Biography

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

Scottish cellist in London, Louise McMonagle is a versatile performer who enjoys making music in many environments.

Highlights include performing Boulez Messagesquisse at the VIVA Cello Festival (Switzerland), collaborating with Finnish circus performer and choreographer Ilona Jantti on performances in London, Norway, and Finland, recording Berio Sequenza XIV with Four Ten Media, performances with Ragazze String Quartet (Holland), and playing with eminent jazz musicians such as Trish Clowes (BBC NGA), Kit Downes (Mercury prize nominee) and Evan Parker.

Louise loves playing music by living composers, and has found a musical home in The Riot Ensemble as cellist and Artistic Board Member. In this role she works as performer, curator, commissioner and collaborator; creating and producing a diverse array of projects around Europe. Described as “volcanically creative” by Alex Ross (The New Yorker), Riot Ensemble have given around 200 World and UK Premieres by composers from more than 30 countries.Their discography includes releases on HCR/NMC Recordings and Coviello Classics.

Louise has performed at festivals such as London Jazz Festival, Cheltenham International Music Festival, Dark Music Days (Iceland), Tampere Biennale (Finland), Nordic Music Days (Sweden), SOUND, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, and Santander Music Festival (Spain). Select engagements over the next two years include concerts at November Music (Holland), Spitalfields Music Festival, Wien Modern, and Darmstadt.

Also busy in the orchestral world Louise has enjoyed working as principal cello with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera North, Ulster Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and freelances regularly with the Royal Opera House, Philharmonia Orchestra, English National Opera, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra, many other groups, and records regularly for film and TV.

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