Annabelle Pizzey

Oboe

Year:: 2025/26
Born:: Guernsey
Sponsor:: Annabelle Pizzey's place at Sinfonia Smith Square is generously supported by The Guernsey Bursary Consortium

Biography

Music first crept into my life when I was seven and my older sister started piano lessons. Naturally, as the younger sibling, I immediately decided I wanted to play too. Luckily for me, she wasn’t particularly fussed about the whole thing, so I happily took over her 4 pm Tuesday slot and haven’t looked back since.

A few years later, the local music service came to school offering lessons on any woodwind or brass instrument. I chose the oboe after my mum confidently told me, “Oboes get all the beautiful solos.” She wasn’t wrong!

Throughout school, I jumped at any opportunity to play music. Lunchtimes, after school, weekends—if there was an ensemble or a rehearsal happening, I wanted to be part of it. So, it only felt natural to pursue music further, and I headed to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where I studied with Peter Dykes and Henry Clay and graduated in 2023. During my time there, I took part in orchestral apprenticeship schemes with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. These were hugely formative experiences, not just musically, but in showing me how much I love the collaborative side of orchestral life and the friendships it brings.

After graduating, I felt I needed more time to grow before entering the freelance world, especially after completing my undergraduate degree during the pandemic. I moved to London to study for a Master of Performance at the Royal College of Music, where I’ve just graduated. I was lucky enough to study with Olivier Stankiewicz, Juliana Koch, Rosie Jenkins, Nick Deutsch, and Christine Pendrill. Learning from such a wide range of oboists has inspired me greatly; the different styles and energies they bring will always fascinate me.

When I’m not playing the oboe, I’ll either be with my friends or at my sewing machine making bags! I feel so lucky to have London on my doorstep, and it only feels right to explore it with my favourite people. You’ll often find me dragging them along to concerts and screaming at the top of my lungs, with a very fun homemade bag on my shoulder.

I’m constantly grateful for the guidance, encouragement, and inspiration I’ve received, and for that fateful moment when I took over my sister’s piano lesson.

Education

Royal College of Music, London

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow

Quickfire Questions

What is your favourite piece of music and why do you love it?

I think my favourite piece of music must be Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10. It was the first piece I played with a full orchestra after the COVID lockdowns, and I’ll never forget that feeling—being surrounded by some of my closest friends, making music together again after so much isolation. The sound, the energy, the shared focus—it felt like something in me switched back on.

The music itself is so powerful. It’s intense and unsettling, but also full of beauty and vulnerability. There’s this constant push and pull—moments of chaos, fear, and darkness, but also these quieter sections that feel like they’re desperately yearning for peace. That emotional tension really resonated with me at the time. After months of silence and uncertainty, playing something that captured both the struggle and the hope so perfectly was incredibly moving.

It was one of those experiences that reminded me why I love music—not just for how it sounds, but for how deeply it can connect to what we feel.

Where’s your favourite place to listen to music and why?

My favourite place to listen to music must be live. Nothing compares, whether it’s being completely immersed in the sound of a full orchestra at the BBC Proms, or dancing at a gig with my friends. A real highlight for me was seeing Olivia Dean at Shepherd’s Bush Empire; hearing one of my favourite artists live is something I’ll never forget. There’s just something about the energy and connection of live music that makes it feel truly special.

How would you persuade someone who has never heard ‘classical music’ before to come with you to a concert?

I think a lot of people imagine classical music is going to be serious, or something intellectual you need to understand. But it’s just music. It’s made by real people, often with the same messiness, joy, heartbreak or chaos you’d find in pop, jazz, folk, or any other genre. The only difference is how those emotions are expressed through different instruments.

One of the things I love most about classical music is how raw and human it can feel. It can be quiet and intimate, or wild and explosive. Throughout a symphony, you just get to sit there and experience it in your own way. It’s a bit like watching a film, you start to notice all the textures, the pacing, the tension, and the release.

When you’re in the room with it, hearing it live, it becomes almost physical. The sound surrounds you and takes you somewhere. Even if someone doesn’t think classical music is for them, I’d say it’s not about rules or knowing facts, it’s about feeling something. Just like any other kind of music.

What do you do with your time when you’re not playing music?

When I’m not playing music, I’m usually spending time with my friends. Exploring London, hunting down the best coffee spots and breweries, or dragging them to concerts; they’re mostly on board with this, I promise. I feel lucky to have such a vibrant city on my doorstep, and I try to make the most of it.

I also love sewing and crocheting. I spend a lot of time at my machine making bags or sitting on the sofa with a crochet hook and a variety of colourful yarn. It’s become such an important creative outlet for me, something that lets my mind switch off from the intensity of music and focus on a totally different kind of making. There’s something satisfying about choosing the materials, coming up with a design, and then being able to use something you’ve made with your own hands. The more chaotic the fabric and colourful the yarn, the better! I find it’s also a great way to stay creative without the pressure that can sometimes come with playing.

And if I’m not sewing, I’m probably baking. I love filling the flat with the smell of something fresh out of the oven, it’s my go-to way of relaxing and distracting my housemates with snacks.

If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?

If I weren’t a musician, I think I’d run a little art café. I’ve always loved the idea of creating a space where people can come together to be creative, relax, and feel inspired. Whether that’s through art, music, conversation, or just really good cake. I find a lot of joy in baking, and I’d love to combine that with a welcoming, artistic atmosphere. Maybe there would be workshops, live music nights, and walls covered in local artwork. It would be cosy, colourful, and probably a bit chaotic! But hopefully in a good way!

What’s your most memorable moment as a musician?

My most memorable moment as a musician must be performing at Celtic Connections in 2023, as part of the GRIT Orchestra. The festival doesn’t usually lend itself to oboists, but GRIT creates this magnificent fusion of musical worlds, bringing classical and traditional Scottish music side by side through the work of the late Martyn Bennett.

The GRIT Orchestra was created by Greg Lawson in memory of Martyn, and the collaboration that’s grown out of it is something special. Being part of that and helping to bring Martyn’s music to life for a live audience was incredibly moving.

During the performance, I was sat at the end of a row of eight pipers. The sound they produced was absolutely electrifying, and it’s something I’ll remember for a very long time. Oh, and I also had a swanee whistle solo, which may genuinely be the highlight of my career so far…

What’s the best bit of live music you’ve ever seen?

One of the best bits of live music I’ve seen was Olivia Dean at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, performing with her jazz quartet. Their chemistry was incredible, it really felt like they were having a musical conversation on stage. Each note and phrase bounced between them effortlessly, making the whole performance feel fresh, alive, and spontaneous.

Olivia Dean’s voice is truly amazing, full of emotion, depth, and warmth. The band added a quality to the music that’s hard to describe but impossible to forget. It was soulful and raw, with an honesty that completely captivated the audience. There was a real sense of trust and freedom in their playing, like they were pushing each other while still staying completely connected. It wasn’t just a concert; it felt like a shared experience between musicians and listeners.

The crowd was completely wrapped up in the moment, singing along one minute and then falling into complete silence the next. That ebb and flow of energy made the whole night feel incredibly intimate despite the size of the venue. It reminded me why live music is so magical, it’s about connection, sharing feelings, and being part of something real and unrepeatable. You can’t get that from a recording; it must be experienced.

That night stayed with me because it wasn’t just about hearing beautiful music. It was about feeling the passion and emotion and knowing that everyone in the room was part of that same moment. It reminded me why I love music, not just as a musician, but as someone who wants to connect and share stories through sound.

Biography

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