Betsy Taylor began her musical journey at age six, studying cello with Michael Evans of the Dartington String Quartet. In 1990, she earned a place on the prestigious Joint Course at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and Manchester University, where she studied under Russian soloist Leonid Gorokhov and received masterclasses from renowned cellists like Ralph Kirschbaum and Steven Isserlis.

She graduated with a Diploma in Professional Performance and a Bachelor of Music Degree, and during her time at RNCM, Betsy won numerous awards and was a finalist in both the Pierre Fournier Award and BBC Young Artists Forum, performing live on BBC Radio 3 and at Wigmore Hall with pianist Steven Osborne.

Her professional career began as Principal Cello with the Brunel Ensemble, with whom she recorded several CDs and performed as a frequent soloist. Notable performances include Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto and Nicola Lefanu’s Diva at the Brighton Festival, as well as a U.S. tour with the South Carolina Philharmonic, performing Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations and Vivaldi concertos. Betsy also collaborated with major orchestras such as the English Chamber Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, and the Philharmonia.

Beyond classical music, Betsy contributed her talents to recordings with well-known artists like Nigel Kennedy, Gary Barlow, and Katherine Jenkins, including solo cello performances on several albums by Divine Comedy. In 2000, she became Assistant Principal Cello of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), later promoted to Associate Principal in 2013, and toured internationally.

A passionate chamber musician, Betsy co-founded the Glasgow String Quartet and Earthtones Trio, performing with close friends and musical collaborators Euan Stevenson and Katherine Bryan. She also teaches at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has performed as Guest Principal Cello with leading orchestras across the UK and beyond.