Advertisement
Presenters |
 |
|
 Chi-chi Nwanoku MBE Chi-chi Nwanoku was born in London of Nigerian and Irish parents, and is the oldest of five children. She spent two years of her early childhood living in her fatherland, Imo State, Nigeria, and continues to visit at every opportunity with her children. At the age of seven she discovered music on a neighbour's piano, was so inspired by its sounds and possibilities that she began her education as a classical musician. A year later, ‘spotted' by an athletics coach, she took on intensive training as a 100-metre sprinter, reaching competition at 'national' level within ten years, but this career ended very abruptly following an unfortunate knee injury. Fortunately her other passion as a classical pianist had continued alongside her athletics, and she was able at the age of eighteen to take up the double bass and pursue a career in music. Chi-chi studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. On graduation she was awarded the Principal’s Prize and the Eugene Cruft Double Bass Prize. Winning four scholarships, including The Royal Society of Arts, she furthered her studies with Franco Petracchi in Rome. Chi-chi has become one of England’s most sought after Double Bassists, and has developed a worldwide reputation as one of the finest exponents on her instrument today. Chi-chi was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 1998 and awarded an MBE for ‘Services to Music’ in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2001. She is Principal Double Bass with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (of which she is also a founder member), and Endymion Ensemble, and appears with numerous quartets and ensembles internationally. Her historical instrument is unique, and made by Nicolas Amati (Cremona) dated 1631. She is Professor of Double Bass Historical Studies at The Royal Academy of Music, Professor of Double Bass at Trinity College of Music in London, and a visiting Professor for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Her wide range of musical interests, results in her involvement in the cutting edge of diverse styles of performance practice. This includes authentic style baroque performances, through the periods until contemporary. She gave the UK premiere performance of Ferneyhough’s ‘Trittico per G.S.’ for solo double bass in 1996, and is the double bass soloist on the recording of Alexander Goehr’s ‘Sing Ariel’, conducted by Oliver Knussen. Chi-chi compiled a varied solo programme for the BBC Radio 3 series ‘Tuning Up’, which was selected for ‘Pick of the Week’. She has also been interviewed for ‘Woman’s Hour’, ‘Kaleidoscope’, and ‘Comparing Notes’. She was featured as a soloist on a BBC 2 television series ‘Strings, Bows and Bellows’, and Channel 4 television’s ‘Shooting Stars’ in 1994/5. Her extensive discography includes three recordings of Schubert’s ‘Trout’ Quintet, with Domus, Hausmusik and Trio Fontennay, for Virgin, EMI and Teldec respectively. There are also recordings of the Schubert Octet, Beethoven Septet, Rossini String Sonatas (a Quattro) and Boccherini ‘cello sonatas (with Richard Lester/Hyperion). She has made many symphonic recordings as orchestral principal. In October 2000 Hyperion label released Chi-chi’s first solo recording to critical acclaim. This includes three double bass concertos by Vanhal and Dittersdorf, with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra; Hyperion CD 67179. She lives in London with her two lively children, Jacob and Phoebe, who through their own shared interests have led Chi-chi back to 'the track' where she has begun to compete over 100 metres again...as a veteran! |
|
Related Links on radio 3 on bbc.co.uk on the web The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites. |
|
|
|
© MMIXThis page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.