Jennie Pounder

Many people will remember Jennie's beautiful performance of Bruch's "Kol Nidrei" (as Jennie Brown, she has since married), so we're delighted to welcome her back to play the Elgar Concerto at our Summer Concert.

Jennie works extensively as a freelance player in London, including regular work with BBC Symphony Orchestra and also BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. She was principal cellist of the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra and is regularly asked to play as guest principal for many smaller ensembles such as Ardente Opera and the contemporary music group Azalea.

Jennie graduated with Distinction for her MA in Cello from the Royal Academy of Music where she was under the tutelage of David Smith, having completed her BMus (Hons) at the Royal Northern College of Music. Jennie was Berkshire Music Scholar from 2001-2004 and was supported by the Crowthorne Trust and Martyn Musical Scholarship Fund during her studies at the Royal Academy of Music. Her playing has won her many awards, most recently the Rhoda Butt Prize for Performance from the RAM.

Throughout her studies at the RAM and RNCM Jennie was principal and co-principal cellist of all orchestras working with eminent conductors such as Yan Pascal Tortelier, Sir Colin Davis, George Benjamin,Tadaaki Otaka, Paul Daniel, Mark Elder and Martyn Brabbins. Since then she has been lucky to record works with the BBCSO under Edward Gardner, Oliver Knussen, Sir Andrew Davis among many others.

As a chamber musician, Jennie plays with the Kaxan String Quartet who were awarded ‘Very Highly Commended’ at the Wolfe Wolfinsohn String Quartet Prize in February 2009. They have recently performed at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London and at Rook Lane Chapel in Frome. Performing with the Zawadzki Piano trio, Jennie won the Hirsch Prize in 2007.

Jennie is heavily involved with educational work and is very active in making music accessible to those with few musical opportunities. She runs the RNCM Summer School, a week’s residential course for disadvantaged Manchester students. Jennie runs workshops, collaborating with John Webb and James Fox of the Blue Elephant theatre, and most recently English Touring Opera and the National Portrait Gallery.

Jennie is very privileged to play an 1834 Thomas Kennedy Cello, donated anonymously.

Visit Jennie's website.

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