ABOUT
'Every phrase is executed with such flamboyance, enhanced by her passion.'
Buzz Magazine
'So, Manchester Camerata playing live (at Wigmore Hall tonight) were a bit of a revelation. Technicolour sounds, warmth, depth, dynamism and an unapologetic commitment to packing their programme full of atmosphere, feeling and blistering talent.'
Thoroughly Good Classical Music
Caroline is the Leader of Manchester Camerata, often assuming the role of Soloist and/or Director with the orchestra. Caroline has also worked as Guest Leader/Director at Royal Northern Sinfonia, Manchester Collective, The Hallé and Covent Garden Sinfonia. Chamber music sensibilities are at the heart of Caroline’s music-making; she enjoys a duo partnership with Camerata's Principal Cellist Hannah Roberts and works regularly with chamber ensembles across in the UK. Caroline was also the Leader of Welsh chamber orchestra Sinfonia Cymru from 2016 until 2021. In 2022, Caroline was made an Associate Member of the RNCM (ARNCM).
Caroline is passionate about enthusing and educating the next generation of musicians in her work as both a Violin Tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and as a guest at UK conservatoires and youth orchestras, delivering masterclasses and workshops. Caroline began her studies with leading violin educator and Suzuki teacher Lucy Akehurst at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s esteemed Young Strings Project, and later studied at Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music with Professor Wen Zhou Li.
From 2010 to 2019 Caroline was the first violinist of the Zelkova Quartet, winners of the 2017 St Martin's Chamber Music Competition and the 2014 Royal Overseas League Elias Fawcett Award for Outstanding Chamber Ensemble. In 2018 they were Hattori Foundation Senior Award winners and Concordia Foundation Selected Artists, and in 2017 they were selected to attend the prestigious International Musician’s Seminar at Prussia Cove. The quartet recorded a CD of music written by Nicholas Simpson released by the label Stone Records and have been heard on BBC Radio 3 numerous times. Through her work with chamber orchestras and her quartet, Caroline has been fortunate to study and work closely with many incredible musicians; Gábor Takács-Nagy, Ferenc Rados, Hatto Beyerle and Peter Cropper to name but a few.
As a soloist Caroline holds a Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians and a Postgraduate Performance Award from Help Musicians UK (formerly known as Musicians Benevolent Fund). Solo highlights include performing Dobrinka Tabakova's 'Dawn' for solo violin and solo cello (Hannah Roberts) with Manchester Camerata and Pekka Kuusisto conducting, and performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto in Bridgewater Hall with conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier.
Caroline plays on a violin made by the internationally acclaimed maker Stephan von Baehr.