Lisa Sumner

Cello and Piano

Lisa grew up in a musical family. Her mother was a piano teacher and she and her siblings all learnt instruments. She started the piano when she was 6 and cello when she was 10. Playing music together helped to foster a real love of chamber music. During these early years she discovered how much fun it can be to play music with family, friends and other musicians.

She joined the Merseyside Youth Orchestra at 15. After leaving school she went to the Royal Academy of Music in London to study cello with Derek Simpson and piano with Graeme Humphrey. As a student she took part in masterclasses with the renowned cellist Lynn Harrell - both as a cellist and also as an accompanist. She was awarded LRAM teaching Diplomas on both instruments, an Honours Degree and a Certificate of Advanced Studies for a 4th year on the cello. She was also awarded the John Booth Prize.

After leaving the RAM Lisa embarked on an extensive teaching career, initially in West London. She coached chamber groups and orchestras and taught in various schools -  Bute House Preparatory School, St Paul’s Girls’ School, Putney High and Lady Eleanor Holles in Hampton.

It was always her passion to get children to play music together from an early age. She directed her own Orchestral Courses primarily for juniors. She formed a Saturday Music School and these both became very popular.  During this period she was also asked to coach on the Oxford Cello School and in time became Junior Course Director from 1997 - 2002.

Her first son was born in London in 2003.  Two years later she relocated with her family to the North West and her second son was born soon after. In 2009 she was employed by St Mary’s College, Crosby to teach cello and piano and she combined this with a private teaching practice at home.

Lisa and her family moved back to London in April 2017 and began working for Pelican in September 2017.