Oliver Brockhaus, cello

What do you do for a living?: I work for a bank as a quant. This means, I write computer programs allowing equity derivatives traders to price and manage their positions.
Tell us a little about the instrument you play? Do you play any other instrument?: I play a French cello which is around 100 years old. I also try to play piano although not very successfully.
When did you start your musical education?: I started playing the recorder at the age of 5, cello at around 10 and piano at 12.
How long have you been with the CCO?: Around 10 years.
What has been your favourite CCO concert?: I cannot say. Most concerts have their great moments.
Which piece of music do you most enjoy playing?: I enjoy playing Bach Suites for solo cello as well as romantic string quartets.
If you could take a recording of one piece of music to a desert island, what would it be?: I don’t listen much to recorded music. If I had to choose one piece I would get pretty annoyed listening to it all the time.
Who are your musical heroes?: Bach and the classical and romantic Viennese composers but there are many others and I cannot list them all.
When was the last time you attended a concert as one of the audience?: Wigmore Hall, Gémeaux quartet — a young up and coming ensemble.
What do you listen to in the car?: I don’t have a car. When I rent one I listen to BBC Radio 4.
What are your other interests?: My family. Our first son is 18 months old — very exciting! I also enjoy walking (for example, the Coastal Path in Cornwall), reading good books and playing chamber music with friends.