Biography

Having been born into a family of professional musicians, Anna started her studies at an early age. In 1998, after receiving lessons from Malcom Latcham of The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, she graduated from the University of Exeter with an honours degree in music. As an student, she played with The English Mozart Players and also appeared as a soloist on BBC radio 2. On returning to the Midlands Anna studied violin with David Gregory of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for a number of years .

Anna enjoys a busy career as a free-lance violinist. She plays regularly with English Symphony Orchestra, English String Orchestra, English Concert Orchestra, New English Concert Orchestra, Orchestra da Camera, Armonico Consort, Welsh Sinfonia, Royal Shakespeare Company, Brandenburg Sinfonia, National Concert Orchestra of Great Britain and National Symphony Orchestra with artists such as Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson and Catrin Finch.

Anna is in regular demand as a guest leader. Recent engagements have included leading English Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Elgar's 'Music for the Powick Asylum' under the direction of Barry Collett, as part of the Royal Elgar Jubilee Festival. She has also led the Elgar Camerata in a performance of Bach's B minor mass with the Elgar Chorale in Pershore Abbey, conducted by Donald Hunt, and the Beauchamp Sinfonietta in a 'Gala Night' as part of the Evesham Festival of Music. She has also been invited to lead Sinfonia of Birmingham, Heart of England Orchestra and Vivaldi Camerata on many occasions.

Anna is the lead violinist with Sophistication String Quartet, VLO String Quartet and the Lynwood Lea Quartet, playing regularly at weddings, functions and coporate events. She also deputises for established quartets such as Wignornia String Quartet, Astaria String Quartet, Highly-Strung Quartet, No Strings Attached and Reflection Strings on a regular basis. Anna runs 'Sophistication Strings' which provides String Quartets, Duos, Trios and solo violinists for all events.

In addition to performing commitments, Anna is an experienced teacher and adjudicator She has adjudicated for Northfield Festival, Dudley Young Musician, Winterfold House Instrumentalists Competition and Central England Ensemble Concerto Competitions. In 2000, she completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education.and then began her teaching career at King's School in Wolverhampton before becoming Head of Music at The Crestwood School in Kingswinford. She currently holds the position of Head of Instrumental Studies at Old Swinford Hospital, a boarding school in Stourbridge, West Midlands.

In 2001 Anna founded Central England Ensemble which is made up of postgraduate musicians, music students and other talented musicians. The group has two main aims: to promote the music of Midlands composers and to provide a high standard performance platform for young talented musicians in the area. Since its conception CEE has performed over eighty concerts with a work by a Midlands based composer in each one. The orchestra has also toured in Northern Germany and in Paris, giving concerts in prestigious venues such as La Madeleine and the American Cathedral. The orchestra also runs its own Concerto Competition which has attracted over 100 entrants from all UK music colleges, and abroad, since the inaugural competition in 2008.

In addition to this, as a former leader of Midland Youth Orchestra (2000-2003), and recipient of the James Langley Memorial Award (2000), Anna is a Trustee of the James Langley Memorial Trust in recognition of her education and community work.

Anna lives in Worcestershire with her husband, Mike, and two very lively young sons, Oscar and Maxwell.