This year the London Cello Society is transforming itself into a national society for cellists across the United Kingdom! During the 2024-2025 season, we present an online series and an event for young professionals in Manchester, one of our three new hubs…
To initiate this significant transition, we have established three cello hubs outside of London: Manchester with Professor Jennifer Langridge of the RNCM; Cambridge with Joshua Lynch; and Chichester with Professor Laura Ritchie of the University of Chichester.
As part of this process, we will also establish a full panoply of social media, a new governing structure, and best of all, a brand new website with an interactive section full of interesting resources for our members. And of course we will plan our first full season of events as a national society, called A Members’ Season, for 2025-2026.
To help fund the considerable expenses of our transition into a much larger, national organisation we seek the support of our members. Fortunately a generous donor has come forward to pledge a challenge grant of £10,000 for which we need to raise a matching amount over the course of this first year. Look for a special announcement during the month of September.
Sunday 21st May 2023 | 1.30 – 5.30
St John’s Wood Church, Lord’s Roundabout NW8 7NE
Sunday 6th November 2022 | 1.00 – 5.00 PM
The School of Philosophy and Economic Science, London W1
How to Enliven your Practice
with Kim Mackrell, Director of Amateurs and Adult Learners Division
Sunday 22nd November 2020 – 5.00PM
The practise process is probably the most important area of learning an instrument. Regular and well thought out practise goes hand in hand with progress and
enjoyment. In this session we will find our way round the pitfalls and frustrations we have all experienced, and answer any questions that have been gnawing away at you about this vital and surprisingly enjoyable occupation!
Kim Mackrell studied cello at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Leonard Steyn, where she won the Guildhall School Cello prize. Work abroad followed, in Bermuda with the Guildhall Quartet, and as principal cellist in the Las Palmas Philharmonic Orchestra. She joined the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester, leaving after six years to freelance with orchestras in the north.
Since returning to London her freelance work has been an eclectic mix of genres; regular LSO concerts and tours; solo cellist with the Kosh Dance/Theatre Company; twenty years with contemporary music group Harmonie Band performing original scores for silent film, taking projects to schools, and giving concerts; twelve years a member of the Solarek Piano Trio; founder of the Pisces String Quartet in 2004.
Her teaching practise began to attract adult amateurs, and through the cello section coaching and group work that followed, Chamber Cellos Courses was formed in 2008 chambercellos.co.uk.
