International cellist Lionel Handy has performed worldwide and has played all of the major cello concertos with orchestras across Europe.
As well as publishing his book “The Secret of Technique in Cello Playing”, Lionel Handy has recently recorded the iconic Kodaly Solo Sonata, and a world premiere recording of the Stanley Bate Cello Concerto with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
His extensive recordings has led to many stellar reviews from The Strad, Music Web International, and International Record Review. His latest CD includes recording premiers of works by British composers including Lutyens, Maconchy, and Smyth and follows on from his recording of the complete cello works of Bax.
Lionel Handy was principal cellist of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields for ten years with whom he recorded and toured extensively throughout USA and Europe. Later, as solo cellist with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, he performed an eclectic range of concertos ranging from CPE Bach and Haydn to Taverner and Roxburgh. Lionel has played as guest principal cellist with many of the UK’s leading orchestras including the Philharmonia, LSO, RLPO, LPO, ECO and Halle. Lionel is ‘Artist-in-Residence’ of the newly former professional chamber orchestra, The Nova Foresta Classical Players, with whom he has performed concertos by Shostakovich and Haydn to critical acclaim.
As a scholarship student, Lionel won every prize for cello and chamber music at the Royal Academy of Music; and was also awarded First Prize by Jacqueline Du Pre in the Muriel Taylor Competition. With several other important awards, Lionel was able to continue his studies with Janos Starker in Banff and Pierre Fournier in Geneva.
Lionel has been a professor at the Royal Academy of Music since 1982, in addition to teaching at summer schools and masterclasses throughout Europe. Many of his former pupils hold important positions in orchestra and chamber ensembles.
He was awarded Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Music, and plays on a cello by Fendt (circa1820).