Nicholas Dowding, MA, LRAM, was educated at Katharine, Lady Berkeley's Grammar School, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, and thereafter read music at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.  He studied violin with Frederick Grinke and chamber music with Sidney Griller, and took composition lessons with Alan Ridout.  He was a founder member and leader of the Fitzwilliam Quartet, with which he held a residency at the University of York in 1971-74.  Since 1978, he has been a member of the Amici String Quartet.  Thereafter, Nick was sub-principal of the London Mozart Players until 1984 and a principal in the orchestra of the English National Ballet until 2001.  He became Strings Tutor for the Berwang Holiday Music Course in 1985.  From 1988 until 1995, he was also a principal in of the English Sinfonia and for about six years, he played with the BBC Langham Chamber Orchestra.  Nick has also held positions as Chamber Music Coach at the Grittleton and Great Missenden courses with the Amici Quartet. 

In addition to all this music, Nick also finds time to pursue his other interests, including crosswords; travel; most sports, especially football (he supports Bristol Rovers!) and cricket.