Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music and who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?
My father encouraged me to play the cello. Because of the Cultural Revolution, he was not able to become a classical musician and he always loved the cello.
What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?
Combining looking after my daughter when she was very young with my own playing.
Of which performances/recordings are you most proud?
I was eight months pregnant when I played with Julian [Lloyd Webber] at his Sixtieth Birthday Concert at the Royal Festival Hall – and it went well!
Which particular works/composers do you think you perform best?
Bach. I have always loved playing the solo suites.
What do you do off stage that provides inspiration on stage?
Live my life!
How do you make your repertoire choices from season to season?
They evolve naturally from my collaborations with artistic directors, fellow artists and the needs at any given time
Do you have a favourite concert venue to perform in and why?
I have been fortunate to play in so many great places including the Lincoln Center, the White House (when I was twelve!) in the US, and the Wigmore Hall and the Royal Festival Hall in London. Wigmore Hall has to be the best for cello!
What do you feel needs to be done to grow classical music’s audiences?
We need to be open to new collaborations and new music. Classical music must keep evolving from its wonderful beginnings!
What is your most memorable concert experience?
When I was twelve I played with an ensemble that toured America. It was my first experience of travel outside China and we played at the Avery Fischer Hall in the Lincoln Center.
As a musician, what is your definition of success?
Bringing beautiful music into people’s lives
What advice would you give to young/aspiring musicians?
Follow your heart and then work hard at where it leads you!
What’s the one thing in the music industry we’re not talking about which you think we should be?
How to deal with audiences not returning to concert halls following the pandemic
Inquisitive!
Jiaxin Lloyd Webber graduated from Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1997. She was already giving performances with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra but left China for further studies in New Zealand where she received her Master Degree at Auckland University in 2001.
While in New Zealand Jiaxin was principal cello of the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, a founder member of the Aroha String Quartet and played regularly with both the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. With the Auckland Symphony Orchestra she performed cello concertos by Dvorak, Elgar and Lalo.
Now resident in the UK, Jiaxin is married to the world renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and has performed with Julian for BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, CNN Global TV, and BBC TV. They have recorded for Universal Classics and Naxos. Their recordings have been chosen as Record of the Month by both Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine and as CD of the Week by both Classic FM and BBC Radio 3. Their 2013 recording, ‘A Tale of Two Cellos’ was the Number One UK classical album for many weeks and is one of the Naxos label’s bestselling recordings of all time. Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber have played sell-out tours with such orchestra as the English Chamber Orchestra and the European Union Chamber Orchestra and have made many nationwide TV and Radio appearances on such high profile programmes as BBC Breakfast, The Andrew Marr Show and Radio 4 Midweek.
Image credit: Julian Lloyd Webber
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