Laura Baxter is currently studying
for a Post Graduate Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music in London
after having completed her undergraduate studies at the Royal Scottish
Academy of Music and Drama in 2003.
Laura began her studies at the RSA as a solo pianist, but soon became
interested in accompanying and chamber music. She formed several duos
with instrumentalists and singers, taking part in numerous student performances
and competitions, including the Dunbar-Gerber Prize for Strings and Piano,
the Kohn Ireland Competition and the Lieder Prize. Upon her graduation
Laura was awarded the Alex Menzies Memorial Awards for her work as an
accompanist. She performed regularly in the Glasgow University Concert
series, playing with many duos and ensembles as well as Symposia, a
locally-based contemporary music ensemble.
As a student at the Junior RSAMD, Laura studied both piano and violin
jointly, and played violin in many chamber groups as well as performing
as a soloist. Laura was a long-serving member of both the National Youth
Orchestra of Scotland and Camerata Scotland, performing in the Concertegebau
in Amsterdam, Berlin and at the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. It
was during this time that Laura had her first experience of being an
orchestral pianist, playing with NYOS for Schittke's Cello Concerto
with Alexander Baillie. She has since performed on Numerous occasions
in this capacity, at the RSAMD and more recently in the orchestras of
RAM. Laura continued to study violin throughout her degree at the RSAMD,
but decided to concentrate principally on piano accompaniment and orchestral
playing.
Laura has been privileged to receive tuition and coaching from numerous
performers and teachers in all areas of the music profession. At RSAMD
she studies with Jean Hutchinson and Fali Pavri, and took part in masterclasses
with Malcolm Martineau. These experiences inspired Laura to pursue accompaniment
at a full-time, professional level, and she chose to accept the scholarship
offered to her by the RAM in December 2002. Laura now studies with
Iain Ledingham and Michael Young, and through working with fellow students
she receives coaching from professors of other instrumental and vocal
specialists. At the beginning of her second year of postgraduate study
Laura was a rehearsal pianist for the Royal Academy Opera production
of Mozart's "The Magic Flute". As a result of her involvement with the
RAO Laura created partnerships with several of its members giving performances
and taking part in competitions enabling her to go on to win the Brenda
Webb Award for accompanists in January 2005.
