If you could pick a concert highlight(s) from the upcoming January to May Season which would you choose and why?

I am very excited to finally get to play the Grime percussion concerto with the brilliant Colin Currie. This piece was one that was unfortunately cancelled in 2020 and so it will be great to finally get to perform it. It is always fun working with Colin and having a concert where percussion is the feature! Beethoven 4, which I also love, appears in the second half of this concert too which I am excited for, especially following on from the Grime. I love concerts where we play music from different time periods, not only does it keep you on your toes by forcing you to quickly move between styles, it also allows you to find new things in the pieces you are more familiar with through them being programmed closely to works that really contrast.

Are there guest artists that you are particularly looking forward to working with again or for the first time in the upcoming Season and why?

I am particularly looking forward to the visit from Karine Polwart and Pippa Murphy this week! I haven't worked with Karine or Pippa before and am sure that it will be a brilliantly creative week for the orchestra playing music that spans across genres.

What was the first concert you remember attending?

I can't quite remember a specific 'first' concert, however, I have loads of memories of going to the Liverpool Phil as a child and teenager using a brilliant young persons ticket scheme they had going. I used to feel very fancy as we would sometimes get to sit in the box for free if they hadn't sold tickets there! I remember it being very welcoming and being amazed by the sound of the orchestra.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

You can't please everyone!

What does creativity mean to you?

Creativity to me is very collaborative. It is about trying to understand other people better through making something with them, most of the time something that happens once and is unique as is the case with live music.

What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?

Press the button on the coffee machine and take the dog out!

Which is your favourite Season of the year, and why?

I really love the cold weather and being cosy! not so much the rain, but a crisp, chilly autumn day when the sun is low in the sky and you have a hot coffee in your hand is hard to beat.

What is your favourite cuisine to make, or just to eat and enjoy?

I really love cooking and spend a lot of the time in the kitchen. I particularly like eating curries but am probably best at cooking veggie Mediterranean style dishes. Since treating myself to a new oven I now also consider myself an average baker, it turns out that having equipment where you can accurately set the temperature is quite important for cakes and bread!

Where is your 'happy place'?

Home! Despite being confined to the flat for most of the last year and a bit I still think of our living room as my happy place. Now that we are doing concerts again and are back to travelling round there is nothing I look forward to more than a glass of wine on the sofa watching a film.