Lydia was born into a musical family and, after displaying a clear passion for the instrument, began playing the cello at the age of 4. She was taught by her mother until she was 9 when she began studying on Saturdays at the Primary Department of The Royal Academy of Music where she studied with Ben Davies. Lydia was awarded two scholarships to the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 11 and continued to study there until she was 15. During this time she studied with Lionel Handy and won the lower strings prize and was also high placed in other competitions. Lydia then won a scholarship to The Purcell School for Young Musicians and studied with Pal Banda. Now aged 21, Lydia began her fourth and final year in September as an undergraduate at The Royal College of Music, where she has been studying with Richard Lester. Frequently described as a variable and accomplished performer who displays uniqueness in style, Lydia shows a keen interest in orchestral and chamber playing, as well as solo engagements. As an orchestral musician her first symphonic experience was as Co-Principal Cello for The Barbican Young Orchestra with Sir Colin Davis. This led to a 4 year stint in The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and multiple performances as Principal and Co-Principal Cello in The Royal College of Music Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras. She has worked with conductors including Vasily Petrenko, Semyon Bychkov, Vladimir Jurowski, Jac Van Steen, Kristijan Jarvi and Bernard Haitink and has participated in masterclasses with David Strange, Jo Cole, Alexander Baillie, Johannes Goritzki and was recently involved in a performance of Cello Counterpoint by Steve Reich for the composer himself. Lydia is a BBC Classical Introducing Artist and has had recordings played on BBC Radio 3 ‘In Tune’ as well as appearing live and being interviewed in August 2017. Lydia plays on a beautiful 18th Century Pre-Revolutionary French Cello. (November 2017)