Gabrielle Lester

FHEA, FRCM

Gabrielle (Gaby) Lester was born in London and studied at The Yehudi Menuhin School, The Royal College of Music and at The Mozarteum in Salzburg with Sandor Vegh.

Gaby became principal second violin in The Chamber Orchestra of Europe, The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at the invitation of Sir Simon Rattle. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra then appointed Gaby as their assistant leader. A member of the Barbican Piano Trio and The Michael Nyman Band with whom she made many cd recordings, she is a regular participant at IMS Open Chamber Music at Prussia Cove and is often in the recording studio, playing and leading soundtracks such as Harry Potter and The Lord of The Rings. 

As a mentor and coach, Gaby has worked with Australian Youth Orchestra. Youth Orchestra of Catalonia, National Youth orchestra of Spain and on Mendelssohn on Mull chamber music.
For the past ten years Gaby has been professor of violin at the RCM and Assistant Head of Strings, Orchestral Strings coaching sectionals, tutti strings and orchestral excerpts. 
She has recorded the Amy Beech violin sonata and String Quartet for Chandos and Shnittke and Tanyeyev piano trios, quartets, and Quintets. Last year she recorded all the Beethoven Piano and Violin Sonatas with the pianist Caroline Palmer.

(Photograph: Hanya Chlala / ArenaPAL)

Faculties / departments: Strings

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