Andrea Hess

Andrea Hess, the founder member of The Raphael Ensemble, is known for the distinctive sound and imaginative qualities of her playing which have contributed to her involvement in creating music for theatre, film and television. After gaining the Recital Diploma at The Royal Academy of Music, subsequent teachers included Raphael Sommer, Amadeo Baldovino, Andre Navarra and Jacqueline du Pré, assisted by the Benjamin Dale Award and scholarships from the Boise Foundation and The Countess of Munster Trust. Since making her Wigmore Hall debut in 1979, she has performed regularly throughout Europe both as soloist and member of several chamber ensembles, notably the Kreisler Piano Trio of Germany, with whom she has made two records: The Complete Chopin Chamber Music and The Volker David Kirchner Trio, the recording of which won the German Critics' prize. Recently she was a guest of the New Budapest Quartet in a series of performances of Schubert's Quintet in C, D956 around Britain and in the Queen Elizabeth Hall. She has completed highly successful recital tours of Canada and the Far East and broadcast many times on BBC Radio 3 both in recitals and as concerto soloist. Most recently she created the score for Arthur Miller's play "Broken Glass" at The Royal National Theatre and in London's West End and appeared in this production as on-stage solo 'cellist. Additional theatre work includes Ivanov at The Almeida Theatre with Ralph Fiennes and Harriet Walter, where she provided the off-stage 'cello playing for Ms. Walter. Andrea supplements her life as a chamber musician by working on recording sessions for films, television and popular music - a career that echos that of her father, Jurgen Hess, who was leader of the English Chamber Orchestra, and who was also a session player and appeared on a number of Beatles recordings. Andrea has featured on recordings for rock and jazz musicians, such as Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Paul McCartney and Colin Towns. Her distinctive sound can also be heard on many film and TV themes, including those of composers John Barry, Elmer Bernstein, Rachel Portman and Philippe Sarde. She plays a 17th century Ruggieri cello, and owns two others, one of which is a RAAD Electric Cello, made by the Canadian instrument maker, Richard Armin. She is married to theatre sound designer, John A. Leonard and the couple live in Hampstead, London.