Belinda McFarlane

Originally from Adelaide, Bindi studied at the Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide University.  Following her studies in Australia, Bindi toured Europe as Leader of the Australian Youth Orchestra. The final concert of the tour was at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London – she liked it so much she stayed! and went on to join the London Symphony Orchestra in 1991. Combining her performing career with music education and community music making, Bindi has a strong passion for taking music off the page, workshop leading and devising creative music projects. She has worked with musicians of all ages and abilities, training and inspiring the next generations of music makers. Most notably as a tutor/mentor/director for the Australian Youth Orchestra, and devising and delivering many projects for LSO Discovery – the London Symphony Orchestra’s renowned education and community engagement programme. Most recently instigating and delivering the East London Academy – a free programme for secondary school instrumentalists in East London, providing high level training, opportunity, inspiration and support to students from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the music profession and higher music education.

A longtime collaborator with Paul Rissmann, together they have worked on projects in China, USA and Australia, for the LSO and the AYO.  Their work is depicted in the UK Channel 4 programme ‘The Addicts Symphony’ – where they mentor musicians recovering from addiction, to create their own symphony and perform it alongside the LSO.