Biography

Jo Ashcroft completed a BMus (Hons) degree in performance at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama in Glasgow, studying with Alison Mitchell. In 2008/09 she also studied for a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance at the RSAMD with Alison Mitchell and Katherine Bryan. Jo was awarded her Diploma with Distinction, and also received the John MacGregor Flute Prize at the RSAMD for 2008/09.

While studying at the RSAMD Jo appeared as principal flute in Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra and Opera Orchestra. She participated in side-by-side schemes with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Hebrides Ensemble and The Dunedin Consort. Jo premiered works in the contemporary music Plug Festival, as well as participating in many other performance projects.

In 2005 Jo won the Keldwyth Award for outstanding young Cumbrian musicians. She reached the final of the Governor’s Recital Prize for Woodwind at the RSAMD in 2007 and 2009.

Jo is a keen chamber musician. As a founder member of flute quartet Flutes en Route, Jo received the RSAMD Governors’ First Prize for chamber music in 2008, and played for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at St James’ Palace. With this ensemble she also performs regularly for Yehudi Menuhin’s Live Music Now scheme in recitals, community performances and education workshops. Jo also plays in a duo capacity with harpist Annakate Pearson in the Leven Duo, based in Cumbria, with percussionist Calum Huggan in Flercussion and with pianist Chris Baxter. She is also a member of the Epsilon Ensemble wind quintet.

As a soloist, Jo has given concerto performances of the Chaminade Concertino for flute and orchestra, Philip Sparke’s ‘A Lindisfarne Rhapsody’ for flute and wind orchestra and the Mozart Concerto for flute and orchestra in D major. Jo has varied interests in performance, ranging from Baroque performance on 18th century flute to contemporary chamber music, and she freelances regularly with orchestras and ensembles in Scotland, including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Jo is heavily involved in education and community music, and completed an endorsement in this area as part of her undergraduate degree. She has undertaken training in Kodaly, Dalcroze and Orff Musicianship teaching methods. She has worked with children aged 2 to 18, as well as adults with learning difficulties. Jo works as an instrumental teacher, both privately and with Inverclyde Council; as a community music mentor at the RSAMD; with choral education project 'Little Larks' as a coach and instrumentalist; and with Live Music Now as a member of Flutes en Route.