‘Classical music, kiss my ass’

The world’s most followed cellist has given a forthright interview to The Strad, explaining why she does it her way.

Zoe Keating, with 1.2 million Twitter fans, wanted a classical career. Moving to California two decades ago, she set about practising the Shostakovich cello sonata for six months before presenting herself for audition at the San Francisco Conservatory. The panel immediately asked, ‘who’s your teacher?’

‘I don’t have one,’ said the applicant, her hands shaking at the looks of disapproval.

‘Maybe you should come back when you’re ready,’ they said.

After that, says Keating, ‘I figured that classical music could just kiss my ass. I was so angry, I couldn’t even bear to set foot in a concert hall.’

The magazine is not online. You’ll have to buy a print copy to read the full, abrasive interview.

The audition attitude will strike many readers as dauntingly familiar. Has anything changed since then at San Francisco Conservatory?