I studied flute from the age of 8, quickly getting to grade 5 and in to the school orchestra. Then I discovered other instruments and nagged my mother for a cello. She promised to buy me a cello if I got a distinction in my grade 5 flute, and the rest is history! I totally fell in love with playing the cello and it rapidly overtook my flute playing. I studied music at the University of Huddersfield between 1993 and 1996, where I also learnt to conduct. Since graduating I have taught both privately and for the local authority, where I had cello, double bass and violin pupils. Most recently I began to teach viol/viola da gamba and re-kindle my love of Early Music. I am a member of the Allesley String Quartet, and I also play with the Birmingham Gay Symphony Orchestra, where I currently play violin, although I have also led the cello section and played viola! I have two teenage daughters and 3 dogs.