The Cellist Who Also Does Quantum Mechanics
At eight years old, James Monro told his parents he wanted to be both a physicist and a cellist. He wasn't joking.
James was part of the Open School Trio from Canberra, ACT, formed through the ANU Open School under tutor Lindy Reksten. When the group entered the inaugural 2020 Strike A Chord competition, it was James's first serious foray into competitive chamber music. They received a special audience prize at the National Final.
Five years on, he has made good on both halves of that childhood declaration. He completed a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) in physics and mathematics at the Australian National University before taking up cello studies at the Australian National Academy of Music with Howard Penny. In 2025, he served as Principal Cello on the Australian Youth Orchestra's International Tour, performing at the Musikverein in Vienna and Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
He is now a member of the Academic Orchestra of Zürich and plays casually with the Adelaide and Canberra Symphony Orchestras.
Learn more about Strike A Chord here
Photography: Peter Hislop