Home » Jazz Musicians » Sonia Hammond
Sonia Hammond
Sonia was classically trained at Birmingham school of Music and Royal College of Music cellist and has since forged an eclectic freelance career. She has recorded with Chloe Goodchild, Barb Jungr, Babysnakes and Ennui and played in venues ranging from the rooftops of Timbuktu to the Camphill Communities of UK and Europe. She is currently principal ‘cellist of both the Brecknock and St Woolos Sinfonia's also playing regularly with her Castalia and Peregrine String Quartets and the Radnor Improvisers . Her first solo Bach cd was recorded live by Charlie Beresford at St Mary's Church, Hay-on–Wye on 28th March 2014.
Charlie and Sonia recorded the Science of Snow after a studio session was cancelled and this album was released to great reviews from John Eyles at AAJ, Adrian Pallant and Ian Mann.
They have since recorded another 3 albums of improvisations, The Lightning Bell with pianist Carolyn Hume and Judie Tzuke (guest on 2 tracks) , Each Edge of the Field in 2017 and Circle Inside the Folds in 2019.
Sonia also plays with Adrian Crick and their first cd, Something Beginning With was released in May 2016.
Awards
B A (Hons) First class degree in Music ABSM Diplomas in Cello teaching, performing and recital all with distinction.
Tags
'This is a beguiling album, rich in emotional inflexions. Its mimetic melancholy is offset both by the immediacy of the performance and its poetry. It is really quite beautiful.' Tim Owen, Dalston Sound
“a prime example of pure creativity.” The Musician (album was stand out for the issue)
“It's the science of snow, its rarely recurring forms, its logic-defying crystal building and eventual sublimation that this music attempts to convey