Francesca Blum is a third year undergraduate reading Natural Sciences at Churchill College, Cambridge, where she has been awarded an instrumental bursary. She also holds an Instrumental Award as part of the University's scheme to enable gifted players to attain a high level of chamber music performance with professional coaching. She is principal 'cellist with the University Music Society first orchestra and the student-run Symphony Orchestra, as well as performing regularly with various other groups, most recently the Guernsey Symphony Orchestra and "Collegium Laureatum". Francesca studied for many years at the Junior Royal Academy of Music, where she was taught by Robert Max. She now studies with Margaret Powell, under whose guidance she completed her DipABRSM in 2003. During her time at the RAM, Francesca won the Lower Strings Prize in 2001 and the Dame Ruth Railton Chamber Music Prize in 2001 and 2002, and was awarded the Louise Band Prize for outstanding commitment in her final year. A long-standing member of Pro Corda, Francesca was privileged to play for their 30th Anniversary concert at the Wigmore Hall. She was a member of the Phoenix Quartet for four years, with whom she was invited to participate in the Granada Chamber Music Festival in Spain in 2000. Recent performances include Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, Haydn’s Concerto in C major and Bach’s 2^nd Suite in D minor, as well as several chamber recitals in Cambridge and London. Francesca looks forward to forthcoming concerts in Cambridge, St. Albans and further afield. Photograph by Erja Atroshi