Lizzie Ball works across a range of musical genres, while continuing to focus on her classical training and roots. With her Classical Kicks project, she has carved out her own version of classical fusion with world-class musicians, from a residency at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club to the UK festival stages of Bestival and Henley. Classical Kicks’ own festival continues in Autumn 2017 for the third year running in Derbyshire.
Lizzie has collaborated with the likes of Nigel Kennedy with an appointment as leader of his Orchestra of Life, resulting in duo concerto performances in major UK venues, and with the acclaimed Mexican classical guitarist Morgan Szymanski with his group Machaca. Lizzie and Morgan’s musical journey through the life of Frida Kahlo premiers at the Chatsworth Art Out Loud Festival in September 2017.
In the classical/jazz world Lizzie has performed with New York Polyphony, Martynas Levickis and the James Pearson Trio.
Her critically-acclaimed collaboration with rock guitarist Jeff Beck between 2013-14 included a solo performance at Madison Square Garden and a U.S.-wide 30 city double-bill tour with Brian Wilson, in which Lizzie was also a featured vocalist. 2017 has seen three U.S. tours opening for UK pop legend Bryan Ferry.
Lizzie is an ambassador of PRISMA Mexico, a charity that provides arts workshops for children in need in Mexico. She plays a Joseph Kantuscher violin (1967) and uses the Kun Original and Collapsible models.
Photo: Simon Bull