Brighton-born cellist Riya Hamie (b. 2005) enjoys a versatile career of chamber, solo, and orchestral playing. She currently studies with John Myerscough as a full scholarship student at the Royal Academy of Music, as a recipient of the Sir Elton John Award. In 2024, Riya was one of three Academy cellists to be selected for a masterclass with Steven Isserlis for the BBC Series ‘Arts in Motion’.
Riya studied with Michał Kaznowski at the Royal College of Music Junior Department from 2018 – 2023, and previously with Caroline Brown, the late founder of the Hanover Band. She won numerous prizes at the RCMJD, including the Barbara Boissard Junior Concerto Competition, Marjorie Humby Memorial Competition and the prestigious Peter Morrison Concerto Competition – resulting in a performance of Dvorak’s Cello Concerto with the RCMJD Symphony Orchestra in March 2022. Following this, she was awarded a recital at the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room in February 2023, performing to a sold out audience.
A prizewinner of many competitions across the UK, she most recently was awarded first place and the Coro Nuovo bursary at the Sussex Young Musician of the Year Competition 2024. Past concerto performances include Haydn’s Cello Concerto No.1 with the Mid Sussex Sinfonia, Dvorak Concerto with the Trinity Harrow Orchestra, movements from the Elgar Concerto with the Orchestra of St John’s, Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No.1 with the Sussex Symphony Orchestra, and the Brahms Double Concerto with the Central London Orchestra.
A passionate orchestral musician, Riya was selected as one of eight London Philharmonic Orchestra junior artists for 2020/21 and became a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in 2021. She was then offered the seat of co-principal for 2021/22 and was principal cellist in the NYO’s January 2022 concert at the Barbican (later broadcast on BBC Radio 3). Most recently, she was selected to participate in the Royal Opera House’s Overture orchestral mentoring scheme for 2023/24, where she was mentored by principal cellist Hetty Snell and worked under Sir Antonio Pappano and Koen Kessels. Riya was also principal cellist of both the RCMJD Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, and has led the cello section in two RAM projects this year.
An avid contemporary performer, she gave the world premiere of Constantin Raff’s ‘Monologue for Cello’ in London this year. In October 2024, Riya will make her debut as part of the Academy Manson Ensemble, performing a completely contemporary programme which will include the world premiere of ‘Substrata’ by Andrea Balency-Béarn and the UK premiere of Abracadabra (Suncatchers) for 11 virtuosi by Augusta Read Thomas in the prestigious Duke’s Hall.
Riya has performed in prestigious venues all across the UK, most notably the Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Leeds Town Hall, Wigmore Hall, St John’s Smith Square and the Barbican. She has had masterclasses with many acclaimed musicians such as Steven Isserlis, Natalie Klein, Colin Carr, Hannah Roberts, Alexander Baillie, Christoph Richter, Raphael Wallfisch, Adrian Brendel, Melissa Phelps, Joely Koos, and Rebecca Gilliver.
Riya plays on a George Panormo cello – on loan from the Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme since January 2020 – which was kindly donated by the late Walter Cheney. She is grateful for the support of the Westdene Fund and The Pebble Trust, who awarded her a Talent Grant in January 2022.
ASTATINE TRIO 