Laura announced as one of the ECHO rising Stars 27/28
Jun 2026
Following nominations from The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Laura has been announced as one of six young musicians to be selected for the ECHO Rising Star Scheme. The programme supports exceptional young artists as they perform in many of Europe’s leading concert halls, while taking part in artistic development opportunities, educational projects and the creation of a new commissioned work.
Laura performs Britten’s Cello Symphony in Aldeburgh Festival
Jun 2026
Laura’s first performance of this epic work was at Snape Maltings for the Aldeburgh Festival with Britten Sinfonia under Gemma New, live on radio for BBC Radio 3 In Concert. It was a significant occasion, marking the 50th anniversary of Benjamin Britten’s death.
Laura makes debut with London Symphony Orchestra at Classical pride
Jun 2026
On Sunday 14th of June, Laura made her London Symphony Orchestra debut for Classical Pride performing the UK premiere of Henriëtte Bosmans Cello Concerto No. 2. Conducted by the festival’s founder and curator, Oli Zeffman, the concert featured a wide-ranging programme spanning Ravel to Michael Tilson Thomas. Drawing on her Swiss-Dutch and Jewish heritage, it is particularly fitting that Laura’s LSO debut comes with Bosmans’ work. A pioneering Dutch-Jewish composer of the twentieth century, she navigated the challenges of the Nazi occupation while continuing to compose and present her music in secret. Today she is also recognised as an important figure in LGBTQ+ musical history.
Laura is announced featured artist at Ryedale Festival
May 2026
In July 2026, Laura performs five different concerts in the span of a week at Ryedale Festival. This includes a solo recital, Haydn Cello Concerto in C with Royal Northern Sinfonia, and several chamber concerts. These are a duo recital with Tom Poster, a Schubert Quintet with the Aris Quartet, and a revival of her Dances and Duos programme with cimbalom (Marcel Comendant), double bass (Misha Mullov-Abbado), and violin (Max Baillie).
Laura announced as artist in residence at the 2025 Lammermuir festival
Jun 2025
Laura will make six appearances as both soloist and ensemble musician throughout the festival, including performances with the Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, pianist Jâms Coleman, the Maxwell String Quartet and chamber partners Max Baillie, Marcel Comendant, and Misha Mullov-Abbado as part of a specially curated ‘Dances and Duos with Friends’ concert. Another highlight of the festival will be Laura’s performance alongside violinist Maria Wloszczowska (Lammermuir’s outgoing artist-in-residence) of Brahms’ Double Concerto with conductor Dinis Sousa and the Royal Northern Sinfonia.
Laura presented with 2025 Royal Philharmonic Society instrumentalist award.
Feb 2025
For the outstanding quality and scope of the performances to a live or digital audience, and the work in any context, of an individual performer on any instrument in the UK.
Supported by ISM, the Independent Society of Musicians
‘In everything she does, cellist Laura van der Heijden embodies excellence and integrity, fulfilled with heart. You’ll hear it in her superb concerto debut disc and the luminous Path to the Moon she recorded for Chandos this year. It’s in her boundless collaborations with Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective and as a Kings Place Artist in Focus. It radiated at the BBC Proms in Cheryl Frances-Hoad’s Earth, Sea and Air written specially for Laura, showcasing an artist truly in her prime.’
New Ways of Thinking
Jun 2024
“Although British cellist Laura van der Heijden is well versed in live performance and studio recording, she is still discovering new facets of her musical personality as Toby Deller finds out.”
Click the link to read her interview covering her childhood, education, recording Cheryl Frances-Hoads’s “Earth, Sea, Air”, Walton and Bridge, her doubts, thoughts and plans and much more.
“Earth, Sea, Air”
release 31st May 2024
May 2024
Release of Laura van der Heijden’s first concerto album with Chandos Records: Earth, Sea, Air. The album consists of three works; Frank Bridge‘s Oration, William Walton‘s Cello Concerto, and the premiere recording of Cheryl Frances-Hoad‘s composition “Earth, Sea, Air”.
The disc was recorded with BBCSSO and conducted by Ryan Wigglesworth.
“Van der Heijden is mesmerising… Proof, if any were ever needed, that the best things come to those who wait.”
Charlotte Gardner, gramophone