I'm a classical music and arts journalist, writer, editor and broadcaster. My work has appeared in BBC Music Magazine, The Times, the BBC Proms season guide and concert programmes, We Love This Book, International Piano and Shakespeare Magazine. I am a member of the Critics' Circle.
I'm an experienced journalist, happy to tackle everything from web news pieces to long-form print features. I love to talk to people with great stories, to research historical articles, to review concerts, operas and books – and I'm always keen to take on new challenges. I'm available for commissions, so do get in touch.
Background
After graduating from Cambridge University with a degree in music, I studied for an MPhil in historical musicology, looking in particular at Liszt in London and the invention of the piano recital. I'm currently researching the life of the 19th-century British pianist Arabella Goddard, a project I began during my master's degree. As a listener, I love to explore everything from Vivaldi to Stravinsky; but I'm particularly interested in the music of France, the Romantic era, piano, chamber and orchestral music, as well as music being written today.
After university, I began working at BBC Music Magazine as editorial assistant, before being promoted to staff writer and online editor. I subsequently worked as reviews editor for seven years, and most recently as managing editor. During my time at the magazine I interviewed many musicians including Sir Simon Rattle, Marin Alsop, Lang Lang, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Isabelle Faust, Richard Rodney Bennett and Nicola Benedetti. Other interviewees include poet Sir Andrew Motion, author Alexander McCall Smith and actor Patricia Routledge.
I have written features on subjects ranging from bell-ringing to répétiteurs, life in a string quartet to penniless composers. My travel portfolio includes pieces on Istanbul, Aix-en-Provence, Uluru and Enniskillen.
Podcasts have been part of my work since 2011, and each month I appear on the 'First Listen' and 'Recording of the Month' podcasts for BBC Music.
I grew up in London, am now based in Bristol and, after living in Lyon for a year, have a soft spot for France. I began my blog during that year, as a way to keep in touch with friends and family back home, but eight years later I've found the habit has stuck, and I still use it as a place for musings.
You can follow me on Twitter (@becca_JF21).
