Born: London

Studied: Yehudi Menuhin School and The Royal College of Music.

Joined: 1994

Other companies: London Festival Orchestra since 1988 (Leader from 1997).

Career before the Royal Ballet Sinfonia: Soloist with orchestras including English Chamber Orchestra, Glyndbourne Touring and Guest leader for many orchestras in UK, Japan, Holland and Canada.

First album: Mendelssohn String Symphonies. A child prodigy Mendelssohn wrote these from the age of ten!

Favourite ballets to play: I can’t choose between Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, The Firebird,Rite of Spring, Daphnis and Chloé and Apollo as a String piece.

Why the violin? I tried the cello – my favourite instrument, but didn’t have enough finger strength. I then tried the piano but could only cope with one hand at a time! Third time lucky – the violin only needed practice.

What is special about the violin: The power to reach people’s emotions and help move them. Music is a world between worlds – it can express anything and everything and bring a different level of understanding. Love in it’s purest sense.

Most challenging piece to play: A work by Zimmerman for massed ranks of violas and cellos (I don’t read the viola clef that well !) which involved every kind of sound you can make on the viola.

Places that inspire you: Mount Fuji, Swiss Alps, Scottish Highlands. Fuji has a serene grandeur, the Swiss Alps are majestic and Scottish Lochs and mountains are heaven.

A person who inspires you: Nelson Mandela , a great man and leader who suffered incredible hardship but after used his great intellect and courage for reconciliation.

Interests outside of work: Cricket and Brentford FC.