In my playing life I enjoy genre-hopping, and some of my home-grown projects are inspired by where two styles come together: my quintet ZRI recreates the Viennese folk band sound in music from Brahms and Schubert to Janacek and onto Charlie Chaplin and Django Reinhardt. I also play in Lodestar Trio which mixes Bach and Scandinavian folk music, and this links to my obsession with Bach in general, and specifically the solo Sonatas, Partitas, and Suites which I play on violin, viola and also on Baroque fiddle. I am half of an experimental electronic music duo called Sonnen which mixes elements of contemporary classical music with electronic dance music. I take part in regular chamber music festivals in the UK and abroad, and also do regular leading/directing roles.

I am passionate about music education and love to teach. I ran my own residential chamber music course for 10 years and teach on other education programmes. I see teaching as an extension of my own learning process, which I would describe as non-linear.

For a decade I’ve done regular studio work in London, playing on film and TV scores, and pop records. In non-corona times I am often on the move and love the variety, challenge, and sociability that life as a freelance musician offers. I write my own music and love to improvise in different styles.

I was at YMS just for my A-levels in Natasha Boyarsky’s class, and went to study Political Philosophy at Cambridge when I graduated. At that time there was no support network in place and I am happy to be founding this scheme to ease the transition to life after YMS, and to expand the bonds in the alumni family.