Biography

I started playing the violin following a visit by a string quartet to my primary school; I loved the rich sound of the string instruments, especially the violin. One particular experience that resonates with me is the feeling of being immersed in the sound of a symphony orchestra aged 13 in Kent County Youth Orchestra. I remember feeling particularly inspired by some of the melodies in Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances and later went on to lead the orchestra; I loved it!

Aged 17, I went off to Cambridge University to study Music at Newnham College, holding a Choral Scholarship at Selwyn College and a Newnham Instrumental Award. Whilst at Cambridge, I studied violin with Stephen Bryant and enjoyed performing in a breadth of musical performance opportunities from solo recitals, Cambridge University Opera Society, Cambridge University Orchestra to smaller student operas and concerts that we put on. I then continued on my violin journey completing my Masters at the Royal Northern College of Music, studying with Yossi Zivoni. Whilst at the RNCM, I held various Principal and Co-Principal positions and also took part in external projects such as the Irish Chamber Orchestra Academy, Buxton International Festival Young Instrumentalists Programme and Hallé Orchestra Side-by-Side.

Since graduating, I have freelanced with various orchestras and chamber groups including Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation Scheme, Suffolk Philharmonic and the English Arts Orchestra. I have also been involved in education work, as I believe in the power of music to transform young people’s lives and develop many skills and attributes as human beings. This has resulted in working with numerous organisations and schools including The Benedetti Foundation, National Children’s Orchestras, The Purcell School, Sevenoaks School, Caterham School, Young Music Makers, Rochester Independent College and Dartford Music School.

I am also very grateful to have been loaned a violin and bow from Benslow Music Trust since 2018 and to have been supported by bursaries from The William and Frances Dobie Charitable Foundation, Headley Trust and Kent and Medway Young Musicians’ Trust. Furthermore, I have enjoyed performing in an array of masterclasses playing to Daniel Stabrawa, Henning Kraggerud, Ludvig Gudim, Elise Båtnes, Frederik Øland, Sophia Jaffé, Milan Vitek, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Chin Kim and Yuri Zaidenberg. Since 2022, I have been studying under the tutelage of Krzysztof Smietana.

In my downtime, I love going for long walks in the countryside, reading a good book and seeing friends.