Louise McMonagle
Cello

Cellist Louise McMonagle thrives on playing repertoire that goes beyond the mainstream, playing music by living composers, and creating programmes including many commissions and premieres. Solo performances include Wigmore Hall, Schleswig Holstein Music Festival (DE), Open Music Graz (AT), KM28 Berlin, as well as broadcasts on BBC Radio.

“Cellist Louise McMonagle’s playing was especially vivid, with its powerful combination of precision and intensity.” - Bachtrack

“Louise McMonagle’s commitment to the music of our time is an inspiration” - Gramophone Magazine

“…perfectly controlled by charismatic cellist Louise McMonagle” - Tempo Magazine

“…plays with a clarity and precision that only emphasises the sheer mind-bending weirdness of the piece" - The Wire

In Spring 2025 Louise released her first solo album Ancient Modernity with Delphian Records. The album features music by living composers who reinvent ancient material, including folk tunes, baroque basslines, Arabic oud techniques, and ancient Gaelic psalms. It was listed in Gramophone Magazine’s Top Five Unmissable New Releases and featured on BBC Radio 3 Record Review.

In 2024 Louise was invited to perform a solo show in Scotland Unwrapped, a concert series celebrating Scottish musicians at Kings Place London. Also in 2024, Louise commissioned and premiered two new works for cello and electronics in 360, by Aaron Holloway Nahum and Tonia Ko. Further world premieres include Ailie Robertson’s “Skydance” commissioned for Louise by Riot Ensemble, which won the Dorico Award for Solo Work at the 2021 Scottish Awards for New Music. Louise’s video premiere was featured in The Strad magazine. Hannah Kendall’s piece “Tuxedo: Hot Summer No Water” (also commissioned for Louise by Riot Ensemble) led to numerous performances across Europe, including HCMF in the UK and her premiere recording will be released on NMC Recordings in 2025. “Round by the Ness” written for Louise by jazz saxophonist/composer Trish Clowes was featured at the London Jazz Festival 2022.

Louise has also enjoyed playing as a guest in chamber groups such as Mivos Quartet, Anzu Quartet, Ragazze Quartet, London Symphony Orchestra Discovery, and United Strings of Europe. As an orchestral player Louise has worked as guest principal at the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera North, Ulster Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and freelance with the Royal Opera House, Philharmonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra, English National Opera, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, and London Contemporary Orchestra.