Jo Allen

Available

I was a scholar at the Royal College of Music. I now work as a freelance musician performing on both acoustic and electric violin. I also do backing vocals. I work as a session musician, orchestral musician and perform with my string quartet.

BMus(hons) degree from RCM. EU tours with Gnarls Barkley & Simply Red. UK Tours with Kanye West, Mary J Blige, Russell Watson and Aled Jones. Also performed with Jay-Z, Beyonce, Dame Shirley Bassey, Lemar, Suga babes, Take That, Gorillaz, Kasabian, The Delays, Paul Weller etc

Jo Allen is a London based violinist working as a session player in the UK and Europe. She won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music under Itzhak Rachkovsky. Jo has performed live and
recorded with artists including Beyonce, Brand New Heavies, Bryn Terfel, Chris Martin, Gorillaz, Jamelia, JAY-Z, Josh Groban, Kate Nash, Lemar, Leona Lewis, Mark Ronson, Michael Buble, Mika, Mutya Buena, Myleene Klass, Nas, Paul Weller, P Diddy, Rod Stewart, Dame Shirley Bassey, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sugababes, Take That, The Delays, Westlife etc and has appeared on shows such as Top of the Pops, CD:UK, Pop World, T4, GMTV, MTV, Jools Holland, Jonathan Ross, Parkinson, X Factor, the Brit Awards, The BAFTA’s, Smash Hits Awards, The National Music Awards and at The concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium.

Jo has toured Europe and the UK with both Simply Red and Gnarls Barkley performing at many of the major festivals including O2 Wireless in London, Hurricane in
Germany, Montreaux Jazz in Switzerland and Fuji Rock in Japan. She has also toured the UK with Kanye West, Mary J Blige, Russell Watson and Aled Jones. Jo has appeared in videos for Exhibit, McFly, James Morrison and Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse and has been the electric violin soloist in the Rhythm Sticks Festival at the Royal Festival Hall for 3 years running.

As a classical musician Jo has performed a number of violin concertos whilst at music college and currently works with orchestra’s and chamber music groups including the British Philharmonic Orchestra, Brandenburg Sinfonia, New London Sinfonia, The Chameleon Arts Orchestra, London Orchestra da Camera, English Session Orchestra and Contemporary Consortium.

Jo had her first single released in May 2006 for Soul Love Records. She co-wrote this Funky Deep House record with Seamus Haji and Timmy Vegas which appears on the compilation albums Housexy from the Ministry of Sound and Hed Kandi’s sister album Stereo Sushi. Jo studied singing at the Bel Canto School of London under Nicolino Giacalone and Jazz and Street Jazz dance at Pineapple Studios, London with Karen Estabrook and Nicky Bentley.

BMus (hons) degree from the Royal College of Music on Violin. Singing training at the International Bel Canto School of London. Dance training at Pineapple Studios, London in Jazz and Street Jazz.

BMus (hons) degree on violin from the Royal College of Music

Acoustic violin, electric violin, Shure radio pack, Sennheiser in ear monitors.

Backing vocalist and dancer.

Are You A Member Of The Musicians' Union?: yes
Do You Have A Driving Licence?: yes