about
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. They are the recipients of the 2024 Kersjes Fonds String Quartet Stipend.
Since December of 2025 she is principal cello of the Belgian chamber orchestra Casco Phil. In addition, she is a regular guest player in Dutch orchestras such as the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Het Balletorkest and Phion. She also works for Muziek aan Bed, a Dutch organisation that brings music to hospitals and other care institutions.
Emma teaches at Muziekschool Amsterdam, where she started cello lessons when she was seven years old. Since 2025 she also teaches chamber music at summer course Woudschoten.
photo: Tessa Posthuma de Boer
During her time in London, Emma performed chamber concerts in the Barbican Hall, St James Piccadilly, and played with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. She was a Live Music Now UK Artist between 2017-2020.
Emma took part in masterclasses including with Raphael Wallfisch, Anner Bylsma and attended the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove, following masterclasses with Ralph Kirschbaum. She is a laureate of various competitions in the Netherlands. Her first orchestra experience she gained in the European Union Youth Orchestra and the Netherlands Youth String Orchestra. Her studies in London were made possible by a scholarship from the Dutch Cultuurfonds.