Music Tutor of the Year in the MG ALBA Scots. Trad. Awards 2017
Emma Tomlinson
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"Scotland needs more Emma Tomlinsons. She is a fantastic teacher and musician but more than that Emma is one of our top educationalists. Not a day goes by when she isn't planning new and exciting ways to reach and teach young people the music of Scotland and abroad." - Simon Thoumire, Hands Up For Trad. 2015
Emma, born in Liverpool 1988, was encouraged to learn music from a young age at school and at home. Starting on the piano she quickly picked up the violin and eventually the viola; learning primarily classical music. She was a member of the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and was tutored by members of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra before going to Keele University to study BSc Music and Psychology then went on to study a Masters of Research degree in Music; specialising in Chamber Music, mainly music for String Quartet. During her university studies Emma received lessons from Alex Robertson (founding member of the Brodsky Quartet) at the Royal Northern College of Music and these lessons continued after she had finished her studies. She attended the prestigious solo and chamber music course, Lake District Summer Music, for 3 summers where she was tutored by outstanding Violists Garfield Jackson (RAM), Yuko Inoue (RAM); and took part in workshops delivered by The Chilingirian Quartet, The Kuss Quartet and The Skampa Quartet. These courses gave Emma invaluable tuition and experience in solo and chamber music performance.
Consequently Emma was on course for a career in classical music, building up a freelance playing and teaching profile in the North West of England, when she decided to go on a fiddle weekend, Fèis Gleann Albainn, on her own in the Scottish Highlands, just to learn a few tunes. Little did she know that this would be the pivotal point in her music career; after the course Emma fell in love with Scotland and traditional music. Emma spent 6 months visiting Scotland, learning about Folk Music Tradition and developing her skills. In September 2013 she started working for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on one of their junior outreach programs, which, in turn, enabled her to move to Scotland part time. Working between Liverpool and Glasgow for 8 months Emma began playing regularly in sessions in the Lismore, Ben Nevis and the Flying Duck; she joined a Cèilidh band and eventually was able to move to Glasgow full time. She immediately set about starting a project to combine her loves, String Quartet and Traditional music, which consequently led to the formation of The Routes Quartet. In 2016 Emma attended the outstanding Distil residential course where she gained incredible guidance, tuition and shared ideas with other amazing musicians/composers. Emma is currently pursuing PhD research at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, you can see her research blog here.
Consequently Emma was on course for a career in classical music, building up a freelance playing and teaching profile in the North West of England, when she decided to go on a fiddle weekend, Fèis Gleann Albainn, on her own in the Scottish Highlands, just to learn a few tunes. Little did she know that this would be the pivotal point in her music career; after the course Emma fell in love with Scotland and traditional music. Emma spent 6 months visiting Scotland, learning about Folk Music Tradition and developing her skills. In September 2013 she started working for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on one of their junior outreach programs, which, in turn, enabled her to move to Scotland part time. Working between Liverpool and Glasgow for 8 months Emma began playing regularly in sessions in the Lismore, Ben Nevis and the Flying Duck; she joined a Cèilidh band and eventually was able to move to Glasgow full time. She immediately set about starting a project to combine her loves, String Quartet and Traditional music, which consequently led to the formation of The Routes Quartet. In 2016 Emma attended the outstanding Distil residential course where she gained incredible guidance, tuition and shared ideas with other amazing musicians/composers. Emma is currently pursuing PhD research at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, you can see her research blog here.