Born in Hong Kong & raised in Gloucestershire, Anna went to London to study English & Drama and stayed. Her first London performances with her violin were as part of a performance art duo "UN" with Kirsty Alexander, a contemporary dancer. Together they busked on the King's Road Chelsea and in Covent Garden and played for Steve Strange at The Camden Palace. Working professionally as an actress & musician in fringe and community theatre she joined Paddy Fletcher and his Incubus Theatre Company. In close collaboration with guitarist Frederick Davies she wrote a prolific number of pieces for 'Violin & Voice' and with his support and encouragement she recorded her first solo demo at Wolf Studios, Brixton, which was released as the single "Dance"on Mark Vernon's Dynamite Discs. CPSnare the drummer from Spizz Energy plays drums on the title track. She then joined scottish punk/thrash folk band Nyah Fearties as a guest. With them she experienced her first gigs supporting The Pogues & The Men They Couldn't Hang at venues such as Glasgow's Barrowlands and playing live on cult tv show The Tube. She also performed as a guest violinist with Dead can Dance, Coming Up Roses and The Renees. At this point Anna started playing solo gigs in London with her violin, vocal mic and fostex 4 track tape recorder. As a result of a Melody Maker article commissioned by Stuart Cosgrove with photographs by Emily Andersen, Derek Birkett signed Anna to One Little Indian Records (label mates included Bjork, The Shamen & Skunk Anansie) as a solo artist. Her first release was the 12" single Masquerade/In Need. Engineered by Brian Pugsley with Michele Chowrimootoo on drums it brought her to the attention of the music press. She appeared on the South Bank at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, at the ICA's Meltdown Season & created her own show at The New Vic entitled "Angry Thighs" with drummer Michele, dancer Leonora & set designer Caroline Burgess who created a "percussive" stage design of corrugated sheets suspended from the ceiling. Costumes were designed by Andrew Feest. A tour of the UK followed with label mates Kitchens of Distinction & Sleeping Dogs Wake before returning to the studio to record her critically acclaimed debut album "Arriving & Caught Up". Invited to play at the prestigious Transmusicales Festival in France, she also appeared on national French television & radio and was taken under the wing of french journalists Emmanuelle Beart & Philip De Lacroix and invited back to Paris for more tv work, Festivals and a French Tour. A guest appearance for a special Michelle Shocked gig in London saw her improvising with fellow violinist Susie Honeyman of The Mekons. Gigging solo alongside legends such as Van Morrison, Lenny Kravitz, Bo Diddely & the late great Miles Davis, Anna toured extensively. Supporting punk poetess Anne Clark she played major venues in Germany, Belgium, Austria, Holland & New York. Her second album "Love me", a collaboration with Michele Chowrimootoo, gained Anna & Michele a Radio One interview and prime time air play. Two wildly different support tours followed: the first for Turbo B & Snap and the second for Asia with guest legendary guitarist Steve Howe of Yes who was to ask her to play on three of his albums: The Grand Scheme of Things, Portraits of Bob Dylan & Natural Timbre. During this time Anna's recording sessions included 'Love is Hell' by Kitchens Of Distinction and Danielle Dax's 'Blast The Human Flower'. She also collaborated closely with contemporary dancers Gaby Agis, Gill Lyons & Hi Ching, composing for events presented at Sadlers Wells, Chisenhale Dance Studios & Dance Umbrella at The Royal Festival Hall. Working as Musical Director to celebrate Hong Kong's re-unification with China she conducted & performed with The Chinese UK Orchestra. Commissioned to write a full orchestral 45 minute score in six movements by choreographer Edie Barnes for The University of Alabama U.S.A. she composed the Lacus Suite which premiered in the States. Whilst working in Alabama she gigged with Blues Legends Little Whit & Big Bo. On her return she supported and played for Never The Bride. Anna's compositions for violin & voice can also be heard on the sound track to the film 'Night of The Warrior' on general release & on Inga Burrows' animation 'Daisy' for the NFT. Sessions for TV include 'Mountain Men' & 'Coma' for Julian Swales. International Festivals Anna has appeared at include Edinburgh Fringe, Hong Kong Fringe, Womad & Glastonbury. Anna is currently writing for TV Documentaries, for 'Anna Palm' & continues to gig as a solo artist.
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