Former Hillcrest student Celia Griffiths is making an impressive mark on the international music scene, recently completing her Masters in Violin Performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and beginning the next chapter of her professional career in Glasgow.
Celia’s journey over the past two years has been filled with extraordinary opportunities and achievements. Reflecting on her previous update to the Hillcrest community in 2024, when she was fundraising to support her Masters study, she says the experience has “surpassed my expectations” both personally and professionally.
While living in Scotland, Celia has performed alongside internationally respected musicians and ensembles including the Brodsky Quartet, Lodestar Trio, the Edinburgh Quartet, Hebrides Ensemble, and renowned violinist Nicola Benedetti through her role as an Ambassador for the Benedetti Foundation.
She has also been selected for prestigious Young Artist programmes with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Dunedin Consort, and the Maxwell Quartet. This year, Celia is especially excited to join the Scottish Ensemble as a Young Artist — a world-class string ensemble known for its innovative and experimental performances that blend music with choreography, dance, puppetry, and visual art.
Later this year, Celia will tour Scotland with the ensemble as part of an eight-stop professional development programme. She says the experience is already providing valuable insights, not only musically, but also in arts administration and creative collaboration.
“I’m learning a lot from the Scottish Ensemble team, both musically and from an admin perspective, and I hope to bring some of their ideas back to New Zealand with me for the next part of my career,” she shared.
Alongside her studies, Celia co-founded Āe Ensemble with fellow New Zealander and violist Lauren Jack. Based in Glasgow, the ensemble performs a diverse range of classical, folk, Scottish traditional, contemporary, and baroque music in free public spaces such as libraries, galleries, and grassroots venues. The pair hope to launch a New Zealand version of the ensemble when they eventually return home.
Despite initially feeling daunted about entering the international music scene, Celia says her experiences growing up and studying in Hamilton helped prepare her well.
“Although it is certainly a big pond here, I have felt well set up by my education in Hamilton and the incredible musicians I was mentored by at the University of Waikato,” she says.
Celia also credits Hillcrest High School for helping shape the mindset that has allowed her to thrive overseas.
“Lauren and I feel quietly proud to represent Kiwi classical musicians over here. We have a willingness to be thrown in the deep end, and that is something Hillcrest instilled in me.”
We are incredibly proud to see Celia continuing to achieve at such a high level on the world stage and look forward to following the next chapter of her musical journey — wherever it may lead.
