Wiltshire cellist Lorna Davis enjoys a versatile career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, community musician and teacher.
Under the tutelage of David Smith, Lorna graduated with distinction as a Master of Arts from The Royal Academy of Music in 2013. She was then accepted onto the String Leadership Scheme (a Post-Graduate Diploma) at the Royal Northern College of Music. Throughout the scheme, Lorna performed regularly with the Hallé and received extensive mentorship from Nick Trygstad, Eduardo Vassallo and Hannah Roberts. During this time, Lorna was awarded the Charles Hallé Award. Recently graduating from the scheme, Lorna continues to perform with the Hallé, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia Cymru among other orchestras.
Having started learning the cello with Christopher Le Bon, Lorna earned a place at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s Junior Department where she began her studies with Kathryn Price. Lorna won the RWCMD Junior Department’s String Prize and Wiltshire Rural Music Service’s Liz Lawrence Award before embarking on her Bachelor’s degree at The University of Manchester.
Lorna made her concerto debut in February 2010, performing Martinu’s Concertino for Cello with The University of Manchester’s Symphony Orchestra. Later that same year Lorna performed Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto with Beatrice Newman at Curso de Musique a El Escorial San Lorenzo, Madrid. In 2014, Lorna performed Brahms’ Double Concerto for Violin and Cello with Mayah Kadish and Wessex Concert Orchestra and most recently Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C major with Salisbury Sinfonia. She has also given recitals at various venues including St James’ Church, Piccadilly, Lacock Abbey and The Pound, Corsham.
Lorna enjoys her regular collaborations with other musicians. During her time at The Academy, her Piano Quartet along with Ke Ma, Paola Delucchi and Chunying Li won The Harold Craxton Chamber Music Prize as well as collaborating with student composers and giving recitals. Lorna has also performed as part of The Royal Northern’s Chamber Music Festival in Manchester Cathedral as well as various duo recitals throughout the UK.
Discovering a passion for contemporary music at University, Lorna performed as principal of the Academy’s Mason Ensemble and Manchester’s Vaganza Contemporary Music Ensemble. In 2013, Lorna was selected for London Sinfonietta Academy concluding in a performance at LSO St Luke’s.
Lorna is a passionate teacher. She has coached and taught at Junior Trinity’s String Time Plus Programme, The Royal Academy of Music’s Young String Experience, The Royal Northern College of Music Junior Department and Pro Corda. Lorna was awarded the 2012-14 Leverhulme Teaching Fellowship at Pro Corda. She has also been assistant deputy teacher to Kathryn Price on the ‘Curso Internacional de Musica Mastisse’ Summer Course.
Lorna is very grateful for the support of the Charles Hallé Award and the Oglesby family to enable her to buy her cello; made in Weimar c. 1840.
