Louise Lansdown

Photo: Candian Li

Louise Lansdown is a violist, educator, philanthropist and researcher. She has recently started new roles at two new institutions: Assistant Head of Strings (viola) at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and Professor of viola at the Yehudi Menuhin School (YMS).

Prior to this Louise was Head of Strings at RBC (2012-2023) after holding the position of Senior Lecturer at the RNCM (2001-2012). Louise is the founder of the Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition launched at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2014, and is now Chief Artistic Director of the both the Lionel Tertis and Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competitions. She is also the President of the British Viola Society. More recent viola creations include The BIG Viola Project and Aronowitz Viola Course, held annually at Lavethan, Blisland in Cornwall.

Louise, along with her viola students and colleagues is the founder of a major distance learning education project that was initially run at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in collaboration with the Morris Isaacson Centre for Music in Soweto, South Africa called “ARCO”. The project was launched in July 2015 and was nominated for a guardian internationalization award in 2018 and a BASA22 Award in 2019 (Business and Arts South Africa). Louise Launched ARCO India in 2021, in collaboration with KM Music Conservatory, AR Rahman Foundation and the Sunshine Orchestra. Louise and Anthony Alcock (Section Leader Double Bass City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra) are establishing a new and third ARCO Project in Prince Albert in collaboration with the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT). ARCO has recently moved its UK base to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where Louise is now working.

Louise’s entire life is dedicated to the viola as well as the nurturing, promoting, inspiring and teaching of young musicians. One of her lifelong obsessions has been the viola music of Paul Hindemith. With a PhD on Hindemith under her belt Louise is now industriously working on a book “Hindemith and the Viola” that will be published by Schott in their Frankfurt Studies Series. As if this wasn’t enough viola, Louise is a member of the Ubuntu Ensemble, a group of all South Africans promoting and performing the music of South African and African composers. She is also preparing to record her second solo album of works by South African composers including music she has commissioned as well as unpublished and unknown music. She is the Principal Violist of the South African Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Louise plays on a french viola c.1750 and 1890 Sartory bow previously belonging to the South African violist Cecil Aronowitz. When she isn’t madly busy with all things viola Louise can be found with her crazy Hungarian Viszla puppies Henry and Pinky!