Joanna Borrett | Composer - original music for strings

Joanna Borrett studied cello in London and Moscow. In 1983 she formed, and was artistic director of, Peterborough String Orchestra, which received excellent reviews in the national press. She began composing recently and her work combines elements of both classical and folk music. She also offers free improvisation lessons on Facebook: Joanna Borrett Composer | Facebook

Joanna’s music has been published by SJ Music and U.M.P. and she is a house composer at Kevin Mayhew . Two of her duets have been chosen for the ABRSM 2024 cello exam syllabus.

Her Ensemble recorded Joanna’s first string orchestra work – Clan – and gave the world premiere at Birmingham’s Elgar Concert Hall in February 2024. The recording was released on March 8th 2024 and immediately chosen as Album of the Weekend by Scala Radio. The live video of the third movement – taken from the premiere – was chosen as Video of the Day by Gramophone . There are three follow on concerts of Clan in April at The Quarry in Liverpool, Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds and Cobalt Studios in Newcastle.

Joanna Borrett is a cellist who taught herself to improvise and compose recently. Since then she has had several books of string music published and two of her duets were included in the ABRSM cello exam syllabus.

Joanna’s first string orchestral work – Clan – was recorded by Her Ensemble last summer. On its release in March 2024 it was immediately chosen as Album of the Weekend by Scala Radio, Video of the Day by Gramophone and played on Jools Holland’s Radio 3 programme ‘Earlier’.

Joanna’s work combines elements of both classical and folk music and has been published by SJ Music, U.M.P. and she is a house composer at Kevin Mayhew. She also offers free improvisation lessons on Facebook: Joanna Borrett Composer | Facebook and hopes to bring some of the relaxed connection folk players have with their instruments to the classical world.
Members of Her Ensemble rehearse Reel before a concert at The Quarry, Liverpool

Clan

A narrative piece for cello and piano.

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Clan

A narrative piece for cello and piano.

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“Ravishingly beautiful music…you have a glorious gift for melody”

Paul Carr, Composer, January 2023

“The raw spirit of the tunes will appeal to the undiluted emotional landscape of a younger player. Intense yet attainable pieces such as ‘Avanti’ will give them the thrill of virtuosic playing. Some of the more lyrical originals have the flavour of Frank Bridge’s Miniatures.”

Music Teacher Magazine | December 2022

Folk and Beyond

A cello and piano album of traditional folk songs and original compositions

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“The raw spirit of the tunes will appeal to the undiluted emotional landscape of a younger player. Intense yet attainable pieces such as ‘Avanti’ will give them the thrill of virtuosic playing. Some of the more lyrical originals have the flavour of Frank Bridge’s Miniatures.”

Music Teacher Magazine | December 2022

Get in touch

You can email me directly at jbcontact@btinternet.com or use the contact form below:

“The raw spirit of the tunes will appeal to the undiluted emotional landscape of a younger player. Intense yet attainable pieces such as ‘Avanti’ will give them the thrill of virtuosic playing. Some of the more lyrical originals have the flavour of Frank Bridge’s Miniatures.”

“The raw spirit of the tunes will appeal to the undiluted emotional landscape of a younger player. Intense yet attainable pieces such as ‘Avanti’ will give them the thrill of virtuosic playing. Some of the more lyrical originals have the flavour of Frank Bridge’s Miniatures.”

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