SHORT BIOGRAPHY (updated 2019)

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Described as ‘beautifully sensitive and composed’ by The Times, Victoria Simonsen enjoys a varied musical life that incorporates solo, chamber music and orchestral concerts as well as teaching. She joined the Rautio Piano Trio in 2015, with whom she records for Resonus Classics, and previously had notable success in the Barbirolli Quartet. Her love of chamber music has led to concerts at festivals such as the BBC Proms London, Cheltenham, Harrogate, Ryedale, IMS Prussia Cove, Kronberg Germany, Banff Canada, Singapore and Chamber Music NZ. Her performances have been broadcast on radio and TV in the UK, Germany and NZ and concerts have included Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room. Victoria was Principal Cellist with Opera North (2005-07) followed by a decade as a member of the Philharmonia Orchestra (London) and she regularly appears as Guest Principal with many of the UK’s major orchestras. Victoria is on the faculty at the Royal Northern College of Music, having studied there herself under Karine Georgian and Ralph Kirshbaum, culminating in winning the school’s highest award, the Gold Medal, in 2006. She continued her studies as a Chamber Music fellow at the Guildhall School of Music and later with Julius Berger in Germany. Victoria was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and is now based in London. She plays a Grancino cello made in Milan, 1687.