Rita Manning studied at the Royal Academy of Music and in Freiburg, Germany. On her return to London she was awarded the Young Artist’s Platform Award. In 1985, she was invited to join the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields which she co-led for six years. During that time she appeared on several occasions as soloist with the Academy as well as the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the London Chamber Orchestra. For two years, Rita was the violinist in Attaca, a seven-piece ensemble formed by guitarist John Williams, and also toured the United Kingdom with a group led by the late Michael Brecker. With her own string quartet, ‘Trans4mation’, she has made two recordings on the ECM label with saxophonist John Surman. She has toured the USA as the leader of Camerata Ireland, and is presently leader of the Locrian Ensemble with whom she has made several recordings for ASV, Dutton Epoch and Guild.