07/05/2026
Toby White is the new cellist of the Villiers Quartet! I had the pleasure of meeting Toby and hearing him play during the quartetโs tour in April. What an outstanding cellist! The audience was full of praise and gave him a wonderfully warm reception. Iโm really looking forward to a fantastic collaboration and many beautiful concerts together!
๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐๐: ๐ง๐ผ๐ฏ๐ ๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐๐ฒ
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of our new cellist, Toby White. Toby joins us at an inspiring moment in the Quartetโs journey, and we are very much looking forward to the musical energy, insight, and artistry he brings to the ensemble.
An accomplished chamber musician and performer, Toby has already built a reputation for his expressive playing and thoughtful musicianship. His approach to the repertoire aligns beautifully with the Quartetโs commitment to both the classical canon and contemporary works. Reflecting on joining the VQ, Toby writes: โI am delighted to be joining the Villiers Quartet in the next chapter of their story. The artistry, musicianship and dedication to the medium they bring are infectious and itโs truly inspiring to be a part of the team. I am excited to bring my own experience to the quartet and I look forward to the journey ahead.โ
As we welcome Toby, we also say a heartfelt thank you to our departing cellist, Leo Melvin, for his wonderful contribution to the Quartet. Leo reflects on his time with the ensemble: *โI have absolutely loved my time with the Villiers. Iโve learned so much โ truly an unbelievable amount โ and really come into my own as a musician. The VQ Discovery programme was a particular highlight, as it gave me a chance to explore some of the greatest masterpieces in music. Iโve always found that you learn the most through teaching.โ
We are deeply grateful to Leo for his artistry, dedication, and the many memorable performances and projects he helped shape. We wish him every success in the next stage of his musical journey.
We have just come back from a wonderful tour of the Netherlands with Toby. We played Caroline Shaw, Delius and Schubertโs ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ฉ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ in some lovely venues.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It means a great deal to us, and we look forward to welcoming you to a concert soon.
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๐ง๐ผ๐ฏ๐ ๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐๐ฒ - ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ต๐
Born in Ripon, North Yorkshire, Toby is a versatile cellist with a busy career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Louise Hopkins, completing his Artist Diploma in 2019โthe year he was selected for the Tillett Young Artists Platform and made his Wigmore Hall debut.
Toby performs regularly across the UK as a soloist and recitalist, appearing with orchestras including the St Cecilia and European Union Chamber Orchestras in repertoire from Haydn to Shostakovich. From 2017 to 2023, he was a member of the award-winning Jubilee String Quartet, performing widely across the UK and Europe, recording for Rubicon Classics, and appearing on BBC Radio 3.
Alongside his performing career, Toby is a dedicated teacher, giving masterclasses and coaching ensembles. He teaches at Uppingham School and is Head of Strings at Oakham School in Rutland. Toby plays an English cello dating from around 1790.
