Highly regarded as one of the leading cellist’s of her generation, Emma-Jane Murphy began studying the cello at the age of four at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin where she had frequent masterclasses with the late Milos Sadlo. Seven years later she won a scholarship to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School under the tutelage of Melissa Phelps and William Pleeth.

After being awarded numerous scholarships and bursaries for further study, Emma-Jane remained in London to study at the Royal College of Music with Joan Dickson, William Pleeth and Timothy Hugh where she received her Diploma in Performance and Teaching with First Class Honours. During her studies Emma-Jane continued to win many competitions and was awarded the Tagore Gold Medal for the most outstanding student at the Royal College of Music and the Lombard and Ulster Bursary for further studies.

Emma-Jane has performed and broadcast extensively throughout Europe as a soloist and chamber musician and has worked to great acclaim as a soloist with conductors such as Jean-Bernard Pommier, Richard Hickox, Thierry Fischer, Iona Brown, Jane Glover and the great Russian maestro Gennadi Rozhdestvensky and with ensembles including Berlin Symphoniker, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Northern Sinfonia, English Soloists Ensemble, European Community Chamber Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra and most recently, the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

After three years as Principal Cello of Northern Sinfonia Orchestra of England, Emma-Jane travelled to Australia where she was invited to join the Australian Chamber Orchestra as Principal Cello. Whilst with the ACO, her solo appearances with the Orchestra were extensive and include the premiere recording of Peter Sculthorpe’s Cello Dreaming for Chandos; as well as performances of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, Haydn’s Concerto in C, Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, and Boccherini’s Concerto in Bflat amongst others. Emma-Jane is also featured as the cellist on the soundtrack of Peter Weir’s film ‘Master and Commander’. Since being in Australia, she has also been invited to perform at many chamber music festivals, including the Townsville Chamber Music festival.

In 2006, Emma-Jane resigned her position as Principal cellist of the ACO and became the cellist of the newly formed piano trio, TrioZ with Kathryn Selby(piano) and Niki Vasilakis(violin).

Upcoming events for 2007 include performing at the Bowral Autumn Music Festival, a collaboration with the Australian Ballet performing Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations and joining Kathy and Niki in their National Concert Season of TrioZ.

For further information please contact murphyemmajane@yahoo.com.au