Iola Shelley
Welsh-born Iola Shelley was educated in the UK and enjoyed a remarkable early career as a solo pianist, becoming the youngest student to be awarded Piano Performance Diplomas at the Royal Academy & the Royal College of Music, London.
In New Zealand, she changed her specialisation to chamber music and accompanying and became a founding member of the Camerata Chamber group. The Camerata went on to establish the Christchurch Conservatoire as its teaching base.
As a chamber-music pianist and accompanist she has performed in recital & recording with many of the world’s leading instrumentalists & singers.
She was appointed as Artistic Director of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and a member of the inaugural board of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.