Music surrounded me from day one as my mother was an orchestral player, and so it always seemed natural that I would play an instrument. However, it was only when I heard my primary school’s cello teacher give a concert that I fell in love with the cello. In school I joined every choir and orchestra that I could and when I was 12, I played my first full symphony with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain. The incredible energy that I got from playing Shostakovich’s fifth symphony inspired me to work towards a career in music, and the next year I began studying at the Royal College of Music junior department. Learning with Michal Kaznowski not only set me up with the technical skills I needed to pursue further studies, but also instilled a deeper understanding of the music I was playing.
Music surrounded me from day one as my mother was an orchestral player, and so it always seemed natural that I would play an instrument. However, it was only when I heard my primary school’s cello teacher give a concert that I fell in love with the cello. In school I joined every choir and orchestra that I could and when I was 12, I played my first full symphony with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain. The incredible energy that I got from playing Shostakovich’s fifth symphony inspired me to work towards a career in music, and the next year I began studying at the Royal College of Music junior department. Learning with Michal Kaznowski not only set me up with the technical skills I needed to pursue further studies, but also instilled a deeper understanding of the music I was playing.
Moving on to the Royal Academy of Music, I had the opportunity to study with Felix Schmidt and perform to international soloists and world class chamber musicians. Whilst at RAM I was excited to do the Open Academy programme, working on bringing music to local hospitals and primary schools. I have always enjoyed education and outreach work, and during my studies, I taught several private pupils and gained my LRAM teaching degree.
After graduating from the RAM, I decided to follow a long-held dream of studying in Germany. I moved to Bremen in the middle of the pandemic to study at the Hochschule für Künste. Studying there with Alexander Baillie gave me a fresh perspective on my own playing, inspiring me to work more ambitiously. I also found that moving to a different country and studying at a school full of people from different backgrounds and cultures was a change from anything I had experienced in London.
Talking and playing with other musicians has always been what engages me the most- I find that a good debate can show me aspects of the music that I hadn’t previously seen. My flat in Bremen is constantly full of musicians eating, drinking, discussing our favourite recordings and playing chamber music through the night.
When I’m not playing or teaching cello you can find me baking or doing any kind of arts and crafts that keeps my hands busy.
EDUCATION
Bremen Hochschule für Künste
Germany
Royal Academy of Music
London, UK
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
Where’s your favourite place to listen to music and why?
Listening to music when I cycle or take public transport is my favourite thing- the music becomes the perfect soundtrack to my journey!
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?
I have been a lifelong book addict, and I would enjoy working in a library where I could engage with the community and recommend my favourite books.
