Butterfly Paterson

“Butterfly is definitely one of the most focused students of that age I have ever taught and her tenacity will take her to great places. She is a very passionate and meticulous student, her attention to detail and her hard work will without a doubt, make her a talented cellist.”

Eugenie Degan, cello tutor

Cello by William Forster II of London c 1770.

An exceptionally talented young player, 16-year old Butterfly Paterson studied cello, clarinet and piano at The Purcell School from 2016-2018 before joining the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in 2019.

She has participated in various musical activities including the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, the Britten Sinfonia Academy, The Seraphin project and Cambridge University Orchestra.  Her scholarships and awards include the loan of a cello by the Cherubim Music Trust in 2019, and the UK Government Music and Dance Scheme Award 2016-2018.

Butterfly has performed at The Barbican Centre with the Britten Sinfonia, with James MacMillan and Mark Elder at Saffron Hall, and at the Latitude Festival.   She has taken part in intensive masterclasses with Gavriel Lipkind in Holland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. She enjoys playing chamber music and has performed Mendelssohn’s piano trio at St James’ Church, Piccadilly, and the Brahms clarinet trio at Little St Mary’s in Cambridge and has performed on a number of recordings.

Butterfly is currently studying cello with Professor Stefan Popov and is due to start at Hills Road Sixth Form College Cambridge in September 2020.

This cello has been acquired for Butterfly by Dr Nigel Brown OBE.  If you think you might be interested in supporting this instrument scheme, please get in touch.