Biography
A recipient of numerous prizes and awards, Kirsten made her solo debut playing the Schumann Cello Concerto with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra while studying with renowned soloist and pedagogue Johannes Goritzki. Since then, Kirsten has developed a busy freelance career focussed predominantly on her love of chamber music.
After finishing her studies in Switzerland, Kirsten joined the Ragazze Quartet in Holland, with whom she released albums under the label Channel Classics and performed regularly on live TV, radio, and at major venues including the Royal Concertgebouw.
Since returning to the UK, Kirsten was awarded Best British Cellist at the 2016 International Music Competition Grand Prize Virtuoso and has guested with numerous ensembles including the historic Allegri Quartet and the Primrose Piano Quartet, and regularly performs as a duo with celebrated pianist John Thwaites. She has taken part in international concert series and festivals throughout Europe, Indonesia, Japan and the US, including IMS Prussia Cove, the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival, Rottweil Sommersprossen and Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival. Kirsten has collaborated with, amongst many others, JP Jofre, Jörg Widmann, Adam Walker, and Madeleine Mitchell. She is a member of the United Strings of Europe, with whom she has performed internationally including at Victoria Hall Geneva and the Wigmore Hall. Their latest album Renewal under Bis Records has received international critical acclaim.
Kirsten enjoys exploring a variety of genres alongside her classical performances. As a session musician, she has appeared on numerous albums and records for the likes of Little Simz, Abi Sampa, Beverley Knight, and Noel Gallagher amongst many others. She has performed live with Tom Chaplin (Keane), Peabo Bryson, Myleen Klass, The Quireboys, Tom Walker and Imelda May amongst many others.
Kirsten is a co-founder and Director of the chamber music collective Icon Strings, which has an ongoing critically acclaimed concert series for the ticketing app TodayTix, as well as a residency performing Classical concerts at Home House, and contemporary music at The Landmark Arts Centre (which has most recently seen them exploring works by Terry Riley and Max Richter).