Born and bred in Nuremberg, Germany, Julia learned to play the recorder at the age of four and two years later her teacher suggested she should take up another instrument. ‘My parents had it firmly in their mind that I’d learn the piano since my older sister already had piano lessons. However, I had other ideas and insisted on wanting to play the violin. After several months they gave in!’

Julia studied in Essen, Germany for two years and then continued her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Krzysztof Smietana. ‘My plan was to stay for three to four years and then move back to my home country. Somehow, CBSO managed to convince me otherwise’.

Julia spent some time freelancing with the major London Orchestras but got the job with the CBSO soon after she finished her studies. She is a tutti first violin and says her highlights include ‘pretty much every concert with Andris Nelsons, maybe especially Der Rosenkavalier as well as Mahler 8 with Simon Rattle’.

Julia’s other interests include playing chamber music, playing the baroque violin and spending lots of time with her young family.