Cellist, performer, composer, media commentator and educator, the increasingly un-categorisable Zoë Martlew performs and records around the world as soloist and with some of the world’s most renowned contemporary music ensembles, improvisation, film, electronica, multi-media, pop and rock artists, dance and theatre companies including Ensemble Modern, London Sinfonietta, BCMG, National Theatre, Christian Marclay, Ballet Boyz, Royal Ballet, Mira Calix, BFI, Phoenix Dance Company, Radiohead, Plaid, Incognito, Antonia Franceschi, Alexander Whitley, working with many, many composers including Oliver Knussen, Sir George Benjamin, Brian Ferneyhough, Helmut Lachenman, Beat Furrer, Pierre Boulez, Peter Eötvös, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Thomas Adés.
Her one woman show Revue Z has recently played at festivals in Aldeburgh, Plush, Denmark, Iceland, Spain and Wigmore Hall in London where she gave a recital of music for cello and electronics earlier this year in collaboration with Young Producers scheme. The premiere of her commission for BCMG “Broad Street Burlesque” was performed recorded for BBC Radio 3 last year as part of 25th anniversary concert directed by Thomas Adés and her commission for CoMA ”Slap On” has had multiple performances since it’s 2016 summer inauguration, going to Spain later this year performed by Hong Kong New Music Ensemble. Schott publish her music.
Zoë was a judge on BBC TV’s Maestro and Young Musician of the Year; commentator for BBC Proms, appeared on Newsnight Review, is regular guest BBC Radio 3, has contributed articles for publications including the Guardian, Evening Standard, Classical Music Magazine, The Strad and was on the UK panel for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.
She is much in demand for educational activities including Artistic Director of the Saigon Chamber Music Festival in Vietnam, tutor for the National Youth Orchestra GB, Harstad Strings in arctic Norway, Aldeburgh Music, Pro Corda, is a regular jury member for international competitions including Royal Philharmonic Society awards and Young Musician of the Gulf in Bahrain.
Recent/upcoming projects include recording/live electronics collaborations with sound designer Cato Langnes at NOTAM in Oslo, solo improvisation/electronics at IRCAM for dance theatre production by choreographer Richard Siegal at Ruhrtriennale Festival in Germany, concerts in Tokyo with Steve Reich and Colin Currie Group, performance of cello, piano and electronics piece Kali & Gilikrist by James Clapperton at Sound Scotland Festival, public presentation/analysis of Thomas Adés In Seven Days as part of London Sinfonietta concert at Royal Festival Hall, recital at Festival Verano, Oviedo.
She studied at the Royal College of Music, Clare College, Cambridge, the Royal Academy of Music and the Chopin Academy in Warsaw
