Laura Hasthorpe - Colourstrings Director

B.A.degree in music, C.P.G.S. performance diploma , C.S.A.K., C.S.A.V.

Laura is a professional British freelance violist, certified Colourstrings Music Kindergarten and Violin\ viola teacher having trained in London, Glasgow and Helsinki where the approach originates. She is the Director of Colourstrings Vancouver and is highly qualified with over a decade of  experience teaching children and adults of all ages, levels and abilities, through Colourstrings/Kodály and traditional methods.

Born in Grimsby, England, Laura studied violin and viola at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music and a Certificate of Postgradute Studies in performance with distinction as well as numerous prizes and scholarships, one of which took her to continue her postgraduate studies with Gerald Stanick at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

An active professional freelance violist in the Vancouver BC area, Laura has worked and toured extensively with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera Orchestra, the Cadell String Quartet, BT Ensemble, Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, West Coast Chamber Orchestra, Northshore Symphonia, Vancouver Metropolitan and BC Chamber Orchestra. Highlights of her orchestral career to date include performances at the annual Proms concert series with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and soloist Yo-Yo Ma at the Royal Albert Hall in London and a UK tour of Wagner's complete Ring Cycle with Scottish Opera Orchestra in 2002-2003.

Laura currently teaches from her home studio, St. James Community Square, West Point Grey Academy, coaches the viola section of the vancouver youth orchestra and a Montessori Daycare.