Harry Kneeshaw is a violinist from Beverley, East Yorkshire currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with David Takeno as the Elmira Darvarova scholar.
Harry has featured as soloist with the Hull Philharmonic, Sounds Baroque and the Classics in the Park Orchestra and in 2022, he performed with the Cambridge Graduate Orchestra at West Road Concert Hall, with the Hull Philharmonic as part of the Hull City Hall Classics Season 2021/2022 and in Delius’ Double Concerto with Hugh Mackay and the City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra.
Since commencing his studies in London at the Royal Academy of Music in September 2019, Harry has been appointed leader of the Amadeus Orchestra, and he has worked professionally at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the National Symphony Orchestra, as well as being hand-picked by John Wilson to play regularly in Sinfonia of London, performing concerts at the BBC Proms and the Barbican Centre as well as participating in various recording projects.
At RAM, Harry sat in all the principal seats in the Symphony Orchestra, most notably as Concertmaster under John Wilson and Principal Second under Semyon Bychkov. As a chamber musician, he was part of the Frost Trust Advanced Specialist Strings Ensemble Training (A.S.S.E.T.) and was mentored by György Pauk and Levon Chilingirian. He has also collaborated with musicians including Adrian Brendel, Elena Urioste, Timothy Ridout and Martin Outram. In 2021, he won 1st prize in the Strings and Piano Duo Prize at the Academy with pianist Kasparas Mikuzis and was the recipient of the Mr and Mrs Steven Smith Award.
Since enrolling at the Guildhall, Harry has performed as Concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in September 2023, as well as winning 1st prize in the Max and Peggy Morgan Violin Concerto competition.
Harry plays a French violin by Charles Jacquot kindly lent to him by the Harrison Frank Family Foundation and is grateful for support from the Craxton Memorial Trust and Talent Unlimited.