Emilia Benjamin

Emilia began her musical journey at the age of 5 playing Suzuki violin, but started to branch out musically while at university, where she studied History of Art but spent more time in the music department. From the violin, it was but a small step to the viola (people always need violas), and then, after seeing a concert of Dowland’s Lachrimae, the heavenly sound of the five viols prompted her to take up the treble viol and join the university consort. While at UEA she made a treble viol in the workshop of a lute maker, and it has served her well for many years, before being finally superseded by the magnificent instrument she now plays in Fretwork.

After quite a few years of orchestras, viol consorts and chamber groups (principal among them Trio Sonnerie with Monica Huggett, Concordia and Phantasm), something possessed Emilia to take up the lirone, which has 13 strings and has been the subject of many of her anxiety dreams. And from the sublime to the ridiculous, her new venture last year, all on one string, was learning the Trumpet Marine. She is hoping not to learn any more new instruments in the near future and is in fact thinking of becoming a sculptor one day.