Biography

Photo by Kevin Leighton

Cellist Louise McMonagle thrives on playing repertoire that goes beyond the mainstream,
playing music by living composers, and creating programmes including many commissions
and premieres. Solo performances include Wigmore Hall, The National Gallery, Kings Place,
Schleswig Holstein Music Festival (DE), Open Music Graz (AT), KM28 Berlin, as well as
broadcasts on BBC Radio.

“Louise McMonagle’s commitment to the music of our time is an inspiration”
-Gramophone Magazine

“Scottish cellist Louise McMonagle proves a formidable and expressive interpreter, bringing
both fervour and commitment, alongside a strong range of expression to the compositions”
-BBC Music Magazine

“A fantastic debut album. Virtuosic playing, huge amounts of colour and personality.”
-BBC Radio 3 Record Review

“Cellist Louise McMonagle’s playing was especially vivid, with its powerful combination of
precision and intensity.”
- Bachtrack

“…perfectly controlled by charismatic cellist Louise McMonagle”
-Tempo Magazine

“…plays with a clarity and precision that only emphasises the sheer mind-bending weirdness of
the piece"
- The Wire

In Spring 2025 Louise released her first solo album Ancient Modernity (Delphian Records).
The album features music by living composers who reinvent ancient material, including folk
tunes, baroque basslines, Arabic oud techniques, and ancient Gaelic psalms. It was listed in
Gramophone Magazine’s Top Five Unmissable New Releases, featured in The Strad
magazine, BBC Music Magazine, and on BBC Radio 3 Record Review and Night Tracks.
Also in 2025, Louise’s premiere recording of Hannah Kendall’s solo cello piece “Tuxedo: Hot
Summer No Water” was released on NMC Recordings to critical acclaim, including a five star
review in BBC Music Magazine.

In 2024 Louise was invited to perform a solo show at Kings Place London in "Scotland
Unwrapped", a concert series celebrating Scottish musicians. Also in 2024, Louise
commissioned and premiered two new works for cello and electronics in 360, by Aaron
Holloway Nahum and Tonia Ko with support from the Vaughan Williams Foundation and the
Marchus Trust.

Recording Liza Lim with Delphian Records - photo by Foxbrush Films

Louise is cellist and Artistic Board member of new music group Riot Ensemble who perform
regularly around Europe. Described as “volcanically creative” (The New Yorker), “the
supergroup of top soloists playing new music” (The Guardian), and “Always impeccable;
Entrancing and highly seductive” (The Times), Riot Ensemble have given over 300 World &
UK premieres by composers from more than 30 countries. Memorable performances have
taken them to Iceland, Patagonia, the Alps and the Arctic Circle. In 2020 they were awarded
the Ernst von Siemens Ensemble Prize, and in 2024 they were shortlisted for the RPS “Best
Ensemble” Award. They are ensemble in residence at the Royal Academy of Music London.

Louise has enjoyed touring Europe and America as a guest with Mivos Quartet, and
European guest performances with Anzu Quartet and Ragazze Quartet. She has performed
as guest principal cello with the London Contemporary Orchestra at the BBC Proms, BBC
Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera North, Ulster Orchestra, and freelances regularly with many
ensembles and orchestras in London.

Also a busy session musician, Louise has performed and recorded with artists such as Elton
John, Jools Holland, The National, Biffy Clyro, Cypress Hill, Isobel Waller-Bridge, Eric Clapton,
Kate Rusby, Sarah Davachi, and Anoushka Shankar.

An experienced educator, Louise was invited to give a lecture recital on contemporary and
extended techniques at the Royal Academy of Music, London. She has also delivered
workshops and classes at institutions such as Berklee School of Music, Boston University,
Trinity Laban, Cambridge University, City St George’s University of London, and the Royal
Northern College of Music