About

British Cellist, Katharine Ley presently lives in North Lincolnshire and freelances professionally in the UK. Katharine enjoys a varied portfolio career with much performing and teaching work. Katharine plays as Concerto and Recital Soloist, is a String Ensemble Tutor and has a handful of private Cello students. 

Katharine’s earlier musical education was at the Royal Birmingham Junior Conservatoire where she led the Chamber and Symphony Orchestras. At the age of 16, Katharine advanced her studies with Soloist Felix Schmidt, Cello Professor of the Royal Academy of Music while simultaneously playing in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. This was extremely progressive for Katharine’s Cello playing prior to entering the Royal Northern College of Music where she graduated with a First Class Bachelor of Music with Honours. Following this Katharine commenced her private studies with world-renowned Cellist Raphael Wallfisch in London.

As a Soloist, Katharine has performed internationally in many concerts and public masterclasses. Some highlights include performing in masterclasses to Natasha Brofsky, Roel Dieltiens, Leonard Elschenbroich, Rebecca Gilliver (Principal Cello of the LSO), Julian Lloyd Webber, Miklos Perenyi, Hannah Roberts and Troels Svane. 

Katharine has much Orchestral experience having participated in projects, rehearsals and concerts with orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Also, during her youth Katharine won seats in numerous national youth orchestras. This meant by the age of 18 Katharine had already performed at all the major concert venues in the UK including the Royal Albert Hall at the BBC Proms. Additionally, Katharine undertook a postgraduate fellowship with the San Francisco Academy Orchestra, gaining 1:1 mentorship from Amos Yang, Assistant Principal Cello of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. 

Katharine plays on a Betts School Cello (c. 1790) paired with a John Clutterbuck bow.

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