Born into an Irish family, cellist Finn Mannion grew up in the Scottish Highlands. He enjoys a richly varied musical life: a passionate chamber musician who is equally comfortable with concerto, duo, and solo repertoire. Finn discovered music at a young age through regular exposure to the folk traditions of his homelands, and from then on it has remained at the centre of his life. What began in village halls nestled among the lochs and glens has since taken him to celebrated stages across Switzerland, Scandinavia, China, and beyond.
Described as “going places in supersonic fashion” (The Courier), Finn Mannion is fast gaining recognition for his poise, presence, and a musical approach rare for his age — praised by concertmaster Gordan Nikolic for his “very mature musicianship of unusual quality.” In 2019, he became the youngest ever recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Isserlis Scholarship. A laureate of the Pablo Casals and Beatrice Huntington International Awards, he went on to win First Prize at the 72nd Royal Over-Seas League Competition in London with his Trio Archai, making his Wigmore Hall debut in June 2024. He was most recently selected as a semi-finalist for BBC’s Young Scottish Classical Musician of the Year and as a Britten-Pears Young Artist for 2025/26.
Finn collaborates regularly with his duo partner Ke Ma and his piano trio, performing extensively across Europe and the UK. His recent recital engagements have included St George’s Bristol, West Wight Arts, and the Brighton Dome, alongside appearances at prestigious festivals including Edinburgh Fringe, Perth Arts, Brighton, Schaffhausen-Klassik, Beaminster, and Swiss Chamber Music Festivals. Finn has shared the stage with eminent artists such as Bruno Delepelaire, Finghin Collins, Gordan Nikolic, Maya Iwabuchi, Matthew Hunt, and Roman Simovic.
This season, Finn returns to Scotland for summer festivals in the Hebridean Islands, featuring at Mendelssohn on Mull and Music Coll. This is followed by an autumn tour with his Trio Archai, generously supported by the Tunnell Trust Award Scheme and Swiss Foundation Suisa. He continues his close connection with the Aboyne Cello Festival as Associate Artist, a role he has held since 2023. Later in the season, Finn will appear as soloist with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.
Born in 2002, Finn studied with Ruth Beauchamp at Scotland’s National Music School (SMMS) in Edinburgh before moving to Switzerland to study with the German-Japanese cellist Danjulo Ishizaka at the Musik-Akademie Basel. He also studies Early Music with Petr Skalka at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis after formative lessons with Alison Wells and the late David Watkin at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Finn’s musicianship has been further influenced by working with artists such as Thomas Adès, Philip Higham, Clive Greensmith, Alexander Lonquich, Nicolas Altstaedt, Dénes Várjon, and Steven Isserlis at masterclasses including IMS Prussia Cove, Hellensmusic, and Maiastra. In Basel, he enjoys regular coaching from Claudio Martinez-Mehner and Rainer Schmidt. He remains deeply grateful for the continued mentorship of Céline Flamen and for the generous support of the Countess of Munster Trust, Caird Trust, Cross Trust, Royal Philharmonic Society, and the DOMS Stiftung.
Finn plays a fine Italian cello by Giulio Cesare Gigli, c. 1788, generously on loan from a private individual. Aside from music, Finn is an avid hillwalker, lover of dogs(!), and passionate street and portrait photographer.
(Valid: May 2025 - Do not alter without permission. Short-Bio available on request.)
