Ellie Pensom
Transcriptionist , Composer, and Arranger
A bit
about me...
I am a violinist, violist and general multi-instrumentalist currently based in Gloucestershire, UK. I have been an active part of the music industry for the past six years, in which I have immersed myself in my own music education, and a variety of different musical projects, spanning many sectors of the industry.
As a freelance musician, I specialise in transcribing, composing and arranging scores.
In my composition work I am inspired by the works of many romantic style composers, such as Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, and Shostakovich.
Composing has always been a career pathway I have wanted to pursue and researching the many different types of composers has broadened my interest within the sector.
I have always wanted to combine my love of folk music with a typically classical setting. Working with a string ensemble alongside the completion of my debut folk album has further inspired me to write, compose and arrange music that will bridge the gap between classical and popular musicians.
All of my professional experience is the result of 5 years focused study in popular music, combined with prior classical training from the age of 9.
Composing, Transcribing, and Arranging
My Recent Projects
Skills & Experiences
In my recent collaboration with Gloucestershire Music, I have transcribed and arranged two of my own folk pieces, for the Gloucestershire Youth String Orchestra.
These pieces will feature in their upcoming summer concert to showcase the orchestra's repertoire and allow these young musicians to broaden their musicality by learning new techniques involved with different genres of music.
It is increasingly important to know how to play an extended repertoire of different musical styles and increase your versatility as a professional. It is my job to help teach and direct how they play these pieces as an ensemble, using folk based techniques. Examples of this include learning about the different types of folk music and the context of
Freelance Work
compositional Projects:
⎼ The Jigsaw Project (2018/19)
Collaboration with The Music Pool and Dancefest (Hereford)
⎼ Town Twinning Ceremonies (2019)
Folk music and Dance collaboration (Hereford and Vierzon)
⎼ University of Gloucestershire Film and TV Students (2020/2022)
Scoring and composing for film
⎼ Arrangement of string parts for musicians
See for example:
Anya Pailthorpe
the genre, the addition of ornamentations (like grace notes) in our playing, and how to improvise.
We can learn these techniques through building confidence in our own solo playing without the safety blanket of sheet music. Playing by ear is a very important technique not just in folk music but across the musical board.
Both of the pieces I have composed and arranged are set to challenge them in new ways, whether that's relating to confidence, versatility or technique. They provide space for soloists to branch out and improvise, and will also involve potential collaborations with external musicians, further broadening and introducing them to networking opportunities.
See for example:
Anya Pailthorpe - She sang songs of Freedom (2021)
To Yours Truly - Since you've been gone (2022)
