Biography

I began playing the violin aged five. My older sister had started learning the cello, and I, desperate to join in (but still be different!) chose the violin. I grew up hearing all sorts of music in the house – all three of my sisters play a string instrument and my dad’s music taste has absolutely rubbed off on me! My love of playing grew quickly and I joined the Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust. I began in the County Junior Strings and then went through the entire system, eventually working my way up to the County Youth Orchestra. This is where my passion for orchestral playing was born! Being able to perform in full symphony orchestras from such a young age taught me so much and allowed my musicality to really flourish. A core memory is seeing Nigel Kennedy play Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at the Derngate Theatre and thinking, “Yeah, that’s what I want to do!”

In 2020, I went to do my undergraduate degree at the Royal College of Music with Michał Ćwiżewicz – something which was so exciting but so incredibly scary. I loved my time there, played with some fantastic conductors in beautiful venues, and made some lifelong friends. I then continued on to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where I was supported by the Max Jaffa Foundation to study my masters on the orchestral artistry course with Krzysztof Śmietana. My time there was also wonderful. I had so many opportunities, from playing alongside the LSO, leading many orchestral projects and even performing with Bill Laurance from Snarky Puppy!

Over the years, I have played across all kinds of genres and ensembles; symphonic, operatic, pop, chamber and contemporary, and have thoroughly enjoyed them all! The most important part of music making for me is the community and collaboration aspect. I think that is what has always attracted me to orchestral music so much – the idea of so many musicians working together to create beautiful music is so exhilarating! It is such an honour to be a part of this year’s fellowship orchestra and I can’t wait to see what the year has in store!