Introducing Judith Fleet & Cellozone
Judith started playing cello aged 9, inspired by hearing the Dvorak cello concerto at a live concert. She was attracted to the rich expressive tone of the cello and it’s versatility as an instrument.
She studied with the flamboyant cellist Florence Hooton OBE before moving to London to study at the Guildhall School Music & Drama with Stefan Popov, and she later completed her postgraduate cello studies with David Strange.
Judith now enjoys a varied career as a freelance chamber, orchestral and solo player. She has played, recorded and toured worldwide extensively with the Philharmonia Orchestra, and in recent years she has appeared regularly with the London Symphony Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra.
​
Career highlights have been playing the opera Tristan & Isolde at the Lucerne Festival, concerts at the Sydney Opera House, orchestral performances at Carnegie Hall, and backing the ELO in Hyde Park. She feels very privileged to have worked with leading musicians including Sir Simon Rattle, Sheku Kanneh-Mason. Nigel Kennedy, Rod Stewart and Kylie Minogue.
​
Equally at home in the concert hall or recording studio, Judith is in demand as a session musician and has played on many film soundtracks.
Judith has always been passionate about chamber music, and she was awarded the Pleeth Sonata prize whilst at the GSMD. She has been a member of several long running chamber groups including a string quartet which played for over 25 years specialising in light/popular music performances, and a cello quartet which played concerts and hosted workshops for Live Music Now!
In education, Judith has worked at London music conservatoires, the National Children’s Orchestra and with county orchestras as a guest orchestral tutor, as well as coaching chamber music ensembles and teaching individual lessons at all levels. She was also on the examiner panel at the ABRSM for 12 years.
Judith is keen to encourage all cellists to develop musical radar, appreciation of different styles, and teamwork awareness in ensemble playing, as well as having fun!. She is the founder of Cellozone, a creative concept for celebrating the versatility of the cello in all musical genres. Recent Cellozone projects have included solo cello performances, ensemble sessions for adult cellists and online multitrack collaborations.
Judith plays on a wonderful Stradivarius model cello made for her by John Dilworth in 1996.