Ariane Zandi

Cello teacher

Born into a family of musicians, Ariane has been surrounded by music her entire life. She studied at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she won the Director’s Prize in her final year. She then went on to study at the Royal College of Music with Melissa Phelps, graduating in 2018 and in 2020, she won 3rd Prize in the International Mahler Cello Competition.

As a performer, Ariane has played under many esteemed conductors including Maestro Bernard Haitink, Gustavo Dudamel, John Wilson, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Vladimir Jurowski. She has recorded for both BBC radio and television and has performed and recorded chamber music with Nicola Benedetti. Her work as a freelance cellist mainly includes musical theatre and session work, including performances at the London Palladium, the Royal Festival Hall and recordings at Abbey Road Studios.

A dedicated and passionate educator, Ariane believes in a student-centred approach to teaching, with a special focus on helping students discover their individual musical voice. She believes a strong technical foundation based upon relaxation is vital to ensure that each individual student finds ultimate comfort when playing. Ariane currently holds teaching positions at St Paul’s School and Westminster Under School and runs her own private teaching practice. She previously held positions at Highgate School and Arnold House School and has also coached the cello section of the Chineke! Junior Orchestra.

In 2022, she received a distinction for her MA in Music Education from the Institute of Education where her final dissertation researched the role of student autonomy in one-to-one lessons. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the same institution and has also written for The Strad magazine’s educational hub.

Faculties / departments: Junior Department