Sussex


<p>Violinist, vocalist, virtuoso. Lizzie Ball, 44, is a powerhouse of talent and passion. A prolific performer, Lizzie has been on the international stage for two decades and is on the cusp of some seriously exciting projects. She&#8217;s co-curating a new classical series at Ronnie Scott’s, <a href="https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upstairs at Ronnie&#8217;s</a>, which opens in February after a seriously swanky refit, and finds her working alongside James Pearson, the club&#8217;s Artistic Director and pianist. Then, come September, she&#8217;ll be stepping into the role of Co-Artistic Director of Sussex&#8217;s own illustrious Petworth Festival, together with pianist Charles Owen. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/01/Lizzie-Ball-violin-1024x683.jpg" alt="Violinist Lizzie Ball" /></figure>



<p>Raised in rural Derbyshire, and educated at Lady Manners School in Bakewell followed by St John’s College, Cambridge, Lizzie was awarded an Honorary Masters from The University of Derby in 2018 in recognition of her innovative, creative approach to classical music. Shortly after, Lizzie was chosen as one of the UK’s most inspirational females in a list of 50 outstanding UK women making an impact. It’s easy to see why. Instantly likeable, she bubbles with charisma and is compassionate, creative, a champion of women in classical music, and a firm believer in following your own path.</p>



<p>Despite her rigorous classical training, Lizzie has always been passionate about performing all styles of music. She founded&nbsp;occasional music night&nbsp;<a href="http://classicalkicks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Classical Kicks</a>&nbsp;in 2012 in a mission to bring classical music to a wider audience, including everything from string quartets to beat boxing flute players and East End female rappers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Muddy met her for the lowdown on the opening of Upstairs at Ronnie’s, her star-studded past, and how she juggles solo motherhood. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-can-expect-from-a-visit-to-upstairs-at-ronnie-s"><strong>What we can expect from a visit to <em>Upstairs at Ronnie’s</em>?</strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/01/Lizzie-upstairs-at-ronnies-1024x683.jpg" alt="Ronnie Scott's, London" /></figure>



<p><em>Classical Kicks</em> has been described as a ‘musical tasting menu’, but that was only ever a handful of nights a year. Now we have a stunning new dedicated venue – Upstairs at Ronnie’s – and the concerts are bold, not necessarily what you’d expect from a classical night. The space is incredible. It’s intimate (seating 140), and you’re spitting distance from the musicians so you can almost hear the bow across the string. You’ve got a glass of wine, a delicious meal dished up by a fantastic chef, collaborative chat from the performers – it’s thrilling. It’s really a chance to savour the emotional range that classical music has. Often that’s lost in the concert hall when you’re far away. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-then-your-new-petworth-gig-begins-in-the-autumn-excited">And then your new<strong> Petworth gig begins in the autumn. </strong>Excited?</h3>



<p>I&#8217;m thrilled to start this new journey with Charles, who I have known and greatly respected for many years. Being Co-Artistic Director of Petworth – a festival I’ve held close to my heart for many years now – is special. Charles and I are so excited to plan for 2027 and beyond. It’s a particular honour to attempt to fill Stewart’s shoes [the pair replaces longterm director Stewart Collins] – he’s a much admired and respected colleague.  </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-was-there-a-moment-in-childhood-that-inspired-you-and-made-your-future-clear"><strong>Was there a moment in childhood that inspired you and made your future clear? </strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/01/Lizie-Balls-Classical-Kicks-2_credit-David-Vondra-1024x1024.jpg" alt="Violinist Lizzie Ball" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: David Vondra</figcaption></figure>



<p>Yes. I remember going to see Nigel Kennedy perform at Sheffield City Hall as my birthday present when I was 10. I’d been playing violin for about three years and we were sat high up in the balcony. I was captivated. I remember refusing to go out (even with the promise of ice cream) at the interval as I didn’t want to miss a thing. I loved his rebelliousness and was obsessed. He really defined my childhood (along with Oasis and their <em>Definitely Maybe</em> album).</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-ve-since-worked-closely-with-nigel-tell-us-about-that-full-circle-moment"><strong>You&#8217;ve since worked closely with Nigel – tell us about that full circle moment. </strong></h3>



<p>I was determined to meet Nigel, so when I was 23 and a student at the Royal College of Music I went to Ronnie Scott’s to try. I had even bought Bruce Chatwin’s incredible book <em>Songlines </em>to gift to him, so after his performance I just asked to say hello and they said yes. What an amazing moment. He and his wife were so kind and invited me to the artists’ bar to hang out. We became friends and fast forward a few years, I got a call out of the blue asking me to join his Orchestra of Life. I was second choice but was able to step in and it changed my life forever.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-any-other-career-highlights"><strong>Any other career highlights?</strong> </h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/01/Lizzie-Ball-James-Pearson-260825-646--1024x683.jpg" alt="Musicians James Pearson and Lizzie Ball" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">James Pearson and Lizzie Ball</figcaption></figure>



<p>Singing and playing violin with Brian Wilson on his US tour, particularly playing at the Greek Theatre in LA. The love people had for him was incredible. It was such an exciting time. Another real highlight was the European arena tour of Europe with Hugh Jackman for <em>The Man, The Music, The Show. </em>I led the orchestra and Hugh is one of the nicest people I have ever met, so down to earth and genuinely interested in others. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-a-solo-mum-describe-the-challenges-that-come-with-that"><strong>You&#8217;re a solo mum. Describe the challenges that come with that. </strong></h3>



<p>My son Tommy is now four. I’m a solo mum, having used a sperm donor – best thing I ever did. I find I am more conscious about my career and the decisions I make because of him. I make better decisions because I want to be present.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-you-re-a-qualified-life-coach-right"><strong>And you&#8217;re a qualified life coach, right? </strong></h3>



<p>I mentor executives and CEOs with how to get over performance anxiety. These are often the people that suffer with performance anxiety the most. I really enjoy it. I have all this coaching training and experience but I tend to use what I know from the performing world because it’s my reality and I know it so well. It’s been fun and exciting.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-you-head-back-to-the-peak-district-where-are-your-favourite-spots"><strong>When you head back to the Peak District, where are your favourite spots? </strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/01/Bank-House-Hathersage-1024x1024.jpg" alt="The Bank House in Hathersage" /></figure>



<p>Mum still lives in Derbyshire and when I return I still love all the walks around Baslow (although that’s a bit harder now with a small child). I love walking in the grounds of Chatsworth and adore Edensor Tea Cottage where we often go for breakfast. The church there is actually where Tommy was christened and I’m fond of that whole community. In Hathersage, <a href="https://www.bankhousehathersage.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bank House</a> is a favourite, along with <a href="https://www.ploughhathersage.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Plough Inn </a>and <a href="https://www.barrelinn.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Barrel</a> at Bretton; the drive up there never gets old.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-do-you-admire"><strong>Who do you admire? </strong></h3>



<p>As a child of the 80s and 90s I really love the way things have got better in terms of equality and feminist drive. I absolutely love some of the female artists out there. I also love artists who have a real purpose about what they do. I really admire <a href="https://www.nitinsawhney.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nitin Sawhney </a>for example, and <a href="https://www.ayannamusic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ayanna Witter-Johnson</a>, who spans all the genres. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-could-have-dinner-with-your-artistic-icons-who-s-sat-around-the-table"><strong>If you could have dinner with your artistic icons, who&#8217;s sat around the table? </strong></h3>



<p>It’s a little-known fact that Vivaldi wrote for young musicians in an orphanage in Venice. We are putting on a story on March 23 at Ronnie’s, where we bring to life the whole idea that this music may have been ghost written by young female orphans who were talented musicians. One of them, Anna Maria, is mentioned a lot in the history and I’d love to sit down to dinner with her; she is such an unsung hero. I’d also love to meet any female composer from that era, Florence Price, Germaine Tailleferre, Clara Schumann- their music is as good as the men’s but they are only just getting their moment. I’d love to ask them, ‘how the hell did you cope?’. I’d love Frida Kahlo to be at my dinner table too – so interesting – along with British-Mexican artist Leonora Carrington. It would also be fun to sit down with someone like John Lennon too and just talk music.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-three-things-that-we-d-find-if-we-went-rummaging-in-your-handbag-right-now"><strong>Tell us three things that we&#8217;d find if we went rummaging in your handbag right now? </strong></h3>



<p>A Lego minifigure of some kind – Buzz Lightyear is my son’s current favourite. A Mac lipstick (must likely red or a nude pink). And almost certainly at least a couple of pairs of earrings – I just pull them off after a concert and stash them in my bag. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/01/upstairs-at-ronnies-2-1024x1024.jpg" alt="Ronnie Scott's, London" /></figure>



<p><em><a href="https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upstairs at Ronnie’s</a>&nbsp;opens in February 2026. Opening the Monday Classical series on&nbsp;<strong>Mon 9 Feb</strong>, the Ronnie Scott’s Classical All Stars, led by James and Lizzie, perform fresh re-arrangements of Gershwin, Copland and Bernstein.</em></p>



<p><em>Each show will be performed twice at 6.30pm (doors open 5pm) and 9.30pm (doors open 8.45pm). Tickets start from £35.</em> </p>



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<p><em>In the mood for more? </em></p>



<p></p>


Muddy meets virtuoso violinist & vocalist Lizzie Ball

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