“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 in the Viva Cello Festival (Switzerland), collaborating with Finnish circus performer and choreographer Ilona Jäntti on performances in London, Norway, and Finland, performances with Ragazze String Quartet (Holland), and recording two studio albums with jazz saxophonist Trish Clowes(BBC NGA).

A keen interpreter of contemporary music, Louise works with many composers, notably Heinz Holliger who invited Louise to perform his Chaconne for solo cello at his festival, Ittingen Pfingstkonzert (Switzerland). Louise was recently invited to join London based contemporary music group The Riot Ensemble as cellist and Artistic Board Member. Artistic Board members work as performers, project creators, curators, commissioners and collaborators; creating and producing a diverse array of projects around Europe. Riot Ensemble are particularly active in bringing emerging international voices into the UK’s new-music scene, and since 2012 have given 184 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 the London Jazz Festival, Cheltenham International Music Festival, SOUND, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Dark Music Days (Iceland), Tampere Biennale (Finland), Nordic Music Days (Sweden) and Santander Music Festival (Spain). Select engagements over the next two years include concerts at November Music (Holland), the Spitalfields Music Festival, Wien Modern, Darmstadt and return appearances at HCMF and Dark Music Days.

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

PHOTO BY RAPHAEL NEAL

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–