Bela Emerson

Biography

“Cello played with passion and intensity”
Daily Mirror

Bela Emerson is an innovative electric cello player who performs passionate, evocative and spontaneously-composed solo pieces using live electronic processing, and influenced by her work in dance, pop, punk, rock, electronica, swing and gypsy. Classically trained in jazz and improvisation, her music harnesses many different genres while creating soundworlds that are all her own.

Bela’s performances are the stuff of legend. Intense and exhilarating, her command of her instrument and her ability to attune to the uniqueness of the moment combine to produce performances that are remarkably different and always spellbinding, both musically and visually.

She builds layers of rhythm and sound from every part of her instrument: sounds are looped, take on lives of their own, bounce off each other… The effect, as anyone who’s heard her will testify, is mesmerising.

Bela is a prolific and well-travelled performer who has been touring extensively as a headline act since 2003 in the UK, Europe, and North America, in venues as diverse as London’s Royal Courts of Justice and Vortex Jazz Club, Bexhill’s De La Warr Pavilion, Islington’s Union Chapel, Brighton’s Komedia and St.George’s Church and Birmingham’s Town Hall.

She’s also thrilled crowds at Glastonbury, Supersonic, Bestival, Aldeburgh, Shambala and The Big Chill Festival among many others. Her four solo CD & vinyl releases are broadcast extensively on national BBC radio, Resonance and countless mainland European and web stations.

Bela has collaborated with innumerable other musicians, such as Tim Exile, The Damned, British Sea Power, Nick Pynn, The Pipettes’ Bobby Barry, The Don Bradmans, Loop’s John Wills, Lianne Hall (including four John Peel sessions for BBC Radio 1), and with percussion company STOMP’s Lost and Found Orchestra’s performance runs at Sydney Opera House and Royal Festival Hall.

She plays with dancers, circus performers, live painters and for film, as well as curates the live soundtrack-to-film show Movietronica.

For a performance you’ll never forget, book Bela Emerson for your next event.

Bela Emerson is perfect for: Corporate events, weddings, awards ceremonies, circus events, media events, festivals, product launches, music events, private functions