“I've always believed: if you're in a position to do something, you have to. Because: for the generation following, you normalise things, you can change things.”
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Making Waves
The Gabriella Swallow Interview
with Keelan Carew
- 53.5 min
Careers Community Promotion
Genre-defying cellist and ISM President Gabriella Swallow speaks to Keelan about her journey as a musician and the twists and turns that led her to become one of the most versatile musicians of her generation. From how to develop audiences, how to work with composers and pop stars, to what it takes to raise children as a single mother and touring musician, this is an interview that covers the entire spectrum of Zenezen’s core topics.
Gabriella Swallow is one of her generation’s most versatile cellists, seamlessly bridging the gap between high-art contemporary music and the jazz club scene. A Royal College of Music graduate and Tagore Gold Medalist, she made her mark with the London Sinfonietta and has since become a leading champion of living composers like Mark-Anthony Turnage and Colin Riley. Beyond traditional stages — including debuts at Wigmore Hall and the BBC Proms — Gabriella is a frequent collaborator with icons like Nigel Kennedy and Gwilym Simcock. Her innovative "Urban Family" club nights further cement her reputation as a genre-defying performer dedicated to collaborative, accessible musical experiences.
Keelan Carew
Keelan Carew is an acclaimed pianist and broadcaster dedicated to classical music education. Raised in Medway and trained at the Royal Northern College of Music, his career highlights include a Royal Festival Hall appearance with Lang Lang and a concerto debut performing Rachmaninoff’s Paganini Rhapsody.
A prominent voice on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4, Keelan has hosted series such as Piano Odyssey and Sounds Connected, alongside frequent appearances on In Tune. As Founding Artistic Director of the Rainham Piano Festival and former outreach lead at the Yehudi Menuhin School, he expertly balances performance with producing accessible concerts for the next generation.
