Biography
Born into a musical family, music has always been part of my life. Since hearing Mendelssohn’s ‘Violin Concerto’ as a young child, I longed to play the violin and started my first lessons aged 6. When I was 9, and being tall for my age, my teacher introduced me to a better life – the viola!
Whilst at school, I continued playing both instruments in various youth orchestras and was encouraged by winning ‘Best String Player’ prize in the South Glamorgan Young Musicians Competition and leading the viola section of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. This prepared me well for my studies at the Royal College of Music, where it was a great privilege to work with Simon Rowland-Jones and Jonathan Barritt, as well as have so many opportunities for solo/chamber music and orchestral playing. Inspired by the Debussy centenary in 2018, I founded Trio Sylvanus for flute, viola, and harp, one of our highlights being a concert at the Institut Français in London.
After being awarded a postgraduate scholarship at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2019, I continued my professional training with Matthew Jones. In addition to much chamber music playing with the Barbican Piano Quartet and Alacris String Quartet, other highlights included performances with the Australian Chamber Orchestra as well as in the Guildhall Chamber Music Festival 2022. I also formed the Bodman String Quartet, our most recent performance being at LSO St Luke’s.
I am really interested in performing contemporary and 20th century music especially as a soloist, and I love working with composers. It was a particular privilege to give the UK premiere of Eric Tanguy’s Rhapsodie for viola and piano at the Highgate Festival in 2022 after working with him in Paris. I am now preparing a CD of French music including works by Tanguy, Hersant and Jolivet.
Educational outreach has always been important to me, and I have worked with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain for several years, in addition to giving masterclasses for ESTA and at Cardiff University School of Music. It is really fascinating to work out the best way to inspire young players and open their minds to new ideas.
When not playing or practising, I enjoy watching the Formula1 and am hoping Lewis Hamilton gets another win! I have always loved classic cars and was privileged to learn to drive on my mother’s 42-year-old red MGB!
EDUCATION
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
London, UK
Royal College of Music
London, UK
OTHER PROJECTS
Bodman String Quartet
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
How would you persuade someone who has never heard ‘classical music’ before to come with you to a concert?
I often get chatting to uber drivers in London and ask them to put on Radio 3. Usually, they’re pleasantly surprised how lovely the music is and ask me about it. I tell them what fun it is to go to a live concert, that it is not expensive – a lot less than many pop concerts – and that all you have to do is pin back your ears and enjoy!
What’s your most memorable moment as a musician?
My most memorable moment as a musician was meeting and falling in love with my current viola for the first time. Instruments are great teachers.