Victoria Simonsen

Victoria Simonsen is Professor of Cello at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester, UK, where she is also an alumna. She studied cello with Ralph Kirshbaum and Karine Georgian, and composition with Anthony Gilbert at RNCM before continuing her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and with Julius Berger at the Leopold-Mozart-Zentrum der Universität Augsburg in Germany.

Her musical career spans solo performance, chamber music, and orchestral work. She has performed at major festivals including IMS Prussia Cove, BBC Proms London, Kronberg Germany, Banff Canada, Singapore and Chamber Music NZ. Her performances have been broadcast internationally on radio and television, and she has appeared at prestigious venues such as Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room. Currently, she is the cellist of the Rautio Piano Trio, with whom she records for Resonus Classics.

Victoria has held significant orchestral positions including Principal Cellist with Opera North and has performed as Guest Principal with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. She was a decade-long member of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, touring extensively throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America. She has also conducted frequent workshops and coaching as part of the Philharmonia's education department.

• Royal Over-Seas League Strings Competition
• NZ Young Musician of the Year
• Johann-Andreas-Stein-Wettbewerb
• Leonard Rose Prize
• Barbirolli Cello Prize
• Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians
• ESU Scholarship
• Countess of Munster Recital Soloist
• Purcell Room Solo Debut (Park Lane Group)
• Gold Medal (RNCM)

Professor Simonsen has worked with renowned cellists through masterclasses including Mstislav Rostropovich, Anner Bylsma, Bernard Greenhouse, Gary Hoffman, Luis Claret, Philippe Muller, Johannes Goritzki, Colin Carr, Raphael Wallfisch and Jens Peter Maintz. Her performances have included collaborations with some of the world's finest conductors and soloists across multiple continents.