The Dufay Collective was formed in 1987 to explore the rich and varied repertoire of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. They are a group of musicians who work together, as their name implies, without a director.

Their recent release Cancionero - Music for the Spanish Court 1470 - 1520, won a CMA / WQXR Record Award, was chosen as a Critics Choice Record of the Year by Gramophone Magazine and was nominated for a Grammy. A L'Estampida, one of their most popular recordings, is of Medieval Dance Music from the 13th and 14th centuries.

The highly successful 12 years since its formation have taken The Dufay Collective on tours throughout most of Europe as well as further afield. They have toured extensively in the Middle East, India, Hong Kong, Australia, the US and Latin America. At home The Dufay Collective has appeared in numerous concert series and festivals around the country, and has given sell-out concerts at London's main concert halls.

Highlights of recent years have included performances in the monastery of Montserrat, Early Music Network tours in Holland, Norway and the UK, the Tallinn Festival in Estonia, the Festival de Fes in Morocco, and regular concerts in Spain. A return to Australia as part of the Sydney Festival was highly successful, as was a series of concerts in Singapore. At home they continue their association with Dartington Summer School, the year 2000 being their eighth as tutors. In May 2000 the Dufays feature live on BBC2's 'Perfect Day' broadcast and planned is a collaboration with The Orlando Consort and the Richard Alston Dance Company.

The group has broadcast on many radio and TV networks around the world as well as working on a number of TV and film projects, including Zeffirelli's feature film Hamlet. Their CD's have all met with critical acclaim, releases for Chandos Records including a range of repertoire from medieval Europe, the early Spanish renaissance and popular music from 17th century England.

Paul Bevan

Paul Bevan comes from a highly artistic background. His maternal family were theatrical proprietors, and one of his relations was of such note as to be included in the earliest editions of Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

Paul has always been a keen participant in many artistic pursuits. According to his mother Fern, or Bogroll as he likes to call her, he was a talented ballet dancer in his boyhood. Indeed, his natural sense of balance seems to have remained present, as he is now a disciplined practitioner of the ancient art of Tai Chi [see group photo]. Friends recall, however, this sense of balance deserting him on several occasions during his student days after long emotional sessions in the St Paul's Tavern, Chiswell Street. Amongst the musical highlights of his career, talent scouts still speak of how he played with Adam Bowman and Teddy Coleridge in the Cockpit Improvised Music ensemble, giving a memorable solo on toy piano and bits of old metal.

Famous for his optimistic worldview, Paul is noted for his response to cheery greetings, for instance: "Hi, Paul, how are you today?" - "Dead, or as good as." 'Eeyore' is one of the many affectionate nicknames given to Paul.

An excellent trombonist and sackbutt player, he also plays recorder and a barrage of ethnic percussion and has been spotted playing the psaltery, although as yet never seen carrying it to the gig. He is noted for rare and fascinatingly free interpretations of piano sonatas before Sunday supper. At such late night spectaculars his audience count the experience a particular privilege since Paul normally has to go at 5 o'clock..... Paul is a founder and vital member of the Dufays.

Giles Lewin

Giles Lewin's professional musical career started at the age of nine, when, as a chorister, he sang the female lead in Mozart's operetta "Bastien et Bastienne", a rôle in which he was outstanding for the knobbliness of his knees. Continuing his musical education with a detailed study of the interiors of various Cambridge pubs, he found a way of combining his two interests, and started playing Irish traditional music, later touring with the band AfterHours (1989-95).

After several years touring with The Medieval Players theatre company (1981-87) he joined the Dufays (at least he didn't have to wear tights). Escaping to Cairo to study Arabic music in 1989, he formed the group Maqaam, and frequently returns to Egypt to perform.

Giles also plays with The Carnival Band and Alba. He lives in Oxford and is currently working on several recording projects, including The Guidonian Band, with members of the Dufays.

Bill Lyons

Bill Lyons was born in Kent, and whilst at East Peckham Primary learnt the recorder under the fearsome headmaster, Mr Lawrence. He sees the Cornish town of Padstow as home, having moved there at the age of 12, and having spent his happiest childhood years in that wonderful town. Being involved in the ancient Mayday 'Oss celebrations each year in Padstow may have been responsible in part for his unhealthily youthful obsession with all things 'early'. He got his first shawm [F alto by Korber - still has it!] at 14 and formed his own medieval group 'The Fitzgerald Consort' when he was 15. The other members were his best mate Sean Mclaughlin, who played bouzouki, his little sister Siobhan who played recorder and his dear brother Desmond, who from the age of 10 played percussion so fantastically no one would believe his youth! Needless to say they won all the music festivals in Cornwall.

Bill dallied briefly with Madness and the Specials and then went to the Guildhall and studied recorder and flute, but his memories of that time consist mainly of the blurred insides of City pubs. The Dufays started soon after he left college. He plays shawms, pipes, dulcian, ethnic stuff and flutes and recorders with various bands and teaches at the Guildhall now for his sins.

Bill never fails to point out that Man Utd are the best team in the world, and thank God for Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel.

He is married to Antoinette and has one daughter, Honey-Mae. They live just outside Cambridge.

Susanna Pell

Susanna Pell (Zan) has played the viola da gamba since she was sixteen, although her love of early music began long before that. After studying music at the University of York she travelled to Switzerland for viol lessons with Jordi Savall. In 1987 she was invited to join The Dufay Collective and took up the medieval fiddle.

Now, in addition to her work with the Dufays, she performs and records with several leading ensembles and is a member of the viol consort 'Fretwork'.

Zan is married to the American lutenist Jacob Heringman and spends free moments taming an overactive garden in Streatham and walking the back streets and green spaces of London and beyond.

Peter Skuce

It was obvious from an early age, to teachers and social workers alike, that Peter Skuce would never be able to hold down a proper job. As a child, he astonished his parents by completing his toilet training before moving on to Higher Education. With a reluctance to get up much before lunch time, it seemed inevitable that he would become a musician. After thirteen years as a founder member of The Dufay Collective, people are starting to wonder why they put up with him. Is it his impeccable musicianship, or is it the fact that he is the only one who can drive the tour bus?

His determination to never split an infinitive and refusal to end a sentence with a preposition (or start one with 'but') can be hard to put up with. But despite his reputation as group pedant, he maintains that a nit-picking attitude is essential in a harpsichordist.