A note from Finn

The RPS Isserlis Scholarship will allow me to study at Scandinavian Cello School (SCS) in Denmark as a Young Artist. I will be able to travel multiple times a year to the School – based on a farm in Stevns, near Copenhagen – to receive lessons and coaching in cello as well as career mentoring from my teacher, Jacob Shaw. The ‘Musical Farm’ is a beautiful place and I am looking forward to furthering my development in this nurturing environment. Young Artists can also receive lessons from international competition winners starting their teaching careers, and learn valuable lessons from other people staying at SCS. In addition to this, we can spend time helping with the animals and crops, sharing meals and free time, including impromptu folk sessions! 

As part of the programme, I will also represent SCS at several international competitions and courses. I’m really looking forward to attending my first competitions outside of the UK, getting the opportunity to travel and make connections abroad through music. I’m also starting a degree course at the Royal Northern College of Music and this will really compliment my studies there. Having the support of Jacob and SCS throughout this experience makes it a lot less daunting, and I’m really happy to be a part of the Scandinavian Cello School with the support of this RPS Isserlis Scholarship. 

Biography

Finn is 16 years old and has been playing the cello since she was three. She studies with Jacob Shaw at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and as a scholarship holder at Scandinavian Cello School in Denmark. She previously studied at the Junior RNCM and with Ben Davies at Junior Royal Academy of Music (JRAM).

Finn is a keen performer. Her latest solo performances include Sollima’s Violoncelles, Vibrez! with Britten Sinfonia, Elgar’s Cello Concerto with Oxford Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Max, and Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C with JRAM Senior Strings Chamber Orchestra conducted by Suzie Collier, as winner of the JRAM Concerto Prize. She has won numerous prizes in local and international competitions, most recently winning the Scarborough Symphony Orchestra Concerto Prize, and progressing to the quarterfinals of BBC Young Musician in 2024. She was also the recipient of the Nigel Hirst prize for cello at the Junior RNCM in 2025. Finn was principal cello of the National Youth String Orchestra from 2022-4, as well as taking part into chamber music courses at Music Works and Beare’s Chamber Music. 

In addition to classical cello Finn enjoys folk music. In 2023 her playing was featured on the podcast of Ian Lynch, a member of the Irish folk band Lankum.