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Gemma Webster

  • Department(s): Accompanists
  • Specialism(s): Accompaniment

Gemma studied at the Purcell School, Royal College of Music, University of York, Royal Northern College of Music and Sibelius Academy (Finland). Her teachers included Martin Roscoe, Irina Zaritskaya, John York, Jeremy Young and Graham Fitch. Whilst studying Gemma participated in masterclasses at IMS Prussia Cove, the Banff Centre Canada (as Resident Artist) and the Pablo Casals Festival (Prades) with teachers including Ferenc Rados, Pavel Gililov, Itamar Golan, Benjamin Zander, William Fong and Christopher Elton.

Gemma has won numerous 1st prizes including the RNCM’s Concerto competition, the National Derby Piano Concerto competition, and the National Toshiba Chamber Music Awards.As a soloist, accompanist and chamber pianist, Gemma has performed across the U.K. including at Queen Elizabeth Hall, St. John’s Smith Square, St. Martin-in-the-field’s, Buckingham Palace (for HRH the Prince of Wales),the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Sheffield and York, Ribble Valley Piano Festival, Lancaster International Series and for BBC television and BBC radio.

Overseas concerts have included the Ftan Institut (Switzerland), Utrecht Musikcentrum, Rolston Hall (Canada) and Martinu Hall (Czech Republic).Gemma has performed Piano Concerti by Chopin, Schumann, Shostakovich, Ravel and Franck in the Netherlands and the U.K. under conductors such as Martyn Brabbins and Darrell Davison.

As a chamber musician, Gemma has collaborated with Jonathan Cohen, Steven Isserlis, Ian Clarke, Guy Johnston (BBC Young Musicians Winner), Daniel Bates (ROSL Gold Medal), Jenny King (BBC Symphony Orchestra), David Waterman (Endellion Quartet), Denis Bouriakov (Principal Flute, Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra), Naomi Williams (Royal Opera House), Katherine Baker (Principal Flute, Royal Opera House), Ani Kalayjian (Anglo-Czech Competition Strings Winner), Marie Macleod (BBC Young Musicians Strings Winner) and Camarilla Ensemble (ROSL Ensemble Winner).

Gemma has accompanied instrumental masterclasses given by Alexander Baillie (at Bremen Hochschule), David Waterman, Steven Isserlis (at IMS Prussia Cove), Steven Doane (at RCM), Benjamin Zander (in Switzerland), Ralph Kirshbaum (at RNCM) and Ian Clarke.

Gemma has taught Piano at the University of Sheffield’s Department of Music, Chetham’s International Piano Summer School, Westminster School (London), Christ’s Hospital School (Head of Piano 2010 – 2018) and Cherry Pie Music London (Head of Piano 2018 – 2019).  Gemma has been part of the team of accompanists at Chetham’s School of Music since 2019.