Karen Bainbridge was born in Manchester, moved to Cheshire (for the cleaner air!), and found herself attracted to wind instruments*. She started with the recorder, and moved up in size through the clarinet, and onto bassoon! Playing chamber music from the age of 13, first of all on clarinet, then bassoon at 16, she found that this genre gave her the most pleasure. Ensemble lessons from a flautist in the Halle Orchestra, helped the group reach a high standard, and they won many trophies in a number of North West music festivals, as well as performing recitals in churches and for garden parties as far afield as the Peak District and Birmingham.

Whilst still at school, she was lucky enough to have lessons from Charlie Cracknell (late Bassoon Principal, Halle Orchestra and Professor at the RNCM) in Manchester, before gaining graduate status, as well as performance and teaching diplomas from the Birmingham School of Music (now Conservatoire). Here, she was taught by Andrew Barnell (Bassoon Principal, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra) who provided her with many opportunities to play professionally (with the CBSO and Orchestra Da Camera, amongst others).

Upon marrying and moving to Suffolk, Karen decided to make a career in Local Government. However, she spends most of her free time playing in Suffolk orchestras (Wolsey Orchestra and Lavenham Sinfonia) or for choral societies at the weekends, as well as playing as much chamber music as possible, since this is her great love.

Karen started up "Nightingale" in early 2006, intending for the group to grow and change over the years - so that the largest possible repertoire of the very best chamber music can be enjoyed by many (and especially the players!).

* No pun intended - since she eventually married the clarinettist who sat next to her in a scratch orchestra in Cheshire whilst still at school