Alexandra Mackenzie

The past year has seen her perform in Greece, with the London Symphony Orchestra, across the UK with the English Chamber Orchestra, as guest principal cello for the Welsh National Opera and at the St Endellion Festival in Cornwall. She has performed with numerous orchestras in New York and Europe with repertoire ranging from Wagenseil to Tchaikovsky, Haydn to Lutoslawski and Bruch to Beethoven.

An avid chamber musician and passionate supporter of new music, she has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Weill Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and the Southbank Centre. She has collaborated with such artists as Lynn Harrell, Mark Padmore, Ryan Wigglesworth and the Mark Morris Dance Group.

Alexandra studied with Florence Hooton and David Strange at the Academy, graduating with a BMus (First Class Hons), a performance diploma and prizes including the Patten Award and Carr Prize. She gained a Masters degree and Artists Certificate from the Manhattan School of Music, where she was a scholarship student of David Soyer and Peter Wiley, both cellists of the Guaneri String Quartet. She has participated in many music festivals, including Tanglewood, Sarasota, Yellow Barn and Ravinia.

A dedicated teacher, she earned a teaching diploma from the Academy (LRAM) and now teaches in Junior Academy, alongside working as an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Alexandra plays on a Matthew Hardy cello, made in 1818, purchased with help from the Foundation for Sports and the Arts. In May 2011 she was awarded an honorary ARAM by the Academy in recognition of her outstanding contribution to music.