Born: Austin, Texas. I immigrated with my parents when I was five.

Studied: I went the university route (Leeds) which suited me well. I got a lot of opportunities as it was a small department. I then did a postgrad course at Guildhall and, ten years later, went back there to do a Music Therapy degree.

Favourite ballet to play: Absolutely has to be Cinderella. The music is incredible and the first violin part extremely challenging. I don’t think I’ve ever been bored playing it. But Nutcracker is also a favourite – I’m embarrassed to say that even after all these years in the job I get a thrill from it!

Why the violin? It was offered by my primary school with the local peripatetic teacher. The music service in my area (a quite remote part of Wales) was amazing. There are many of us from there now in the profession.

What do you love about playing the violin with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia? It poses constant challenges (which I don’t always love!) and I feel lucky to be in the first violin section of the Sinfonia. Ballet scores for the firsts tend to be very tricky, but also tuneful so it’s rewarding to play. I do some freelance work with other orchestras but I think being in a theatre orchestra really suits me.

Alternative career: Probably working part time as a music therapist. I had a job for a while at a Sen school for non-verbal children with disabilities – I guess this is still musical though! I left when I had my children, which was a challenge in a different way!

What do you enjoy outside of work: I love gardening and craft of all types. I also make a real effort to keep up with my non-music friends, which can be hard. When we’re working here it’s very full on, so people have to be patient with me as I disappear for weeks on end!