A highly accomplished cellist with a deep passion for orchestral playing, Josh’s musical journey began at a young age, as a member in numerous youth orchestras, including the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and the CBSO Youth Orchestra, where he became the principal cellist. Throughout his career so far, Josh has had the privilege of working with orchestras such as The Midland Sinfonia, Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra, Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra and the Manchester Camerata as part of a PES scheme in 2022. In early 2024, Josh joined the Paraorchestra, where in April, he performed in London’s debut of the ‘Trip The Light Fantastic‘, a sensory electro-orchestral spectacle. These experiences have enriched his musical knowledge and skills, solidifying his dedication to the art of orchestral performance.
Josh is currently studying a Master of Arts in Performance degree at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Professor Jo Cole. Before moving to London for postgraduate studies, Josh spent many years in Manchester. In 2022, he graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with a First Class Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree, taught by Professor Hannah Roberts. Prior to his undergraduate degree, Josh studied at Chetham’s School of Music, with Head of Strings Nicholas Jones.
As an active chamber musician, Josh is involved with many ensembles. Notably, he is a member of the award-winning Bauhaus Trio and the Petford Duo. In 2022, Josh collaborated with his old school, Chetham’s, where he brought the Riedl Quartet, as the cellist of the ensemble, to coach and perform side by side in an intensive two day project. This culminated with a performance in the Carol Nash Recital Hall at Chetham’s.
Between orchestral and chamber playing, Josh has performed at many of England’s finest venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, Barbican, Sage Gateshead, Birmingham Symphony Hall, as well as venturing into Europe to Berlin’s Konzerthaus.
Versatility is another defining aspect of Josh’s musical career. As a band member of the Forever Elton tribute band, he performs on the electric cello and keyboard in the band’s tours across the UK and Europe. Josh has engaged in much session work, often recording for film and TV shows, including the recent feature film, ‘The Sun Also Rises’, starring English actor, Craig Fairbrass.
Josh has had the privilege of masterclasses from acclaimed cellists across the world, including Steve Doane, Bruno Delepelaire, Robert Cohen, Sung-Won Yang, Milkós Perényi, and most recently, Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
Josh has received numerous awards throughout his career. Most notably, he was honoured with the Shirley Catterall Award in June 2022, for his outstanding achievements that year. He has also been recognised with the Guilhermina Development Award and the James Langley Memorial Trust Award. Josh extends his sincere gratitude to Help Musician’s UK for their continued support, as he was the recipient of a Postgraduate Award in 2023, as well as generous support from The Walker Trust, enabling him to continue his musical education at Master’s level.
With a commitment to excellence, a diverse range of musical abilities, and a passion for orchestral performance, Josh continues to captivate audiences and establish himself as a leading cellist in the industry and is looking forward to performing the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Gorton Philharmonic on April 27th 2024, Holy Innocents Church, Fallowfield.
