Jocelyn Freeman, pianist & curator

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?

I was a chorister in St Davids Cathedral for most of my formative years and had the most amazing series of conductors who inspired a deep commitment to music and a high professional standard. We toured the USA and Australia and, as a young girl from the UK’s smallest city, I remember being thrilled by these formative experiences, and wanting to find more of them. My local chamber music society (sadly no longer in operation) also played a part in this decision. Fast-forward to studies at the Royal Academy of Music, teachers Pascal Nemirovski, Michael Dussek and Audrey Hyland were very important influences, and later Roger Vignoles and Marcelo Amaral.

What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?

I’m just returning from a specialist Lieder teaching audition in Germany, that was all in German language, which has to be right up there! Balancing a career as a Lied pianist with being a mother to young children has also had it’s share of challenges, but I would not change it for the world.

Which performances/recordings are you most proud of?

My series of Schubert cycles in the Global Concert Hall (IDAGIO) were recorded live during the pandemic, and were the first time I had performed all three as a series. They are such incredible works and I always find new things inn each outing. That said, each performance and each recording builds special memories with each collaborator, be it in a packed international hall, or a hall full of 500 school children.

Which particular works/composers do you think you perform best?

Schubert will always hold a very special place in my heart. I also feel a deep affinity to many female composers, from the life and works Clara Schumann to the exciting young composer Emily Hazrati, who we are commissioning this year. I like for every programme to hold something new for me, and I love delving into new songs.

What do you do off stage that provides inspiration on stage?

I spend quite a lot of time reading song texts, and singing and (occasionally) dancing around my practice room! I also love mountains and hiking, and nature provides great sustenance to me as an artist.

How do you make your repertoire choices from season to season?

I feel deeply blessed to be able to curate the SongEasel series each year, and love to combine works our audiences will know with lesser-known works by both new and marginalised composers. All Lied programmers have a responsibility to the future of the genre, as well as to their budgets, and I enjoy building this relationship with our audiences in South East London and beyond. Without my Artistic Director hat on, season choices can vary in so many fulfilling ways. Often they begin with a passing idea, and gradually deepen and evolve over time until a new programme is born. There is no substitute for time when building a good programme, and it is such a personal process!

Do you have a favourite concert venue to perform in and why?

I couldn’t possibly choose!

What do you feel needs to be done to grow classical music’s audiences?

This is a really important question, and one I’ve been interested in for nearly a decade now. In fact, in many ways, SongEasel has been born of this question, albeit Song-specific. I believe each professional musician is an advocate for our art, and has a unique set of skills that can positively impact and grow classical music’s audiences. The term ‘Audience Cultivation’ represents my own views – it is like a garden with great potential for growth, and we just need to harness it. At SongEasel we this has evolved into a strong commitment to working with the local community, from non-ticketed recitals by amazing artists to going into schools to find the next generation of Lied recital goers, and performing Lieder in non-traditional spaces, including with our Young Artists and alumni of the programme: Think global, act local. Yehudi Menuin and his Live Music Now was a wonderful example of community engagement being possible at a high artistic level.

What is your most memorable concert experience?

There are really too many to chose from!

As a musician, what is your definition of success?

Fulfilling your artistic potential

What advice would you give to young/aspiring musicians?

Stay true to yourself and carve out your own career path

What’s the one thing in the music industry we’re not talking about which you think we should be?

Why there are still so few female Lied pianists performing in the world’s top halls…?

What’s next? Where would you like to be in 10 years?

As my children are now a little older (6 and 3 years old) I will be touring further afield in the coming years. I’m excited about a tour to the USA in 2027, a new disc of songs by female composers from the German romantic period, and who knows, maybe in ten years I’ll have a ranch in Spain as my base with a beautiful garden, with views of the Picos de Europa and Cantabric Sea….!

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Sufficient sleep and time with family, interspersed with a range of Lieder rehearsals and concerts!

What is your most treasured possession?

They are not really possessions, but I really treasure my kids. And my 1906 Steinway.

What is your present state of mind?

Tired, but happy

Jocelyn Freeman is a collaborative pianist and Artistic Director of Song Easel, an annual song series in south east London. This year’s series runs from 21 to 24 May. Find out more