"...astonishing technical command, incredibly energetic and dynamic...she made the violin sing out with such sweetness and urgency it seemed the instrument was part of her...intoxicating!" Madeline Clements,
Born in 1981 in Cardiff, South Wales, Cerys Jones is an award winning violinist highly sought after for her honest, fresh approach to the repertoire and her dynamic musical personality. Equally in demand as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader, Cerys continues to perform extensively across the UK and Europe.
After spending the last two years studying with Lewis Kaplan, Professor of Violin at the Juilliard School, in New York City, Cerys returned to the Royal College of Music in London to gain Distinction in the Artist Diploma studying with Gordan Nikolich. Cerys originally graduated as a scholar from the RCM in 2004, and during her studentship she has won numerous prizes including the Sidney Perry Award from the Philharmonia Orchestra/Martin Musical Scholarship Fund, the Kenneth Loveland Gift, Artist of the Countess of Munster, the Ryan Davies Award and the John Fussell Award for an outstanding UK Young Artist.
Cerys is a strong advocate of new music - a characteristic which is reflected in her diverse programmes and her enthusiasm to premiere new works. This has lead to invitations to perform in International Contemporary Music Festivals in the UK, Holland, Italy and Lebanon. Cerys has won a BBC Bursary Award to commission today’s eminent composers from the British Isles and Ireland to write new works for her. This project will be sponsored and promoted by the BBC, and will form part of a PhD that Cerys will complete over the next four years. Cerys has recently become the recipient of three presitgious awards - the Hattori Foundation have offered a generous award to contribute to the BBC project, the Solti Foundation have awarded a prize to facilitate the professional recording of the new commissions, and Cerys has also been awarded a John Baker and Friends of the Royal Academy Development Award which was presented to her by the Award's president Dame Felicity Lott.
Cerys enjoys collaborating with a variety of distinguished artists, including violinist Philippe Graffin, violist Asdis Valdimarsdottir, cellists Colin Carr and Julian Lloyd Webber, and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. Most recently Cerys has established a duo with Welsh pianist Llyr Williams, giving their debut recital together at the Brangwyn Hall in October 2006, and forthcoming recitals include the Galeri Caernarvon in February 2009. With the octet Liquid Architecture Cerys has recently won the Tunnell Trust award, which will constitute a tour of music societies in Scotland in Winter 2009 - Spring 2010.
As a recording artist Cerys will be releasing a CD of the chamber music of John Joubert with other members of Liquid Architechture chamber ensemble on the Toccata Classics label in 2009. Another disc of James Macmillan "Seven last words from the Cross..." with the Dmitri Ensemble will be released on the Naxos label in Spring 2009 to coincide with the composer's 50th birthday. Through continual collaboration with the innovative producer Hal Ritson, Cerys' playing is featured on several Electronica albums including Ritson's own music for The Young Punx "Your music is killing me" album, as well as other artists including Plump DJs "Headthrash" album and Gotye's "Hearts a Mess" single.
As an orchestral leader Cerys is proud to work regularly with Sinfonia Cymru, conducted by Gareth Jones. .