Louise McMonagle

Cello

2017 until present - cellist in the Riot Ensemble, London.

Louise loves playing music by living composers, and has found a musical home in the Riot Ensemble as cellist and Artistic Board Member. In this role she works as performer, curator, commissioner and collaborator; creating and producing a diverse array of projects around Europe. Described as “volcanically creative” by Alex Ross (The New Yorker), Riot Ensemble have given around 200 World and UK Premieres by composers from more than 30 countries.Their discography includes releases on HCR/NMC Recordings and Coviello Classics. In 2020 they were honoured to receive the Ernst Von Siemens Ensemble Prize.

Recent performances include Wigmore Hall (London), Kings Place (London), Wien Modern (Austria), HDS ZAMP (Croatia), Dark Music Days (Iceland), Tampere Biennale (Finland), Nordic Music Days (Sweden), November Music (Holland), Spitalfields Music Festival (London), Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (England). Select upcoming engagements include concerts at Mozarteum Salzburg, and Darmstadt Music Festival.
www.riotensemble.com

Solo Performances

- Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2020 - world premiere of Hannah Kendall

“Tuxedo - Hot Summer No Water” for solo cello

- Zeitgeist Online Gallery 2020 - world premiere of Ailie Robertson “Skydance” for solo cello

(featured in The Strad)

- KM28 Berlin 2019 - solo recital including Berio “Sequenza”, Carter “Figment”

- Ittingen Pfingstkonzert Festival (Switzerland) - Heinz Holliger “Chaconne” by invitation of the composer

- VIVA CELLO Festival (Switzerland) - Boulez Messagesquisse (soloist)

- Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House - Luke Styles “Handspun” - for cello and aerialist (plus performances in Sweden and Norway)

- Non Classical (East London) - Lachenmann “Pression”

- City University (London) - Benedikt Schiefer “Kanon” for cello & electronics

- Crypt on the Green (London) - Anna Thorvaldsdottir “Transitions” for cello solo

- Music Academy Basel (Switzerland) - Haydn Concerto no. 2 in D major

Cello & Piano

S T R A T H A I L - the duo comprising Louise McMonagle and Neil Georgeson aims to bring a new identity to cello & piano concert repertoire, championing new compositions, experimental sounds, and exploring different ways of improvising. This is interspersed with a special interest in music from Scotland.
https://louisemcmonagle.com/cello-piano/

Chamber Music

Wigmore Hall - Riot Ensemble

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club - guest with Trish Clowes Quartet “My Iris”

Kings Place - various groups

BBC Sessions - The Odd Trio (sax, cello, drums)

• Guest cellist with Ragazze Quartet (Holland) - known for wide ranging repertoire and crossing the boundaries of the traditional concert

• Emulsion Festival - “a group of like minded musicians, a cross genre music festival, a platform for new music and improvisation, an evolving concept… ” www.emulsionmusic.org

• Red Note Ensemble (leader Jackie Shave) (Scotland) including SOUND Festival

Orchestral Experience

Principal Experience

- Ulster Orchestra - solos including Scheherezade

- BBC Philharmonic Orchestra - solos including Elgar Enigma Variations, continuo Bach Double Violin Concerto

- Opera North

- Royal Northern Sinfonia

- Brandenburg Sinfonia - solos including Jenkins The Armed Man, Haydn Missa in Tempore Belli, various continuo

- European Union Youth Orchestra - solos including Strauss Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, Strauss Metamorphosen

Regular Freelance

- Aurora Orchestra, London

- Philharmonia, London

- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

- English National Opera

- BBC Symphony Orchestra

- Academy of St Martin in the Fields

- London Symphony Orchestra

- London Philharmonic Orchestra

- Scottish Chamber Orchestra

- London Contemporary Orchestra

- City of London Sinfonia

- London Chamber Orchestra

- Sessions for COOL MUSIC

- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Concert Orchestra

Prizes & Awards

- Ernst Von Siemens Ensemble Prize

- Gianni Bergamo International Cello Competition, Lugano - Semi finalist

- Royal Overseas League Competition - Strings Finalist

- Dewar Arts Award, Craxton Memorial Award, English Speaking Union Scholarship

- First Prize in Royal Academy of Music String Quartet Competition

Education

- Musik Akademie der Stadt Basel, Switzerland - Konzertdiplom with distinction (2007-2009) - Royal Academy of Music - Post Graduate Diploma with distinction - awarded dipRAM for outstanding final recital (2005-2006)

- Royal Academy of Music - Bachelor of Music (cello performance) First class Honours (2001-2005)

- Teachers: Thomas Demenga • Colin Carr • Philip Sheppard • David Strange • Robert Irvine • Petr Skalka (baroque)

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MAS takes no responsibility for its accuracy.

Instruments
Cello, Remote Recording