Jessica Holding is a violist from Liverpool, currently training at the Royal Northern College of Music with Cecily Ward. She is a multi-instrumentalist who works in various areas within the Classical, Pop and the Educational industry. Some current employers include: The ELO Show, Only Child, Echo Strings Quartet, SeaShell Trust and Sefton Music Service. Alongside studying Jess is an established freelance musician playing in/formal events throughout the year; Weddings, musical theatre pits, conferences, recording studios, funerals and schools. From 2016, Jess led 2 orchestras: Sefton Music Service String Orchestra who toured to Belgium playing at Menin Gate celebrating the 100 years of Ypres and the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. With the LPYO company Jess got to play alongside/under amazing musicians such as: Pacho Flores, Sheku-Kanneh-Mason, Elena Urioste, James Ehnes, Katie Chatburn, Andrew Manze, Vasily Petrenko and participating in a masterclass with Ray Chen. After running sectionals successfully Jess began teaching for Aintree School Of Music and then later as a Wider Opportunity string tutor for Sefton Music Service. Her passion for education and outreach has grown over the years and is showcased through her current work as a music assistant for one of Manchesters leading SEND schools The SeaShell Trust. She has also been awarded the Creative Music Resident 2023 for a SENDs outreach company Jessies Fund. Jess’s performance and teaching expertise have also been consulted to review pieces comprised for a new Popular violin graded course for the Rockschool exam board, which was newly released this year. With her teaching style being open, flexible and creative she understands that everyone is unique and approaches learning differently. She believes her role as a teacher is to help diagnose and remove barriers the students might have, whilst ensuring lessons are fun and inspiring.