Tamsin Waley-Cohen
Violin
At a glance
Tamsin Waley-Cohen
Violin
"Undeniably-fabulous playing"Classical Source
Tamsin Waley-Cohen enjoys an adventurous and varied career. She is a former ECHO Rising Star and Artistic Director of the Two Moors Festival.
Biography —
Born in London, Tamsin Waley-Cohen enjoys an adventurous and varied career. In addition to concerts with the Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Hallé, Liverpool Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony, Royal Northern Sinfonia and BBC orchestras, amongst others, she has twice been associate artist with the Orchestra of the Swan and works with conductors including Andrew Litton, Vasily Petrenko, Ben Gernon, Ryan Bancroft and Tamás Vásáry.
Her duo partners include James Baillieu and Huw Watkins. She gave the premiere of Watkins’ Concertino, and in Summer 2020 premiered a new work for violin and piano with him at Wigmore Hall. She is thrilled to be a Signum Classics Artist. With her sister, composer Freya Waley-Cohen, and architects Finbarr O’Dempsey and Andrew Skulina, she held an Open Space residency at Aldeburgh, culminating in the 2017 premiere of Permutations at the Aldeburgh Festival, an interactive performance artwork synthesising music and architecture. Her love of chamber music led her to start the Honeymead Festival, now in its twelfth year, from which all proceeds go to support local charities.
She was a founding member of the Albion string quartet, appearing regularly with them at venues including Wigmore Hall, Aldeburgh Festival, and the Concertgebouw. In 2016-2017 she was the UK recipient of the ECHO Rising Stars Awards, playing at all the major European concert halls and premiering Oliver Knussen’s Reflection, written especially for her and Huw Watkins. In the 2018-19 season she toured Japan and China, and gave her New York Debut recital at the Frick.
She is Artistic Director of the Two Moors Festival, and has previously been Artistic Director of the Music Series at the Tricycle Theatre, London, and the Bargello festival in Florence. She studied at the Royal College of Music and her teachers included Itzhak Rashkovsky, Ruggiero Ricci and András Keller
News —
Tamsin Waley-Cohen tours UK with the China Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra
Performing Saint-Saëns's Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and Chausson's Poème in 8-date tour. Read more
Tamsin Waley-Cohen on BBC R3 Lunchtime Concert
6th March broadcast to feature Elgar and Deborah Pritchard Read more
Tamsin Waley-Cohen gives UK premiere at Wigmore Hall
David Ludwig's Swan Song premiered alongside Sonatas by Mozart and Beethoven Read more
BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert: Tamsin Waley-Cohen
Concert with the Orsino Ensemble recorded at 2022 Two Moors Festival Read more
Tamsin Waley-Cohen joins Ikon Arts Management
Renowned violinist joins artist roster for general management Read more
Photos —
Reviews —
...her bow rasping on the string in the composer’s passionate flights, her sound meltingly beautiful and fragile in his graceful melodies
The Strad
...undeniably-fabulous playing...
Classical Source
Waley-Cohen's playing is radiant and soaring
The Sunday Times
A tremendous space of space, colour and character… performed here with beauty and flair
BBC Music Magazine
Waley-Cohen returned to the platform for the Sarabande from JS Bach’s Partita in D minor, BWV1004, an exquisite rendition with manicured playing of the highest order. And how refreshing it was to hear a pianissimo, almost haunting in the breathless silence of the audience.
Bachtrack
Selected Discography —
BEETHOVEN: VIOLIN SONATAS NOS. 1, 5 & 8
Gramophone Magazine“The heart gives a little leap at the prospect of…a duo as engaging and intelligent as Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Huw Watkins.”
CPE BACH
Gramophone Magazine"Three discs of wonderful music-making"
BOHEMIA
The Strad"..a spiritually intense expressivo reminiscent of Yehudi Munuhin in his prime."
PERMUTATIONS
BBC Music Magazinea tremendous space of space, colour and character… performed here with beauty and flair
ROY HARRIS, JOHN ADAMS: VIOLIN CONCERTOS
Gramophone...her interpretation is technically beyond reproach and musically imaginative
Related Media —
Masterclass
with Debussy String Quartet at Lake District Summer Music Festival View on YouTubeElgar Violin Sonata
with Christopher Glynn View on YouTubeMendelssohn Violin Concerto
with Orchestra of the Swan View on YouTubeWigmore Hall
Performing: Likeness by Freya Waley-Cohen View on YouTubeDownloads —
Contact —
Name
- Nicola Semple