Biography

Jessica Vinson has recently graduated with her Master of Performance with Distinction from the Royal College of Music. She was taught oboe by Olivier Stankiewicz, Juliana Koch, Rosie Jenkins and cor anglais by Christine Pendrill. Since beginning her studies at RCM in September 2021, Jessica has had many orchestral and ensemble opportunities. These include prestigious side-by-side projects with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the Philharmonia as well as several performances with the RCM Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra and the RCM Wind Ensemble. She compliments her studies with regular stewarding work both at the RCM and the world famous Royal Albert Hall.

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Jessica graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with a BMus (Hons) First Class Honours degree where she was a recipient of the ABRSM UK Undergraduate Scholarship Award. This was completed on the intensive 3 year programme with oboe tutors Stephane Rancourt and Jonathan Small, and cor anglais with Gillian Callow. Jessica enjoyed a diverse range of music opportunities at RNCM, frequently performing as principal oboe in the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra and Sinfonietta, along with both contemporary and baroque special ensembles. As a soloist, Jessica was the recipient of the Winfield/Graham and Gilbert/Fell Prizes in 2019.  Jessica is also a successful chamber musician: her Wind Quintet “Ensemble Cosmopolitan” has performed in various concerts, masterclasses and competitions since its formation in 2018 and was awarded the Fewkes Woodwind Chamber Music Prize in both 2021 and 2019 and won the June Emerson Wind Music Launchpad Prize for 2019. Jessica attended the British Isles Music Festival in 2019, has played professionally with the Michael Haydn Orchestra and has most recently played in masterclasses with Jonathan Kelly, Kai Frombgen, Philippe Tondre and Dudu Carmel. She has also played many conducting masterclasses with Sir Mark Elder.

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Jessica previously studied oboe with Josephine Lively for seven years at the Primary and Junior Departments of the Royal Academy of Music, achieving a high distinction in the ABRSM DipARSM and studying piano and advanced music theory. Jessica was the winner of the Senior Woodwind Prize in 2018 and won the opportunity to play the Bellini Oboe Concerto with the Classical Orchestra.  JRAM fostered her love of chamber music, winning the Dame Ruth Railton Chamber Music Prize in 2017 and leading her own wind and string trio/quartet to win a number of competitions.

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From the age of 11, Jessica had wonderful orchestral opportunities offered to her by JRAM, Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra, the English Schools’ Orchestra (ESO) and the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain (NCO). Therefore, Jessica feels strongly about promoting music to the next generation and has enjoyed developing her teaching skills whilst mentoring with ESO, NCO and Jersey Academy of Music. She has also supported Junior RNCM and Chetham’s School of Music assisting young players in orchestral rehearsals and sectionals. She recently ran an outreach masterclass with the London Philharmonic Orchestra for young aspirational players. Jessica currently has private ad-hoc oboe and piano students.

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Jessica would like to acknowledge the generous support provided by The Headley Trust, The Countess of Munster, The John Lewis Partnership Scholarship, The Henry Wood Trust, ABRSM Undergraduate Scholarship, UMUKSF, Awards for Young Musicians, EMI Music Sound Foundation, The Elizabeth Allen Trust and The Hyde Foundation.