Jessica Cottis
Encyclopedia
Jessica Cottis is an Australian-British conductor.
Cottis is the daughter of an Australian diplomat, high ranking Royal Australian Air Force officer and Defence Attaché. Her older sister is immigration expert Sophie Montgomery-Male; her older brother is the musician and writer James Montgomery-Willcox. She studied organ, piano and musicology at the Australian National University
, and graduated with first-class honours. With support from the Royal Philharmonic Society
and Australian Music Foundation
, she continued her studies in Paris
with Marie-Claire Alain
. She was a prize winner in the 2000 Australian Young Performers' Competition. Her European debut as an organist was at London's Westminster Cathedral
in 2001.
In 2006, Cottis began conducting studies at the Royal Academy of Music
, London, after reading law at the University of London
. Her teachers included Colin Metters
, George Hurst
and Sir Colin Davis. She graduated from the RAM in 2009, with distinction. During her time at the RAM, Cottis founded a new opera company, Bloomsbury Opera. She works as Manson Fellow in Composition at RAM and, in 2009, became the first Postgraduate Conducting Fellow of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
, where her mentors include Donald Runnicles
.
In 2008, Cottis became Associate Conductor of the Azalea Ensemble, the London-based contemporary music group. In September 2009, Cottis was appointed assistant conductor with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
. Cottis has also commissioned new operas, including Anna Meredith
's Tarantula in Petrol Blue and The Mirror by Martin Georgiev.
Cottis is the daughter of an Australian diplomat, high ranking Royal Australian Air Force officer and Defence Attaché. Her older sister is immigration expert Sophie Montgomery-Male; her older brother is the musician and writer James Montgomery-Willcox. She studied organ, piano and musicology at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
, and graduated with first-class honours. With support from the Royal Philharmonic Society
Royal Philharmonic Society
The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
and Australian Music Foundation
Australian Music Foundation
The Australian Music Foundation [AMF] is a charitable foundation, first established in the United Kingdom, with the chief purpose of providing financial support to outstanding young Australian musicians who wish to pursue post-graduate music courses in leading music education institutions around...
, she continued her studies in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
with Marie-Claire Alain
Marie-Claire Alain
Marie-Claire Alain is a French organist and organ teacher best known for her prolific recording career. She is particularly known for her ability to perform substantial works entirely from memory.-Background and education:...
. She was a prize winner in the 2000 Australian Young Performers' Competition. Her European debut as an organist was at London's Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral in London is the mother church of the Catholic community in England and Wales and the Metropolitan Church and Cathedral of the Archbishop of Westminster...
in 2001.
In 2006, Cottis began conducting studies at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, London, after reading law at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. Her teachers included Colin Metters
Colin Metters
Colin Metters, is an English conductor, orchestral trainer and conducting pedagogue and since 1983 the principal professor of conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London.-Biography:...
, George Hurst
George Hurst
George Hurst is a British conductor.-Biography:Born in Edinburgh in 1926, Hurst studied at Bishops College School in Lennoxville, Quebec and the Royal Conservatory in Toronto Canada....
and Sir Colin Davis. She graduated from the RAM in 2009, with distinction. During her time at the RAM, Cottis founded a new opera company, Bloomsbury Opera. She works as Manson Fellow in Composition at RAM and, in 2009, became the first Postgraduate Conducting Fellow of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
, where her mentors include Donald Runnicles
Donald Runnicles
Donald Runnicles is a Scottish conductor who has worked extensively in other countries, particularly Germany and the USA....
.
In 2008, Cottis became Associate Conductor of the Azalea Ensemble, the London-based contemporary music group. In September 2009, Cottis was appointed assistant conductor with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is a broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow, Scotland. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation , it is the oldest full-time professional orchestra in Scotland...
. Cottis has also commissioned new operas, including Anna Meredith
Anna Meredith
Anna Meredith is a composer of acoustic and electronic work, musician and music educator. She is the eldest of three children in her family. Her father is a retired university teacher of journalism, and her mother works in picture restoration...
's Tarantula in Petrol Blue and The Mirror by Martin Georgiev.
External links
- Official Jessica Cottis homepage
- Royal Philharmonic Society page on Eric Thompson Trust Grants
- Royal Academy of Music commentary by Cottis
- "Bring on the iterations", On An Overgrown Path blog entry, 22 February 2009
- Royal Academy of Music and Southwark and South London Society of Organists artist biographies
- Orkney Conducting Course alumni page