Biography

Australian-born violinist Iona Allan currently leads an exciting musical career in both modern and historical violin performance throughout the UK. She is a permanent member of the BBC Concert Orchestra in London and previously held a position in the First Violins of the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast . Iona has played with orchestras across the UK including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Highlights of recent years include memorised performances of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, and Beethoven 5 with the Aurora Orchestra, recording major movie soundtracks at Abbey Road Studios with the London Contemporary Orchestra, and performing chamber music in the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace.

In 2021 Iona was a featured solo artist for the Coronet Theatre’s Outside In Festival in Notting Hill, and was co-leader of the Bath Festival Orchestra for their relaunch performance in Bath Abbey broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Iona also plays with many historical ensembles including Florilegium, Noxwode, and The Hannover Band, and was invited to tour with the Academy of Ancient Music in 2020. In Australia, Iona has worked with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, and Camerata - Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra. 

A keen chamber musician, Iona is a founding member of Quartet Solasta and was winner of the 2018 Boconnoc Chamber Music Award. She is also a founding member of the Australia House Ensemble.

In 2019, Iona graduated with a Masters in Performance from the Royal College of Music, London, studying with professors Gabrielle Lester, and Bojan Cicic. Iona’s studies were generously supported by scholarships from the Tait Memorial Trust, the Royal College of Music, and the Ena Williams Award for Postgraduate Study Overseas. 

She previously completed three years of the Professional Performance Program at the Australian National Academy of Music under the tutelage of Dr Robin Wilson, and holds a Bachelor of Music in Advanced Performance from the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, where she studied with Michele Walsh. 

As a teacher and educator Iona currently offers private tuition and previously worked as an instrumental tutor for the Tri-borough Music Hub conducting whole class instrumental learning in schools, as well as small group and one to one tuition. She has also worked on several education projects with BBC Learning and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.