Rosie Bergonzi

Rosie Bergonzi is a classically trained percussionist, handpan player and workshop leader based in London. She graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as a Master of Music, then received a fellowship. Her site describes high-quality music making and playful collaboration as the heart of everything she does, from a handpan solo in a field to a concerto at the Elbphilharmonie, from songwriting in a hospital to conducting a youth orchestra.

As a percussionist she has worked in theatre at Shakespeare's Globe, the RSC, the Royal Opera House and with Britten Sinfonia, and has been musical director for productions at the Sheffield Crucible and the Cutty Sark. She has toured the world with Neneh Cherry and Celeste, played with Loyle Carner, and appeared at the BBC Proms with Chineke! Orchestra and Aurora Orchestra. She is a founding member of the ensembles Beaten Track, Boubakiki and PortaBanda.

Rosie first heard a busker play the handpan in London in 2014 and describes it as an instant love affair. She combined the techniques she had learned across several forms of hand percussion into something specific to the handpan. During lockdown she began creating tutorials, covers and solo works. In 2021 she received a Royal Philharmonic Society Trailblazer award for her handpan work. She has released solo records, has given solo recitals at The Barbican, Hangout UK, PanOz and Canaries Handpan Festival, and in 2024 performed the first handpan concerto, written by Cassie Kinoshi, with Chineke! Orchestra.

As a workshop leader, Rosie encourages people to find their voice, with a particular focus on minority groups who have historically been overlooked. She is passionate about making music in community settings and has led workshops, including collaborative songwriting and instrumental pieces, with ENO, Southbank, Wigmore Hall, London Rhymes and other institutions.

Away from music, she holds a black belt in Wado-Ryu karate, plays football with her local team, Bend it like Peckham, and is studying comedy improvisation with the theatre Hoopla.