Eleanor Streatfeild

Eleanor is the principal cellist and co-director of the Australian Session Orchestra. With her partner Daniel Lopez, brilliant violinist and entrepreneur, she has spent the last 20 years working across Australia alongside some of the best musicians that the country, or even the world, has to offer. From classical establishment to session settings where broader styles and skills are required, Eleanor has built up a wealth of experience.

 

Her cello studies began in Ethiopia where her family lived until 1994, but soon after moving back to Australia, she began lessons with Anthea Scott-Mitchell at the Newcastle Conservatorium. On a cello scholarship from the age of 13, Eleanor also had the privilege of taking part in Hunter Strings, a youth orchestra initiative that put her on the path to a Bachelor of Music in Performance and 8 years of Australian Youth Orchestra programs, including tours to China and Europe.

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Teaching music has been a steady feature of Eleanor's professional life. In addition to the personal value of reflecting on how to distill useful information for students in their creative practice, she has found value in contributing to her students' moments of development. Paying music forward in gratitude to the teachers of her youth.

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Eleanor now frequently performs with the Opera Australia Orchestra, making as much time as possible for chamber music. She also does regular sessions recording film music at Trackdown.