Miriam's passion for historical performance was ignited during her undergraduate years at the University of York where she studied Music, particularly enjoying modules such as 'Editing Early Music' and 'Music and Patronage in 17th Century England'. After performing Vivaldi's double cello concerto with the departmental Baroque Ensemble at the National Centre of Early Music, she became increasingly keen to play a period instrument, and for her dissertation conducted an investigation The revival of period performance in the second half of 20th Century. Shortly after graduating in 2016, Miriam was generously lent a Baroque cello and gained a place to study for a Masters in Historical Performance at the Royal Academy of Music on Baroque cello and viola da gamba with Jonathan Manson.

 

Whilst at the Academy, Miriam took part in a great many projects which she found incredibly enriching and informative. Highlights include playing continuo under the direction of Laurence Cummings in Handel's Semele, and also under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe for the Academy's Bach series. If not playing the Baroque cello, Miriam found herself performing on the viola da gamba and sometimes even Baroque dancing! Alongside the course, Miriam attended summer schools across Europe, such as one with professors from the Juilliard Historical Performance Faculty in Tuscany, and as part of the Britten-Pears Young Artist programme working on Bach Cantatas with Philippe Herreweghe.

 

Since graduating from the Royal Academy in July 2019, Miriam has been leading a busy freelance life in London, and is delighted to have become a La Serenissima Emerging Artist chair holder; as well as a Young Artist on the Brighton Early Music Festival scheme with her group The Portrait Players. Miriam works with groups such as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Education, La Nuova Musica, and Eboracum Baroque. Performing in larger scale works with groups such as Newcastle Baroque, Yorkshire Baroque Soloists, and Endelienta Baroque features as a large part of Miriam's career too. As a passionate viola da gamba player, Miriam particularly enjoys Easter, and a recent performance of Bach's Est Ist Vollbarcht was reviewed as 'exquisite' on The Other Classical Musics blog. Project highlights include working on Castor et Pollux with the Rameau Early Opera Company and playing in Dido and Aeneas at the BBC Proms. Aside from performing in conventional concert settings, Miriam is very enthusiastic about widening opportunities for classical music participation. Miriam is part of the Live Music Now outreach scheme; she is a school strings teacher in North London for the Music in Secondary Schools Trust; and a chamber music coach at the Royal College of Music Junior Department.