost exclusively by bicycle, clocking up over 13,000km with her viola da gamba so far, giving lecture recitals and performing programmes, including original compositions, in response to our changing world.