Naomi Butterworth

Biography

Naomi was a scholar at the Royal Academy of Music, where she won all the chamber music and cello prizes including the Suggia Award, which enabled her to continue her studies with Paul Tortelier at the Paris Conservatoire and afterwards with William Pleeth at Guildhall. Subsequently she played principal cello for Richard Hickox, did continuo work for Sir John Eliot Gardiner, worked with the English Chamber Orchestra and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchesta and then joined the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, with whom she played for twenty years, often as principal cello. Her solo career has embraced numerous recitals, and concerto performances all over Europe. She has performed and recorded chamber music extensively for the BBC and for Chandos with the Ambache Ensemble, Granville Ensemble, Wibaut Trio and the Dartington Trio. Among her TV appearances was an early involvement with the Tortelier masterclasses.

An experienced teacher, Naomi has worked extensively with the Natioanl Youth Orchestra, Oxford and Cambridge music faculties, Birmingham Conservatoire, the Royal College of Music and now principally Trinity Laban. She has also conducted and coached chamber music, most recently in Africa and the Far East.

On a lighter note, she has played piano and double bass for the Cambridge Footlights, touring with John Cleese, Graham Chapman and the rest, and was cello teacher to Prince Charles! She is a prolific painter with various commissions and exhibitions to her credit. She is married to composer and organist Antony le Fleming.