Biography
Praised for her 'technical security backed up by rare musical sensitivity' by The Independent, Katherine is widely recognised as one of the UK's leading cellists specialising in solo and chamber music. She has appeared as recitalist and concerto soloist throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and the USA, including an outdoor performance of the Dvořák Concerto in the sweltering heat of The Seychelles.
In contemporary music, Katherine has worked closely with composers Arvo Pärt, Oliver Davis, Anthony Payne, Richard Allain and Thomas Hyde. In 2018 Oliver Davis invited Katherine to record his Cello Concerto Morpheus with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, an album which subsequently became a Classic FM and Classical iTunes No.1 hit.
Richard Allain is composing a Concerto for Cello and Hang for Katherine and international star, Manu Delago. In 2022 Katherine recorded the world premiere of a new chamber version of Elgar Cello Concerto for Solo Cello and String Quintet.
Chamber music is a key part of Katherine's musical life. She was a member of the Allegri Quartet (2008-2011) and is a founder member of the Aquinas Piano Trio, performing with them in the UK and abroad. Described by Gramophone magazine as ‘spot-on in interpretative instinct ’ the Aquinas have a busy recording schedule and recently released a three album series of Haydn Trios on the Naxos label, having additionally recorded works by Smetana, Rachmaninov, Ravel, Saint-Saëns and Mendelssohn.
Katherine has appeared as Guest Principal with a number of UK orchestras including RPO, RPCO, City of London Sinfonia, London Chamber Orchestra, Oxford Philharmonic and London Concert Orchestra and is a regular in London's recording studios, often as Principal, including for Isobel Griffiths, Hilary Skewes, Cool Music, Music Creation and Clarion Music.
A former student of Colin Carr and David Strange at the Royal Academy of Music, Katherine has directed masterclasses at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, Kazan State Conservatory in Russia and at the Kazakh National Conservatory. The Royal Academy of Music regularly invite Katherine to adjudicate student exams and Chamber Music competitions, and recently awarded her an Associateship (ARAM) in recognition of her achievements. She recorded the recent Cello Syllabus for the Associated Board and is an Artistic Director of Bromley Chamber Music Festival and Derby Chamber Music Society.
Katherine plays on a 1703 Italian cello by Giovanni Georgio Taningard and is grateful to the Countess of Munster Musical Trust for their help in the purchase and restoration of this instrument.
ELGAR: CONCERTO OPUS 85
ARRANGED FOR SOLO CELLO AND STRING QUINTET
