Cellist, composer, performer, cabaret artist, educator, mentor, media commentator and concert narrator, the increasingly un-categorisable Zoë Martlew travels the world as solo performer and with some of the world's most renowned contemporary music ensembles, chamber groups, improvisation, film, electronica, multi-media, pop, rock, dance and theatre companies.
Her one woman musical cabaret Revue Z has played at festivals in Iceland, Spain, Denmark, Orkney and Wigmore Hall, where she is a regular solo performer. Commissions include works for Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, CoMA, Occupy the Pianos Festival - Rolf Hind and Lore Lixenberg plus ensemble, song cycle for Lucy Schaufer/Huw Watkins Cheltenham Festival 2019, called "a dazzling set of cabaret songs" by Classical Music Magazine. She recently performed her amplified cello/tape funk piece Shift at 92Y New York choreographed for dancers by Antonia Franceschi and her string trio Völuspá received its US premiere at Tanglewood Music Festival 2019 where she was also composer/string coach and hosting interviews.
Upcoming commissions include works for Riot Ensemble and PRS Zeitgeist online series; clarinet/electronics Mark Simpson, cello/piano duo Timothy Gill and David Gompper, Britten Oboe Quartet and piece for death metal band for David Bruce's YouTube channel.
Zoë was a judge on BBC TV's Maestro and Young Musician of the Year; regular guest commentator/presenter for BBC Proms and Radio 3, Newsnight, and and was on the UK panel for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. She is host of London Sinfonietta's new podcast series "The Music That Made Me" and "Shorts" - part of LS "Lockdown Live" series.
She is much in demand for educational activities, including contemporary chamber music coaching at the Royal Academy of Music, artistic director of the Saigon Chamber Music Festival in Vietnam, cello tutor for the National Youth Orchestra, and a regular jury member for international competitions. She studied at the Royal College and Royal Academy of Music, Clare College, Cambridge and the Chopin Academy in Warsaw.