About
Abbie’s playing career has so far seen her play and record with the likes of Nicola Benedetti, Sir Simon Rattle and the BBC Concert Orchestra. From a young age, Abbie devoted her time to Classical Violin Studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, winning the Junior Guildhall’s Lutine Prize along with a variety of local and regional competitions, before proceeding to study at the Royal Academy of Music.
Over the past decade, Abbie’s versatility has led her to work with several orchestras - including the BBC Concert Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra - as well as jazz ensembles, including Tomorrow’s Warriors Nu Civilisation Orchestra and Jazz Jamaica All Stars. Highlights include performing Bruch’s 1st violin concerto at St. John’s, Smith Square; orchestral concerts at the Barbican; performances at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, including with Nicola Benedetti and Michael Seal, a performance with the BBC Concert Orchestra for the EFG London Jazz Festival 2019, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3, as well as playing in the “BMW Classics” 2022 concert in Trafalgar Square with the London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle. In 2019, Abbie toured with the Steve Williamson trio and StringTing (4*, Financial Times).
Abbie enjoys extensive recording work as a session violinist, recording in a huge variety of styles and genres, for many artists and producers including Kalpadruma Collective (Asha Parkinson), Alex Hall (two times BBC Introducing 2020), Hui Hue (BBC Introducing 2021 and 2022), Punjabi singer-songwriter, Nash (BBC Asian Network’s Future Sounds Artist 2018) and artist & composer Andy Kyte.
Chamber music holds a special place in Abbie’s heart and she has played in string quartets, piano trios and chamber orchestras, at prestigious London venues, including St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre. Current projects include the Kentish Ensemble and the jazz string quartet Soli Strings, which is led by violist Julia Dos Reis.
Abbie has spent many years gigging around London and up and down the country with singer-songwriters, country artists and bands, including regular nights at the Dublin Castle in Camden, at festivals and all around the London bands circuit.
Abbie loves playing in orchestra pits for operas and musical theatre productions; favourite shows include The Producers, West Side Story and Spring Awakening. Abbie tutors the strings for the Camden Light Orchestra, an all-ages, all-abilities orchestra - with a twist - and gives private violin lessons.
Abbie gained an Artist Masters in Violin Performance at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, where she studied with Krzysztof Smietana.