Ellen Porter

Ellen Porter is a British cellist and studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with Eduardo Vassallo. In 2016 she was awarded the RNCM Annie Fletcher Award having previously studied with David Smith. She has attended classes with Hannah Roberts, Guy Johnston, Gillian Thoday, Emma Ferrand, Miklos Perenyi and Peter Somodari.

 

Ellen is a passionate orchestral cellist and for five years Ellen played with the CBSO Youth Orchestra working with conductors such as Edward Gardner, Jac Van Steen and Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla. She now plays with the Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra as well as all of the RNCM’s Orchestras and Ensembles, whilst also maintaining a busy freelance schedule. This summer, Ellen will travel to Germany to take part in the Berlin Opera Academy as a recipient of the Elizabeth Luxton Memorial Scholarship.

 

Ellen studies baroque cello with Susan Sheppard, as well as receiving regular coaching from Roger Hamilton, Harvey Davies and Annette Isserlis. In 2017, Ellen attended the Pro Corda Conservatoire Baroque course and received intensive training from players such as Sarah MacMahon and Adrian Butterfeild, as well as studying Baroque dance with Mary Collins. Lat summer, Ellen studied at the Early Music Summer School of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with cellist Viola de Hoog.

 

Ellen is also passionate about music education and outreach work. During the last two years she has worked with Global Grooves as part of the LIME Music UK 2017 Festival, with the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain and with RNCM Young Basses. Ellen has also worked with the Halle Youth Ensembles team, assisting at rehearsals, concerts and events.

 

Ellen currently plays on a modern Italian style cello dated 2012, and is supported in her further musical study by The Edna Newill Charitable Trust, to whom she is very grateful. She would also like to thank the RNCM for loaning her a wonderful baroque cello made by Kai-Thomas Roth.