Harriet Mackenzie - Violin

​“Searing Intensity... A performance full of panache.... captivating” - The Strad
Harriet Mackenzie is an internationally renowned concerto soloist and has performed across five continents. Her recordings include concertos with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Nova and the English Symphony Orchestra. These have received international acclaim, including Five Stars in The Times (Richard Morrison) and have also frequently appeared in the 'Top Recordings of The Year' lists. These include a nomination for 'Recording of The Year' in Music Web International: "There is a completeness, a confidence, an honesty and a consistent lyrical beauty that has moved me again and again. These qualities all emerge in Harriet Mackenzie’s utterly magisterial performance." (Richard Hanlon); ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Gramophone Magazine, cited for Harriet’s “superbly responsive playing … faultless technique and unfailing insight”. She has recorded as a soloist and chamber musician on the Nimbus, Signum, Convivium, First Hand, NMC, and Naxos labels. Live broadcasts include BBC Radio 3, Classic FM and Hungarian National Radio.
As well as performing standard repertoire, Harriet is an ambassador for contemporary music and has created a legacy with over a hundred new works written for her. Violin concertos written and dedicated to her include Robert Fokkens’ violin concerto (premiered Southbank Centre, London); Graham Coatman’s violin concerto, (premiered Swaledale Festival); Deborah Prichard's 'Wall of Water' violin concerto, inspired by the paintings of Maggi Hambling (premiered LSO St Luke's); Julian Joseph’s violin concerto (premiered Salisbury International Festival); and Errollyn Wallen's Triple concerto, written for her group Kosmos (premiered Jersey Liberation Festival). As a soloist she has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,  Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, London Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble 12, Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra, Bath Philharmonia, Piccadilly Sinfonia, Skallsjo Sommarorkester and English Symphony Orchestra. She made her directing debut in 2016 when she directed and performed with the London-Vienna Kammerorchester in Piazzolla/Deyatnikov 'Four Seasons of Buenos Aires' in Auditorio National, Madrid and has continued to direct ensembles since then including her own string orchestra - the 'Celoniatus Ensemble' named after her 1730 Italian violin. She has performed concertos and recitals in prestigious halls such as the Concertgebouw, Wigmore Hall, Budapest Marble Hall, Purcell Room, Beijing NCPA, Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre and Seoul Arts Centre, Kyiv’s Hall of Marble Columns and Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.
In addition to solo work she is a lover of chamber music and is a founder member of Kosmos Ensemble, Karolos and performs with legendary musicians such as pianist Peter Donohoe; guitarist Xuefei Yang; and the Julian Joseph Jazz Trio. A multi-faceted musician, Harriet is also an accomplished composer, arranger and improviser.
Harriet Mackenzie graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with First Class honours, M.Mus and DipRAM. In 2015 she was awarded the Richard Carne Fellowship at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music. Also in 2015 she was honoured to be made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) for her outstanding contribution to music.
Highlights for 2025 and beyond include concertos with and directing the London Mozart Players; the English Chamber Orchestra; a new tango concerto written for her by Argentinian composer Ariel Pirotti; writing the music for a new play about the life of Claude Cahun to be premiered at the Jersey Liberation Festival: and the release of the violin concerto written for her by Christopher Gunning with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales on the Signum Label.
www.harrietmackenzie.com