Lunchtime Recital: Anna Crawford, Cello

Here at Leicester Cathedral, we're thrilled to welcome Philharmonia Orchestra Instrumental Fellows for a series of recitals in a new partnership with this acclaimed orchestra. Throughout the year, we will be hosting regular free recitals featuring the Orchestra's Fellows.

Join us on Monday 10 June at 12.30pm for a recital performed by Anna Crawford on Cello.

Free admission, with donations encouraged.

Anna Crawford

British cellist Anna Crawford enjoys connecting with audiences through a natural communicative playing style and an eclectic mix of repertoire. Since winning the cello competition as a first-year undergraduate at the Royal College of Music, Anna has developed her musical career to include solo, chamber, and orchestral performances across a wide range of musical contexts. She is currently completing her postgraduate studies at the RCM under the tutelage of Gemma Rosefield, supported by the RCM Victor and Lilian Hochhauser Scholarship, Countess of Munster Musical Trust Derek Butler Award, St James's Piccadilly Instrumental Scholarship, Peter Rogers Music Scholarship, Help Musicians Postgraduate Award and Philharmonia Orchestra MMSF Instrumental Fellowship.

Anna has recently given recitals at venues including Fairfield Halls, The Foundling Museum, St Olave Hart Street and as part of the Sevenoaks Music Club Chamber Music Series. As a chamber musician, she has performed in projects and festivals around Europe, including the Quatre-Cordes Festival, the European Music Gallery Festival, Maiastra Chamber Music and at the Europa nostra Cultural Heritage Summit. Recent collaborations include performing Brahms' String Sextet with the Marmen Quartet, as well as solo performances of Tavener's The Protecting Veil and Ina Boyle's Elegy with RCM orchestras. Anna is also passionate about exploring the versatility and full range of the cello, and has recently co-curated projects and performances at the Royal College of Art.

Anna performs regularly in some of the UK's leading orchestras, including the Philharmonia and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. She has worked with conductors such as Marin Alsop, Mark Elder, Antonio Pappano, Vasily Petrenko and Santtu-Matias Rouvali. Previously, Anna has been a member of and performed with international ensembles such as the European Union Youth Orchestra and LGT Young Soloists.

Anna began giving concerts as cellist and pianist from a young age and over the years has been awarded prizes at competitions including the Padova International Competition, Gustav Mahler International Cello Competition, the 34th ESO Young Soloist Competition and the NFL D'Addario Competition. In 2022 she was a Highly Commended semi-finalist at the Tunbridge Wells International Competition and won the Royal College of Music Cello Competition a second time. She has received guidance and inspiration from cellists including Richard Lester, Melissa Phelps, Hannah Roberts and Alice Neary. Anna currently plays on a 2012 cello by Melvin Goldsmith.

Ana Manastireanu

Ana Manastireanu is an increasingly sought-after collaborative pianist, specialising in song accompaniment and chamber music. She has won multiple awards, including Accompanist Prizes in the AESS Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition, Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards and Ashburnham English Song Awards.

Her recent collaborations include performances with tenor Mark Padmore CBE, baritone Roderick Williams OBE, violinist Paul Barritt, Jonathan Crow (Concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra), Andrew Wan (Concertmaster of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra), Scott St. John (Director of Chamber Music, The Colburn School), Ani Aznavoorian (Principal Cellist of Camerata Pacifica), Marcin Sieniawski (Szymanowski String Quartet) and members of The Harlem Quartet.

Ana has also performed live on BBC Radio 3 ­– In Tune. Festival appearances include the Oxford Lieder Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, Leeds Lieder Festival, St. Endellion Festival, North Norfolk Music Festival, Brighton Festival, Lewes Festival of Song, London Song Festival, Toronto Summer Music Festival and Orford Music Festival.

She has recently graduated with an Artist Diploma in Collaborative Piano from the Royal College of Music in London, where she studied with Kathron Sturrock, Simon Lepper, Roger Vignoles, Niel Immelman and Leon McCawley.

Ana's studies were generously supported by the Constant & Kit Lambert Junior Fellowship, a Help Musicians UK Henry Richardson Award, and a Kenneth and Violet Scott Scholarship.

Tags: Music