Biography

Canberra cellist Christopher Pidcock obtained his Bachelor of Music degree from the Tasmanian Conservatorium, studying under Christian Wojtowicz. At Sydney University he completed a Graduate Diploma in Music (Performance) in 2006 under Georg Pederson, and a Master of Music (Performance) in 2010 under Uzi Wiesel.

In 2007 a Churchill Fellowship allowed him to travel to Germany to study with Anner Bylsma, Peter Bruns and Gavriel Lipkind. He performed the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Neue Sinfonieorchester Berlin, and gave recitals at the Schumann-Haus, Euro Arts Festival (Leipzig), and the Radolfzell Summer Festival. On his return in 2008 he attended the Australian National Academy of Music on full scholarship.

In 2010–2012 he studied with Hans Jørgen Jensen at Northwestern University, Chicago, completing a performance certificate, before joining the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2012. He was also a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, performing in concerts with Yo-Yo Ma, Riccardo Muti, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Jaap van Zweden.

Highlights have included the 2008 International Cello Congress (Israel), first prize in the 2007 Gisborne International Music Competition (New Zealand), European tours with the Australian Youth Orchestra (2007) and Sydney Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra (2009), as well as concertos with the Christchurch and Adelaide symphony orchestras and the Adelaide Chamber Players, and performances with Charmian Gadd and Katherine Selby. In 2010 he was a String finalist in the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards.