Poppy Ackroyd

Poppy Ackroyd is a London-born, Edinburgh-based composer, pianist, and violinist. She not only plays her instruments conventionally, but also employs drumsticks, e-bows, picks, and all five fingers on both hands to pluck and scrape them, creating unusual timbres and textures. She uses both the insides and outsides of her instruments, then manipulates and multi-tracks her sounds via a computer and a live microphone. Despite her very physical approach to composing and performing, the music she creates is intricate, delicate, and lyrical. With the exception of some economically layered field recordings, virtually all of the music she makes comes from her two instruments.

Classically trained, Ackroyd possesses a Masters degree in music for piano performance. She is a student of modern piano music and is also a full-time member of the Hidden Orchestra. Ackroyd has collaborated with dancers, choreographers, actors, poets, filmmakers, and videographers. Her debut album, Escapement, appeared on Denovali in late 2012., Rovi