JULIAN OGILVIE

(‘Cello – Tre Corde Piano Trio)

Julian started the cello at the age of 8, in Christchurch, New Zealand.  After returning to the UK, he learned with Ivan Cane in Norwich and became principal cello of the Norfolk County Youth Orchestra.  A highlight of those formative years was performing Bruch’s Kol Nidrei at the age of 18 in Norwich Cathedral, before then coming to university in London.

Here, he studied cello privately with William Pleeth while reading human sciences at UCL, and then spent a postgraduate year studying music at Goldsmith’s College.  He was also principal cello of Morley College Chamber Orchestra for several years, under the baton of Lawrence Leonard.  He has taken part in masterclasses with Leonid Gorokhov, Bernard Gregor-Smith and Robert Max.

He now combines a career as a scientific and medical editor with playing in several chamber music groups and orchestras.  As a member of the Hill String Quartet, he has played in recitals at St Olave’s Hart St lunchtime series in the City of London, as well as venues in Highgate, Finchley, Wimbledon and Lea Barn in Berkshire.

He has played in various other chamber groups, including a performance of Schubert’s octet at St Olave’s, and in piano trios at the Riverside Arts Centre in Walton-on-Thames, the Fulbourn Festival in Cambridge, and at St Michael and All Angels in Brighton.  He has also played at the Royal College of Physicians in London, and at a reception at the American Ambassador’s residence in Regent’s Park. Julian is also a member of the Haydn Chamber Orchestra in north London, and with them has twice played at the Proms at St Jude’s, conducted by Nicholas Collon and Orwain Arwel Hughes.

He also regularly plays continuo cello in various ensembles, recently participating in a series of the Bach Cantatas with the West London Bach Consort in Turnham Green, and in a performance of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with the New London Youth Choir conducted by Ronald Corp.

Julian plays an English cello dating from around 1820, and has a growing collection of cello bows.  His interest in bows has led him to attempt making one himself at the Cambridge instrument and bow-making workshop.  He can vouch from that experience that it is harder than it might look.