
Josephine Knight
Cello
Josephine Knight plays with a voice that balances elegance and intensity—rooted in a deep artistic heritage and always reaching forward with curiosity, precision, and a commitment to evolving interpretation.
Josephine Knight is widely recognised as one of the most distinguished cellists of her generation, performing in many of the world's most prestigious concert halls. She made her BBC Proms Concerto debut in 2005 with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and has since established herself as a leading soloist, appearing with major orchestras around the globe. Her collaborations include work with some of the most esteemed conductors of our time, such as Sir Colin Davis, Sir Mark Elder, Edward Gardner, Richard Hickox, Andris Nelsons, Vasily Petrenko, and Sir Antonio Pappano.
Known for her versatility and depth of artistry, Josephine has recorded extensively for EMI Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, Chandos, and Orchid Classics. Her discography reflects a strong commitment to both core repertoire and imaginative programming, earning consistent critical acclaim.
She is a regular presence at renowned international festivals including Bath, Beethovenfest Bonn, Cheltenham, Gstaad, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein, Salzburg, Schloss Elmau, and Savannah, as well as the BBC Proms. Appearances at venues such as Wigmore Hall, Aldeburgh, Petworth, Newbury, the Stavanger Chamber Festival, Casa da Música in Porto, and Tonhalle Düsseldorf further underline her standing in the classical music world.
Josephine is a core member of Chamber Principals of London and a founder of the Knight Piano Trio with pianist Vedran Janjanin and violinist Tanja Sonc. As a soloist and chamber partner, she has worked with many of the leading artists of our time, including Daniel Hope, Maxim Vengerov, Lisa Batiashvili, Wu Han, Sergey Levitin, Menahem Pressler, Melvyn Tan, Michael Tree of the Guarneri Quartet, Pinchas Zukerman, and the Emerson and Takács Quartets.
Her contributions to music extend beyond the stage. Her scholarly edition of Schumann's Cello Concerto (Concertstück)—the first publication of the original version—is published by Edition Peters and has become an important addition to the cello repertoire. Her most recent album Schubert Reimagined received a five-star review in BBC Music Magazine, was listed among Apple Music's Top Ten Albums, and has garnered hundreds of thousands of streams worldwide.
Josephine holds the Alfredo Piatti Chair and serves as Professor of Cello at the Royal Academy of Music, London. A dedicated teacher, she gives regular masterclasses at leading conservatoires and international festivals, mentoring the next generation of cellists.
Her training includes studies at Yale University and The Juilliard School with the legendary Aldo Parisot. At the Royal Academy of Music, she studied with David Strange, winning all major cello prizes. She was later selected as one of nine international cellists to study with Mischa Maisky at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy.
In recognition of her contributions to the field, Josephine Knight was unanimously elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music. She has also held positions with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and the English Chamber Orchestra, and is regularly invited to perform as principal cello with leading UK orchestras.
(Photo by Frances Marshall)