New Cellist for the UK's Fitzwilliam Quartet

Ursula Smith has been appointed to replace outgoing cellist Heather Tuach

Currently also comprising Lucy Russell and Andrew Roberts (violins) and Alan George (viola), the Fitzwilliam Quartet was originally formed in 1968. The quartet had a close relationship with Shostakovich, and gave the UK premieres of his last three quartets.

The group is currently the Quartet-in-Residence at Clare Hall, in the University of Cambridge, and has welcomed British cellist Ursula Smith to the ensemble.

A past student of Ralph Kirshbaum, Aldo Parisot, György Kurtág, and András Schiff, Ursula Smith presently holds a professorship at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Between 2006 and 2012, Smith was a member of the Zehetmair String Quartet, one of a small number of string quartets who performed from memory.

The Principal Cello of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra from 1993 to 2003, Smith has also appeared as Guest Principal with a number of prominent UK orchestras. As soloist, she has appeared with conductors such as Andrew Litton, Jorma Panula, and Mark Wigglesworth, and she gave the UK premiere of Nigel Osborne's Cello Concerto.

"Happy to announce I will be joining the Fitzwilliam Quartet as their new cellist — so happy to [be] exploring this wonderful repertoire again with lovely colleagues Lucy Russell, Andrew Roberts, and Alan George," Smith wrote.