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Una Birtchnell

  UNA BIRTCHNELL  (cello) » 

Biography

Una Birtchnell studied the cello with Gwyn Pritchard in Bristol and Stevan Popov, Raphael Sommer and Genevieve Tueliers at the Guildhall School of Music. She was a frequent prize winner and represented the College at The International European Chamber Festival in Paris. She received a scholarship to take an Advanced Solo Studies Course and completed her studies at the Ecole Normale in Paris where she took the Premier Prix, the highest performing award.

She is a versatile and experienced chamber and orchestral player, performing with many of the Us orchestras and chamber groups, including London Mozart Players and Ulster Orchestra. She has toured with Garden Opera and Carl Rosa and has played with many theatre productions. She performed the Haydn Concerto with the Abbaye Ensemble where her playing was described as "bold, virtuosic and impassioned" (Ham &High).

As a chamber player Una has played for many music societies and festivals, including The Schubert Society, Spode Music, The Benslow Trust and Brighton International Festival.

She has worked for many years with pianist and partner John Human, most recently as guest artists at West Lodge Park Hotel and for Radio 4. They also play for Council for Music in Hospitals, Festival Hall, National Theatre and Swan Hellenic Cruises.

Her session work is extensive, and includes playing on Portisheads Dummy, an album credited with inventing trip hop and cited as one of the most important albums of all time.

Una recently joined a cello quartet which specialises in providing a contemporary setting for early Renaissance music, using improvisation, imagery and lighting. They have recently recorded an album, Through Cutting Glass.

She joined Status Cymbal string quartet in 2003 which play regularly together at venues such as The Kings Place, Clivedon and many music clubs and societies across the UK.

She plays on a beautiful modern cello by Tony Padday (2000).

Orchestral Work
Orchestras: Stowe Opera, Ulster Orchestra, Westminster Chamber Orchestra.

Una's orchestral work also includes

  • London Mozart Players
  • Ulster Orchestra
  • London Concertante
  • London Soloists
  • Bournemouth Sinfonietta
  • London Sinfonia
  • City Chorus
  • Brunel Ensemble
  • English Symphony Orchestra
  • Carl Rosa Opera Company
  • Garden Opera Tour
  • Opera del Mar
  • Brunel Ensemble
  • Part of Grace Quartet
  • Abbaye Ensemble (Guest Soloist)
  • Education
    Una was born in Stoke on Trent 1969. Una's schooling took place at St Brendan's, Bristol. Una's graduate studies took place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Performer's Diploma (1988 - 1992) and Advanced Solo Studies Course, Scholarship (1992 - 1993). Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, Diplome Superieur, Schoarship (1993 - 1994).

    Prizes and Awards
    Jean Toussaint Bach Prize at Guildhall (1991), scholarship for postgraduate study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

    Teachers: Genevieve Teulieres, Raphael Sommer, Stefan Popov and Gwyn Pritchard.

    Una joined Morgensterns in February 2000

    Una's web profile was last updated 12th May 2012