Gemma Cowieson is a pianist and arranger based in West Sussex, originally from Hong Kong, in her fourth year of undergraduate studies at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, studying with John Thwaites and Victor Sangiorgio.
Taking a proactive and adaptable approach to her studies, Gemma has performed within and out of RBC, such as the Queen Elizabeth Hall, The IKON Gallery, Ulverston International Music Festival, Birmingham City University STEAMhouse, and the Polish Millennium House. Recent activities include arranging for, and playing celesta and harpsichord in a public concert celebrating Björk’s music, and being a repetiteur for a student-led opera scenes.
Gemma particularly enjoys work with instrumentalists and singers, a fond highlight being Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Suite for two pianos. Her experience with two-piano music also includes collaborations with contemporary composer Marcus Rock and arranger Mason Ma.
A new area of interest for Gemma has been ballet piano, in which Gemma is currently training to be a ballet repetiteur at Elmhurst Ballet School under the mentorship of Elaine Li and Sarah Potjewijd.
In her role as an arranger, Gemma has incorporated her interest in videogame music, jazz, and contemporary experimental performance into her creative practice; from arranging for big band to orchestral contemporary music.
Recently, she has curated and arranged music for the Birmingham Game Music Ensemble’s SPRING concert taking place in February 2026 at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, in collaboration with conductor Tommaso Nista and composer and arranger VinÃcius Motta.
Outside of her principal study, Gemma frequently collaborates with the conservatoire’s composition department, having performed and recorded new music. She is also a core member of the Birmingham Game Music Ensemble, as pianist, arranger and programme curator.
Alongside her musical activities, Gemma enjoys writing programme notes for concerts. Having studied with Christopher Dingle, she has gone on to write several programme notes for concerts featuring Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Symphony Orchestra and Wind Orchestra.
