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Mentor Stories 2026 – Sara Trickey

We asked our 2026 Winter Festival musicians to tell us about their musical mentors…

Sara Trickey, violin

“When I was about 15, I fell in love  with the Endellion string quartet – all four of them!   I thought they epitomised all my ideals of chamber music playing, from their deep intelligence with regard to the score, to their musical sensitivity and unanimity but perhaps more than anything their ability to play right to the edge of an emotion, a quality that I felt was absolutely embodied by their leader Andrew Watkinson.  He seemed prepared to take risks and play “beyond” his already consummate technique, until he realised the music in a way that was so alive, so vital, so compelling that you couldn’t help but be convinced. When I was 18, I asked to study with him- he said no as he didn’t consider himself to be a violinist, but rather a musician! He assumed (rightly) that at that age I still needed strong violin advice. But I played to him from time to time and when I was in my late 20s , we formed a little duo for a while (to my huge delight and astonishment.) I  learnt so much from him every time he picked up the violin or spoke! Even when he just ate his lunch….    I still am lucky enough to have him an a mentor and deeply connected friend- I can ask him any question about music or the violin and I always feel enlightened  by his replies. He now has Parkinson’s disease and doesn’t play very much- but his spirit and perceptiveness are every bit as alive and inspired as ever they were and I feel incredibly lucky to be his friend.”