Elspeth Wyllie

Pianist

BIOGRAPHY

Elspeth performs as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the UK. Solo highlights include Elgar’s Enigma Variations and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. The Elgar and a selection of rare British chamber music was released as “Enigmas” by Divine Art Records in 2017, to critical acclaim. 

Elspeth has loved making chamber music ever since she started learning an instrument. Her first piano trio was a feisty team of three primary-school girls, performing (and sparring over) music by Mendelssohn, Mozart and Bridge. Elspeth was afforded rich opportunities for chamber music as a pupil at St Mary’s Music School, as a recorder player and clarinettist as well as a pianist. Treasured memories include performing Schumann’s piano quintet, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no 4, and Mozart’s clarinet quintet.

Professionally, Elspeth’s most rewarding chamber partnerships have been with Claire Overbury (flautist), Catherine Backhouse (mezzo soprano), and the Amalie Trio – also with Catherine, and Alexa Beattie (violist). 

Born out of necessity and curiosity, and more recently linked to balancing representation, Elspeth is passionate about programming quality repertoire that isn’t widely-known. This requires trust between promoters, audiences and performers, and can be hugely rewarding. Amalie Trio has performed three fantastic and dramatic trios by William Bolcom, John Duke and Charles Loeffler, that are hardly ever played, alongside the very popular Zwei Gesange by Brahms.  Commissions and contemporary works include duos by Joseph Atkins, Bernard Hughes, and Sally Beamish, and trios by Oliver Searle and Tom David Wilson. Catherine and Elspeth are thrilled to have discovered a hugely rich repertoire for Emotionally Volatile, their programme of songs written exclusively by women composers.

Coaching & Accompanying

Elspeth studied Piano Accompaniment at the Royal Academy of Music, winning the main RAM Club Prize. She has also developed invaluable skills as a coach, bringing her musical insight and knowledge of rehearsing and performing to 1-1 sessions, with musicians of all ages and abilities.

She has extensive experience of working in a variety of settings:

  • assisting professionals to prepare for concerto performances or orchestral auditions
  • playing for conducting workshops, vocal courses, summer schools 
  • accompanying grade exams, auditions for music college and school scholarships