Hannah Roberts

Biography

HANNAH ROBERTS is one of the outstanding 'cellists of her generation . After a wonderful start with Susanna Roberts, then Jennifer Ward-Clarke, she was privileged to have studied extensively with William Pleeth at the Yehudi Menuhin School and Ralph Kirshbaum at the Royal Northern College of Music. Having won prizes in numerous prestigious competitions and awards such as Shell LSO, BBC Young Musician, Jacqueline Du Pre Memorial and Pierre Fournier awards, Hannah has gone on to give many concerto performances with leading orchestras, including the London Mozart Players, LSO, BBC Concert Orchestra, and the Halle, also making broadcasts and recordings.

Internationally she enjoys an active schedule of solo and chamber music performing and has taken part part in the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival in Los Angeles, International Cello Institute , Vivac-e Festival, Encore and Heifetz Institute in the USA , and Quingdao International Cello Festival, and numerous European festivals. UK festival appearances have included Chichester, Malvern, Beverley, ‘Beethovenfest’ and regular participation in the prestigious ‘Manchester International Cello Festival where she was invited to lead a world premiere of a cello sextet work by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and performed on numerous occasions.

In addition to her activities as soloist, chamber musician and principal ‘cellist of award winning chamber orchestra Manchester Camerata, Hannah is a committed and sought after mentor. Awarded the title of ‘Jacqueline Du Pré Professor of Cello’ at the RAM in London, she is also professor of cello the RNCM in Manchester, Visiting Artist in Cello at RBC and visiting tutor for the University of Oxford.Her distinguished roster of student alumni include the British cellist Sheku Kanneh Mason, South African artist Abel Selaocoe and some of the most world’s most notable young soloists, chamber musicians and principal ‘cellists.

She is honoured to have been awarded both an HonRAM and an FRNCM for her work helping to nurture upcoming ‘cellists, and enjoys working with some of the world’s most gifted young musicians at leading international masterclasses each summer.