CelloBridge Mentorship Programme

With over thirty years of international experience in the classical music world, Trudy Wright works as a personal/professional development coach, bringing deep industry knowledge and a passion for people to her practice.

Trudy spent two decades working at Harrison Parrott, one of Europe's leading music agencies, where she was the Director, Tour & Projects, working with world-class orchestras and artists. Today, she partners with orchestras, conductors, and executive teams to build high-performing cultures and enable lasting change, using a strengths-based approach to help musicians amplify their presence, deepen interpersonal skills, and communicate with confidence and authenticity.

Alongside her own coaching practice, Trudy works with Guildhall Ignite — the executive coaching consultancy of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama — where she has designed programmes for professional musicians including Leaders On and Off Stage and Conducting Courageous Conversations. In 2022, she curated a coaching and mentoring programme for the Carl Nielsen International Competition, and she regularly gives workshops across the UK and Europe.

Trudy is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), accredited at PCC level by the ICF, trained in Organisation & Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC), and holds a Professional Certificate in Supervision from Henley Business School. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Guided by values of inclusion, connection, and excellence, Trudy meets musicians exactly where they are — and supports them to live and work to their full potential.

Lydia Connolly is an independent consultant specialising in mentoring artists and artist managers at all career stages across the international classical music sector. Her work focuses on equipping individuals to navigate an increasingly fast‑changing professional landscape.

Previously Lydia spent more than thirty years as a Board Director at Harrison Parrott, serving as worldwide general manager for a distinguished roster of artists and leading the company’s artist management department. She was Head of Inclusion and Access and continues as a trustee of the Harrison Parrott Foundation.

Since July 2024 she has supported a wide range of instrumentalists, conductors, singers, composers, theatre directors, dancers, artistic leaders and managers. She is regularly invited to mentor student groups at leading conservatoires including London's Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and New England Conservatory. She also collaborates with international young artist support organisations such as Classeek, Genesis Sixteen, Hastings International Piano, Live Music Now Scotland, Music Estonia and the Philip Loubser Foundation.

Lydia was the first woman to study Music at New College, Oxford. She is a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music, an alumna of the Saïd Business School Strategic Leadership Programme, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a former board member of the International Artist Managers’ Association.

Larsen Strings is a Danish string manufacturer internationally recognised for its specialised focus on bowed string instruments. Founded in the birthplace of the Danish International Cello Competition, Sønderborg, the company has built a strong reputation among professional string players for its dedication to sound, craftsmanship and continuous development.

Working closely with leading musicians, Larsen Strings develops and refines its products through an ongoing dialogue between maker and performer. This collaborative approach allows the company to respond directly to the artistic and technical demands of today’s musicians – as a contestant in the competition, you will get first-hand experience with this special and personal process.

Within the CelloBridge mentorship programme, Larsen Strings contributes with their knowledge of instrument optimisation and sound production, offering participants insight into an often overlooked but essential aspect of their artistic development.

Sean Hickey is an American music executive, composer, and producer. He has held senior roles within the international recording industry and works across artist development, repertoire, and production.

He is active as a composer and has worked extensively at the intersection of artistic and commercial aspects of the classical music sector.

Danish conductor Christian Øland works with Danish and international orchestras and ensembles where he collaborates with a range of orchestras and institutions.

Christian Øland is active across both concert and stage productions where his repertoire includes symphonic works, opera, and contemporary music.

At the Danish International Cello Competition, Christian Øland is the conductor of the hosting orchestra; the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra, and will contribute to the CelloBridge mentorship programme.

For over six years, Ulrike Arens has worked as a label manager for an international classical music production company based in Leipzig, Germany. In this role, she was responsible for project management and the international distribution of both physical and digital releases. In 2016, she joined For Artists as a publicist and project manager, where she now works closely with artists and institutions on PR strategy and project development.

With over 35 years of involvement in the classical music world — supporting artists and artistic organizations from the periphery — and with over 30 years of experience in leadership and entrepreneurship, Annabelle brings a wealth of experience on professional career development to the CelloBridge mentorship programme.

In 2023, she earned her ACC accreditation as a professional coach, where she focuses on enabling clients to navigate their own challenges and achieve their goals. In addition to regular participation in mentoring programmes, Annabelle is passionate about mentoring students to support their career development.