Joanna Borrett is a British composer and cellist whose music is recognised for its lyrical writing, strong sense of narrative and distinctive voice for strings.

Entirely self-taught as a composer, Joanna came to composition later in her career, following an earlier path as a cellist and journalist. She studied cello in London and Moscow and worked as Principal Cellist of the Scottish Baroque Ensemble, where she developed a passion for the string orchestral repertoire. In 1983, she founded the Peterborough String Orchestra.

After a career as a journalist and magazine editor, Joanna returned to music following a break of almost twenty years, initially performing in a violin and cello duo. Encouraged by her duo partner, she began arranging repertoire and, through arranging, improvisation and playing by ear, developed her own compositional language. In 2021, she submitted her earliest compositions to publishers, including Kevin Mayhew Ltd, and the encouragement she received marked the beginning of her career as a composer.

Joanna’s debut work for string orchestra, Clan, recorded by Her Ensemble in 2024, was selected as Album of the Weekend by Magic Classical and Video of the Day by Gramophone. The work has since received regular broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and Swedish Radio, performances by professional and amateur orchestras, productions for ballet and a performance by The Duchess of Edinburgh’s String Orchestra at the royal investitures at Holyrood Palace. Her first song cycle, Moments of Freedom, received its premiere at the Royal College of Music in September 2025.

In 2026, WildKat PR is proud to be working with Joanna on the release of three new works for string orchestra with Signum Records: Then, Rebellion and Interlude. Together, the trilogy traces a striking emotional arc from bereavement through conflict to romance and represents Joanna’s most substantial body of work to date. Then, released in April, was selected for Spotify’s New Classical playlist and broadcast on BBC Radio 3; Rebellion follows on 28 July, with Interlude completing the set in October.

Joanna’s music is published by United Music Publishing (U.M.P.) and Kevin Mayhew, where she is a house composer, and several of her works for cello and viola are included in the ABRSM and Trinity College London examination syllabuses.