Arranger, composer and cellist Susie Winkworth is known for her ability to bring an artist’s vision to life with sensitivity and imagination. She specialises in both standalone and supporting string arrangements.
Susie has a classical background and many years’ experience as a session musician in London. Virtuosic string-led arrangements channelling pop energy are a specialty, alongside intimate and beautiful backdrops for vocal tracks.
“an exquisitely drawn string accompaniment”
Analog Planet: Judith Owen, Somebody’s Child
Clients as string arranger include:
Judith Owen, whose stunning albums have won widespread critical acclaim and featured twice on The Times Culture Top 100 Albums of the Year (2016 and 2018).
Classical Kicks and DJ Rob da Bank, who performed Susie’s arrangements at Bestival and the Venice Biennale.
Sony, for a special performance at the launch of the film Trainspotting 2, and another for the Netflix hit, The Crown.
Fusion diva Lizzie Ball, who commissioned arrangements for her global tour aboard Celebrity Cruise. Lizzie also commissioned Viva La Frida, part of a musical journey through the life and times of Mexican artist and female icon Frida Kahlo, which premiered at Chatsworth House’s Art Out Loud Festival in 2017.
Showstrings, fresh from their appearance on Hugh Jackman’s world tour, asked Susie to produce a showpiece for their performance at Ronnie Scott’s in 2019.
Classic FM chart-topper Kerenza Peacock has featured Susie’s tracks for solo violin, and appeared as a soloist in the tailor-made encores that bring regular standing ovations for Ivor Setterfield’s Trafalgar Sinfonia.
Belmont Ensemble programmes both classical and crossover arrangements regularly in their performances at London’s St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Musici Ireland commissioned a bespoke encore for their radio broadcast as part of Drogheda Festival in 2021.
“a beautiful string arrangement. The strings contribute much to this collection,
justlistentothis.co.uk: Judith Owen, Somebody’s Child
sometimes tender, sometimes strident.”
String arranger for music education
Susie is also committed to music education and runs a publishing company – WinkMusic.co.uk. WinkMusic produces off-the-shelf arrangements for string ensembles and school groups of all shapes and sizes. Sold all over the world, these arrangements have been used at Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Junior Trinity, Tonbridge School and Westminster Cathedral Choir School amongst others. They have also been performed by established ensembles such as Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, London Mozart Players, London Concertante, English Chamber Orchestra, Icon Strings and Kulios String Quartet for their concerts, community and outreach programmes. (Hear one in action from 11:43 HERE)
United Learning and the Royal Opera House
In June 2025, United Learning with the Royal Opera House will perform Susie’s new orchestration of The Magic Flute. Performances will involve over 2000 children at the Royal Festival Hall, Bridgewater Hall and Royal Exchange. In June 2019 Susie created a new orchestration of Bizet’s Carmen in collaboration with UL, the ROH and Voices Foundation. This project brought together 1500 children from 35 schools and 4 professional singers at the Copper Box Arena in London’s Olympic Park. In another successful collaboration with Classical Kicks, Kevin Hathway and United Learning, Susie created the music for a Classical Kicks: Re-Mixed educational workshop and performance.
Arranger and musician for education projects
Susie is an experienced community musician. She has worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra‘s Resound team, London Chamber Orchestra‘s Music Junction and Music and Management. She has also produced custom-fit cover versions for Rightmove’s management awaydays. These brought ten musicians and 400 would-be singers together for a musical workshop.
Bespoke string arranger for events
Susie regularly creates bespoke arrangements for private events, with previous performance venues including The Ritz, The Dorchester and Buckingham Palace. String arrangements have been performed by artists such as Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Gabriella Swallow. Clients have included UK Music Management, Titanium Strings, Blue Topaz Music, Leos Strings, Box Events and Sarah Haywood Weddings.
Transcription and part preparation
Alongside specialist string writing and arranging, Susie transcribes and produces accurate, detailed sheet music parts and scores. Previous clients include RnR (Runone and Kate Robinson), for Sam Smith‘s global tour.