Lesley Hatfield

Biography

Leader of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Lesley Hatfield has established a distinguished career as soloist, chamber musician, orchestral leader and teacher. After graduating with First Class Honours from Clare College, Cambridge, she studied at the Royal Academy of Music, gaining the Recital Diploma. Her early career was spent as a member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and as a chamber musician with a number of groups including Capricorn. She was co-leader of Northern Sinfonia and leader of the Ulster Orchestra before taking up her current position. Lesley appears regularly as soloist and director with the BBC NOW, and has appeared with other major orchestras including the Philharmonia, the Ulster Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.  Her solo recordings under the Chandos and Naxos labels have received critical acclaim and she broadcasts frequently on BBC Radio 3.  An active exponent of contemporary music, Lesley has had works written for her by Philip Cashian and John Casken, whose 'Après un Silence' she performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra. She has an extensive duo recital repertoire and has collaborated with a number of pianists. She is a member of  the Gaudier Ensemble, with whom she has made a number of highly acclaimed recordings, and is regularly invited to appear with other groups, including the Nash and Hebrides ensembles. Her directing activities have covered a wide range of works, and have included performances on BBC Television and Radio 3. Lesley lives near Cardiff with her husband and two children. She has recently been elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music.

Research Interest

Violin