Cathy Elliott

Many of her students play in the National Childrens’ Orchestras, the National Youth String Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Past students work in an enormous variety of professions including playing in major orchestras, working at the House of Commons, as doctors and managing rock bands.

Cathy gained an LRAM from the Academy and then went to Cambridge University where she studied Geography. She then went to Italy to further her double bass studies and graduated from the Santa Cecilia Conservatorio under the guidance of Lucio Buccarella.

Cathy has always loved teaching and a deep commitment to pedagogy developed whilst working with Sheila Nelson on the Tower Hamlets Project. Subsequently she worked extensively training instrumental teachers as Professional Development Co-ordinator for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and providing opportunities for professional development for string teachers as Chair of the European String Teachers’ Association.

Cathy has always had a portfolio career juggled teaching with playing, producing materials for young bass players and as a consultant for both Trinity Exams and the ABRSM. For twenty years she toured extensively and recorded with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. She is co-principal bass with the London Mozart Players and a member of the Rambert Orchestra. She is also a regular visitor with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Cathy publishes music for young bass players through a small publishing company, Bartholomew Music Publications. She has also worked on many publications for Boosey & Hawkes, including the Essential String Method, which won a Millennium Award. In 2009 Cathy was recognized as a Young Bassists Ambassador by the International Society of Bassists and in 2014 was given the ESTA award for Exceptional Services to the European String Teachers’ Association.