Britten Pears Young Artist Residency 2019

I was so thrilled to be selected by competitive audition for the prestigious Britten Pears Young Artist Programme: Composition and Performance in 2019.

Over the course of 12 days I was challenged on EVERY level with fiendishly demanding contemporary classical music for chamber ensemble. Conducted by Jessica Cottis and Duncan Ward we studied and performed Oliver Knussen’s masterpiece ‘Coursing’, originally written for the London Sinfonietta! Birtwhistle’s ‘Carmen Arcadiae’, Takemitsu’s stunning impressionistic ‘Rain Coming’ and my first performance of a graphic score: Earle Brown String Quartet. So many complex notes, rhythms and extended techniques tackled in a short amount of time!

Each day we also workshopped pieces being written and edited along the way by the six brilliant young composers on the course. 

I learnt a lot and laughed till my belly hurt every day working with this incredibly talented and lovely group of musicians. I felt very lucky to be coached and mentored by exceptional cellist, composer and educator, Zoe Martlew! 

Bolton Abbey performance with Kate Williams, Georgia Mancio and The Guastalla Quartet

I really enjoyed performing as a guest cellist with The Guastalla Quartet at the stunning historic Bolton Abbey, with jazz pianist and composer Kate Williams and jazz vocalist Georgia Mancio 

Here is a lovely review of our gig: 

https://www.jazzviews.net/kate-williams-four-plus-three-meets-georgia-mancio—finding-home-live.html

Listen/Buy their beautiful record ‘Finding Home‘ here! 

https://katewilliams.bandcamp.com/album/finding-home-kate-williams-four-plus-three-meets-georgia-mancio

Richard III- Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe

I was so thrilled to get the chance to sing and play in an outstanding production of Richard III at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe (2019), starring Sophie Russell as Richard. Lit by candlelight, high up above the actors in the Musician’s gallery, we performed Ellie Wilson’s chilling and atmospheric score. The band comprised Ellie Wilson (Violin, Saw, Vocals), Thom Ashworth (lead vocals, percussion, guitar, mandolin) and Jay Chakravorty (piano, harmonium, guitar, EBows). 

Find out more about composer and violinist Ellie Wilson here:

http://www.elliewilsonmusic.co.uk

Fini Bearman- La Loba- OUT NOW! Watch and listen here…

I am very excited to be involved in Fini’s beautiful homemade solo album ‘La Loba‘ which was released in October 2020.  This is an imaginative, distinctive and moving collection of songs from one of my all-time favourite singer-songwriters! 

LISTEN/BUY: https://finibearmanband.bandcamp.com/album/la-loba

The record received 4 star reviews and made it onto Editor’s Choice/Album of the Year lists. Here are some excerpts from reviews! 

‘A highly impressive achievement, with Bearman’s skilfully constructed arrangements providing the perfect accompaniment to her intelligent, poetic, and occasionally enigmatic, lyrics.’ Ian Mann, The Jazzman

‘Just two performers, but with a sound that has all the fullness and tonal variation of a much larger ensemble… The album’s most distinctive instrumental sound, key to evoking its many moods and sensations, is Jagodzinska’s cello. Whether she’s partnered with nothing more than Bearman’s voice or blending together with overdubbed vocals and multiple instruments (‘My Ideal’), Jagodzinska’s playing is sympathetic and imaginative.’ All About Jazz- Bruce Lindsay 

‘The only timbre you hear which isn’t supplied by Bearman is the beautifully expressive playing of Zosia Jagodzinska, whose complete engagement with the music adds immeasurably to the overall effect, nowhere more so than on the beguiling ‘Holding On’. Peter Quinn- Jazzwise

To keep up to date with Fini’s work, her brilliant back catalogue and our upcoming performances together, visit her website:      http://www.finibearman.com/bio

Here is a video of us performing ‘Talk’: 

 

European tour with Djrum + Queen Elisabeth Hall- Watch our performance: Live in Paris!

During 2019 I toured with Electronic musician and DJ Felix Manuel (Djrum) and vocalist Lola Empire, performing Djrum’s critically acclaimed record ‘portrait with firewood’ live across Europe and the UK. 

As we had recorded this album remotely, none of us had met eachother before the first rehearsal for shows! We worked hard to create a special live performance that could bring the album to life on stage, whilst also giving ourselves areas of freedom to improvise. Felix is an incredible musician to listen to and play with, meticulous yet spontaneous, expressive yet very controlled. He is a skilled improviser on the piano as well as a virtuosic DJ. 

We performed in Lyon, Paris, Utrecht, Haarlem, Amsterdam, Brussels, Madrid, Manchester and London at a packed out Queen Elisabeth Hall, Southbank Centre! 

Highlight performances for me were in Paris at the Forward Bass Festival in a huge warehouse space to a dancing crowd and feeling the sub woofers reverberate through my body and the cello!

In stark contrast I loved the silence and intimacy at Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht where the audience were so close and attentive you could hear a pin drop!  

Finally, La Bourse in Brussels, a spectacular old Stock Exchange repurposed for contemporary arts events. I was mesmerized by the multicoloured light show bouncing off the walls and its vast cathedral-like ceiling… 

Here is a video of us performing  Blood in My Mouth on the streets of Paris!

Lydia Ainsworth UK Tour

I loved touring the UK with Juno Award nominated Canadian singer and composer Lydia Ainsworth. We played shows in Glasgow, Liverpool, Brighton and London. Lydia is a compelling and distinctive performer  creating experimental pop/electronica, with hints of Bjork and Kate Bush!

Check out her work here: Lydia Ainsworth Music Videos

Apart from the joys of performing her catchy and epic songs, I loved the little surprises and adventures of touring, exploring new cities, waking up in a caravan with cows directly outside our windows(!) and eating a dinner on the beach, watching the glowing sunset 🙂 

About

Hello! I’m Zosia, a freelance cellist, vocalist and composer trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and University of Oxford. Feel free to listen, read, share and get in touch!

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London, United Kingdom

Contact

zosiacello2012@gmail.com

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