Tamsin Waley-Cohen: Violinist, Artistic Director on Motherhood and Creativity

From Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman Leah Roseman

I have been so inspired to discover the brilliant British-American violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen’s wonderful discography and I so enjoyed this opportunity to talk to her about her creative life. She spoke to me about the debut of her sister’s violin concerto and you’ll hear about Freya Waley-Cohen’s earlier work Permutations. Tamsin has performed and recorded extensively with the great pianist and composer Huw Watkins and you’ll also be hearing short excerpts from their album “Reflection” including two works written for Tamsin: Huw’s Violin Sonata and the late Oliver Knussen’s Reflection. She opened up about postpartum anxiety, depression,and also the creativity parenting requires, and connected to that, her upcoming album with Cordelia Williams “Dreamscapes and Lullabies”. Tamsin is Artistic Director of the Two Moors Festival in the U.K. and she shared her thoughtful curation of their upcoming October programming. We also talked about the satisfaction and intensity of touring and her wholistic approach to playing the violin. Finally, Tamsin shared some powerful musical memories with some of her great mentors. Complete Show Notes with all the LINKS!

You can also watch the video on my YouTube, I’ve also linked the transcript along with Tamsin's website, other suggested episodes, newsletter, podcast merch: LINKS

(00:00) Intro

(02:13) Freya Waley-Cohen composer and sister, Permutations and Unveil with clips, new concerto

(17:05) album Reflection with Huw Watkins with many clips of music by Oliver Knussen, Watkins, Prokofiev, Stravinsky

(32:27) C.P.E. Bach sonatas, playing on gut strings

(37:04) other suggested episodes and ways to support this podcast

(38:05) motherhood, anxiety and depression, matrescence with clip of 3rd mvt Prokofiev F minor Sonata

(50:28) new project “Dreamscapes and Lullabies” with Cordelia Williams

(56:37) balancing her performance career,

(59:28) Two Moors Festival 2026 programs

(01:05:53) ECHO award, approach to music making with clip of Stravinsky 5th mvt Duo Concertante

(01:13:41) practicing violin, Prussia Cove, András Keller. Ruggiero Ricci, Stephen Kovacevich

(01:18:16) Tüür’s Memoirs with Colin Currie