I was born and raised in Morpeth, Northumberland. My mum is a piano teacher so my sister and I learnt the violin. I went to the Purcell School for my sixth form where I took up the viola, and I went on to study both instruments at the Royal College of Music, London. My grandfather was a cinema organist but unfortunately I have not inherited his improvisatory skills.   I joined the RSNO in 1994.

I always enjoy the RSNO tours to Austria, because the Musikverein in Vienna is a fabulous hall to play in, and the audiences are so warm and appreciative. Musically my most memorable performance with the Orchestra was Elektra conducted by Walter Weller, but for pure entertainment I love the audience participation engineered by Christopher Bell in the Christmas concerts.  It is always great to play the big stuff like Mahler and Strauss, being in the midst of all that sound is an incredible feeling (although it can be a bit noisy where I sit). I also love working with different soloists each week, they are so inspiring to listen to.

In my spare time I enjoy walking and cycling locally, I live in a village with quiet roads although the hills are a bit steep for my cycling abilities. I am an avid reader, which is a great way to pass the time we spend travelling around to different venues. My other passion is for cooking, especially cakes and puddings. The viola section has an annual summer party which is quite a culinary event and a perfect opportunity to try out new recipes.

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