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Victoria Simonsen
Cello
Described as 'a musician of rare quality' by The Strad and 'beautifully sensitive and composed' by The Times, Victoria Simonsen has as developed a varied career as soloist and chamber musician, and has performed widely not only in the UK but also in France, Far East Asia and New Zealand.
Victoria regularly collaborates with several brilliant young pianists and her UK recital highlights include Queen Elizabeth Hall, BBC Proms Composer Portrait, Ryedale Festival, Leeds International Recital Series, Manchester International Cello Festival, Buxton Festival and Ripon Cathedral. Victoria was winner of the 2008 Royal Over-Seas League Strings Competition, adding to her existing competition accolades which include the Barbirolli Cello Prize, Leonard Rose Prize, Countess of Munster’s ‘Star Award’, New Zealand Young Musician of the Year, New Zealand Performer of the Year, Royal Over-Seas League Travelling Scholarship and the prestigious Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
As winner of the English-Speaking Union Music Scholarship 2010 she attended the International Master Classes at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada and gave several concerts, including one with acclaimed Canadian clarinettist James Campbell. Victoria has been a Solo Artist on the Countess of Munster's Recital Scheme and won a place as a Park Lane Group ‘Young Artist’ under which she made her Purcell Room London début in 2009. Master classes have included Mstislav Rostropovich, Bernard Greenhouse, Anner Bylsma, Philippe Muller, Johannes Goritzki, Luis Claret, Maria Kliegal, Gary Hoffman, Patrick Demenga, Colin Carr, Raphael Wallfisch and Ralph Kirshbaum.
As a committed chamber musician, Victoria is regularly invited to the IMS Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music Sessions and for six years, until mid-2009, she was a member of the Barbirolli Quartet. During that time the quartet's achievements included being selected for the ECHO 'Rising Stars' Series, winning a Tunnell Trust Award, a Kirckman Concert Society Award, The Countess of Munster Musical Trust Recital Scheme, 'Quartet in Residence' at Salford University and a Guildhall Artists Fellowship. Engagements with the quartet included the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Chelsea Festival, Cheltenham Music Festival, St David's Hall Cardiff, Harrogate International Festival, Manchester Mid-Day in Bridgewater Hall and St John’s, Smith Square.
Born in 1983 in Auckland, Victoria has lived in England since 2002. Her studies at the University of Auckland were followed by postgraduate degrees at the Royal Northern College of Music where she received tuition from renowned cellists Ralph Kirshbaum and Karine Georgian. In 2004 she graduated gaining distinctions in both performance and composition, and in 2006 was awarded the Gold Medal, the highest award bestowed by the college, and at the same competition was voted winner of the Audience Prize. Her interest in contemporary music lead to studies with Anthony Gilbert and her own compositions included a work performed by the RNCM Symphony Orchestra and a string quartet premiered at the 2006 Sonic Skylines Festival. Her studies in the UK were enabled by the generous financial support from awards including the Countess of Munster Trust, Patricia Pratt Scholarship (NZVCC), Creative NZ, Philharmonia/Martin Musical Scholarship Fund and the Craxton Memorial Trust. While still a student, Victoria was appointed Section Principal Cellist of the Orchestra of Opera North (2005-2007). Victoria has held a job-share position with the Philharmonia since 2008 and has been Guest Principal Cellist with orchestras such as Scottish Opera, Philharmonia, Northern Sinfonia, Irish Chamber Orchestra and Lancashire Sinfonietta.
Victoria currently lives in London and receives continuing musical guidance from Professor Julius Berger at the Leopold Mozart Zentrum in Augsburg, Germany.
Victoria is exceptionally grateful to Miss Barbara Hilda Knapton, Mrs Kathleen Mary Cavill and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust for enabling her to acquire a cello by Giovanni Grancino, Milan 1687.
If you would like to print or file (pdf) the above biography, together with Victoria's reviews, please click here. Alternatively please email us if you would like a copy sent to you by post.
Please also see Victoria's Promoters page.