Emma Besselaar studied at the Conservatoire of Amsterdam with Quirine Viersen and continued her studies with Louise Hopkins at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, finishing her Master in 2017 with Distinction. Upon graduating, she received a Guildhall Artist Fellowship two years in a row, which enabled her to take lessons with Richard Lester. From the age of 15, Emma attended the Young Talent Class at the Conservatoire of Amsterdam where she took lessons with Maarten Mostert. 

 

Emma is the cellist of the Skazka Kwartet. This young quartet, founded in 2020, was the winner of the 2022 Storioni Competition and has since played at a few major Dutch venues, such as Concertgebouw, TivoliVredenburg and De Doelen. The quartet is currently studying at the Dutch String Quartet Academy (NSKA), following lessons with artistic director Marc Danel and guest teachers such as Pierre Colombet (Quatuor Ébène) en Luc-Marie Aguera (former Quatuor Ysaÿe). 

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As a chamber musician, she has performed at the Barbican Hall, St James Piccadilly (as winner of the St James Chamber Prize), and at festivals including the Torroella de Montgri Festival in Spain, the Northern Chords Festival, International Holland Music Sessions and the London Strings Festival. Together with pianist Inga Liukaityte, she was a Live Music Now UK Artist between 2017-2020. 

 

As a freelance orchestra musician, Emma has worked with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Phion, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Le Concert Olympique. She was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra and the Dutch Youth String Orchestra. 

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She is a laureate of various competitions in the Netherlands and has attended masterclasses including with Raphael Wallfisch, Troels Svane, Adrian Brendel, Anner Bylsma and attended the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove, following masterclasses with Ralph Kirschbaum.