Winner of the 1992 Pierre Fournier Award
Hannah Roberts is one of the outstanding ‘cellists of her generation. She feels privileged to have worked closely with the late William Pleeth at the Yehudi Menuhin School, and with Ralph Kirshbaum at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Hannah has won many awards, including prizewinning finalist in the BBC TV Young Musician of the Year, and Silver medal for a performance of the Elgar Concerto with the LSO at the Barbican during the Shell/LSO Competition. She was also declared joint winner, with composer and pianist Simon Parkin, of the International Morley College Centenary Concerto prize, playing a concerto written for her by the composer, and further successes including Radio Two young Musician of the year and the Tunbridge Wells Young Concert Artists Competition. Prestigious awards have also included the Jacqueline du Pre memorial award and the Pierre Fournier award, as a result of which she gave a highly successful debut recital at the Wigmore Hall.
Hannah has given numerous concerto performances with leading orchestras, including the London Mozart Players, LSO, BBC Concert Orchestra, and the Halle. She has also made frequent broadcasts for BBC radio. Festival appearances have included Chichester, Malvern, Beverley, ‘Beethovenfest’ and regular participation in the prestigious ‘Manchester International Cello Festival where she was invited to lead a world premiere of a work by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. In 2012 she took part in the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival in Los Angeles and was also invited to give a masterclass at UCLA.
In addition to being principal ‘cellist of Manchester Camerata, Hannah is an active chamber musician and soloist. She performs regularly in festivals in the U.K and abroad and has recorded for the ASV label. Her duo with pianist Simon Parkin has been acclaimed for its ‘rare ensemble and musical intelligence’ in ‘The Strad’magazine.
In addition to her performing career, Hannah Roberts is internationally respected as a teacher whose past students include prominent chamber musicians, international prizewinners and principal ‘cellists. She is widely invited to give masterclasses and has been awarded an FRNCM in recognition of her teaching at the RNCM. She has recently also been appointed as professor of ‘cello at the RAM in London.