Biography

Having been born into a musical family, Anna started her studies at an early age. In 1998, she graduated from the University of Exeter with an honours degree in music and during this time Anna built up her career as a violinist. On numerous occasions she played with The English Mozart Players and also appeared as a soloist on BBC radio 2. Whilst at University, Anna also developed her skills as an orchestral manager and between 1996 and 1998, she was President of the University Symphony Orchestra.

In 2000, Anna completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education. She started her teaching career at King's School in Wolverhampton before becoming Head of Music at The Crestwood School in Kingswinford. She currently holds the position of Head of Instrumental Studies at Old Swinford Hospital, a boarding school in Stourbridge, West Midlands.

In addition to teaching Anna regularly works as a free-lance violinist. She has been invited to play with Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra on several occasions and appears as a soloist frequently with groups around the area as well as being invited to guest-lead various Midlands orchestras such as The Sinfonia of Birmingham, Heart of England Orchestra and Vivaldi Camerata. In 1998 Anna made a CD of her Father’s Violin Sonata with Duncan Honeybourne and then in 2000 she took part in the making of Sopresa, a recording put together by a group of worcestershire soloists who regularly give recitals together.

In 2001 Anna founded Central England Ensemble which is made up of postgraduate musicians, music students and other talented musicians. The group has two main aims: to promote the music of Midlands composers and to provide a high standard performance platform for young talented musicians in the area. Since its conception CEE has performed over fifty concerts with a work by a Midlands based composer in each one. The orchestra has also toured in Northern Germany and in Paris, giving concerts in prestigious venues such as La Madeleine.

In 2005 Anna set up Mercia Musicians, a live music agency which provides entertainment for all types of functions as well as pit orchestras for shows and session orchestras for choral societies. She manages and plays in her own string quartet, the Lynwood Lea Quartet, which regularly plays at weddings and has given several recitals.