Tony Woollard

Tony studied the cello with David Smith and Raphael Wallfisch at the Guildhall School of Music in London

He later won a Swiss government scholarship and spent four years studying with Robert Cohen in Lugano, Switzerland.

As a chamber musician Tony has played with the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, the Alberni quartet (Schubert quintet) and with Robert Cohen at his Charleston Manor festival. For many years he was a member of the Alba string quartet, appearing in many prestigious festivals including Cheltenham, Chichester, City of London and Dublin. The quartet were selected for Fresh at the South Bank Centre and were Park Lane Group artists. They held a Fellowship at Trinity College of Music where they taught chamber music and gave concerts.

As a soloist Tony gave the Swiss premiere of Robert Saxton’s Solo Sonata live on Swiss radio in January 2007 and the New Zealand premiere in March 2009. This recital was broadcast live on New Zealand radio. His debut solo CD Cello Journey was released in 2010 and features a lost work by Sir William Walton.

He plays a modern cello made by Viola Ziessow.