Born into an Irish family, cellist Finn Mannion grew up in Scotland. He began playing the cello at the age of seven. He studied at the National Music School in Edinburgh before moving to Switzerland to join the class of Danjulo Ishizaka at the Musik-Akademie Basel.
Finn has gained international recognition as both a soloist and chamber musician. Rooted in the village halls of Scotland, his artistry now reaches audiences on stages across Switzerland, Scandinavia, Asia, and beyond. Finn is the winner of several international competitions, which include First Prize and Beethoven Prize at the 2025 Schoenfeld International String Competition in China, and First Prize at the 2024 Royal Over-Seas League Competition in London with his Trio Archai. He is a prizewinner of the ORPHEUS Swiss Chamber Competition, Tunnell Trust Concert Scheme, and recipient of the Beatrice Huntington Award.
Named a Britten-Pears Young Artist 2025/26, Royal Philharmonic Society Isserlis Scholar, and semi-finalist of BBC’s Young Scottish Classical Musician of the Year, Finn has become a sought-after performer. He has appeared at a range of concert halls and festivals, including Wigmore Hall, Harbin Cultural Centre, St. George’s Bristol, The Queens Hall, Perth Concert Hall, Swiss Chamber Music Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, Mendelssohn on Mull, and Schaffhausen-Klassik. Since 2023, he has been Associate Artist of the Aboyne Cello Festival.
Finn has a strong interest in Early Music, having studied with the late David Watkin. He continues to immerse himself in Baroque cello with Petr Skalka at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. He also enjoys working with modern composers, advocating for new works for cello. Finn joined the class of Thomas Adès at IMS Prussia Cove 2025, and premiered two commissions for piano trio last season: ‘Triangulum’ by Dominic Röthlisberger (Swiss Chamber Music Festival, supported by Pro Helvetia and Fondation SUISA) and ‘Nocturnes’ by Jeremy Sams (Whittington Festival).
He remains deeply grateful for the continued mentorship of Céline Flamen and for the guidance of his first teacher, Ruth Beauchamp. In recent years, Finn’s musicianship has been influenced by working closely with Gordan Nikolic, Claudio Martinez Mehner, and Philip Higham. Further impulses stem from Alexander Lonquich, Nicolas Altstaedt, and Steven Isserlis. Finn has been generously supported by the Countess of Munster Trust, Caird Trust, Scandinavian Cello School, Cross Trust, and DOMS Stiftung. He plays a fine Italian cello by Giulio Cesare Gigli, c. 1788, kindly loaned by a private individual. Aside from music, Finn is an avid hillwalker, lover of dogs, and passionate street photographer.
Not to be altered without permission.
Short Bio available on request.
© Finn Mannion 2025
