Biographical Info

Gemma studied at the Purcell School, Royal College of Music, University of York, Royal Northern College of Music and the Sibelius Academy (Finland) with generous support from the Tillett Trust, the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund, Tunnell Trust, Kendall-Taylor Award, Dorothy Grinstead Memorial Fund and the Else & Leonard Cross Trust.

Gemma has performed extensively as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician in the U.K. and overseas, including at St. John’s Smith Square, St. Martin-in-the-field’s, Buckingham Palace (for HRH the Prince of Wales), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Ribble Valley International Piano Week, Lancaster International Series, the Ftan Institut (Switzerland), Utrecht Musikcentrum (Netherlands), Rolston Hall (Canada) and Martinu Hall (Czech Republic).

Gemma has performed Concerti by Chopin, Shostakovich, Schumann, Ravel and Franck in the U.K. and the Netherlands under conductors including Martyn Brabbins and Darrell Davison.

1st prizes have included the National Toshiba Chamber Music Award, the National Derby Piano Concerto competition and the Royal Northern College of Music’s Concerto competition.

As a Chamber Musician Gemma has collaborated with Daniel Bates (Royal Overseas League competition Gold Medalist), Steven Isserlis, Ian Clarke, Guy Johnston (BBC Young Musicians Winner), the Camarilla Ensemble (Royal Over-Seas League Ensemble Winners), David Waterman (Endellion Quartet), Denis Bouriakov (New York Metropolitan Opera), Jeremie Maillard, Naomi Williams (Royal Opera House), Ani Kalayjian (Anglo-Czech Competition Strings Winner) and Marie Macleod (BBC Young Musicians Strings Winner) among others.

Gemma has accompanied masterclasses given by Alexander Baillie (at Bremen Hochschule), David Waterman and Steven Isserlis (at the International Musicians Seminar, Prussia Cove), Steven Doane (at the Royal College of Music) and Ralph Kirshbaum (at the Royal Northern College of Music).

Gemma has taught Piano at Christ’s Hospital School (Head of Piano 2010-2018), Cherry Pie Music (Head of Piano 2018-2019), the University of Sheffield, Cranleigh School, Westminster School and Westminster Abbey Choir School. Gemma joined the accompaniment team at Chetham’s School of Music in 2019.