Ashok started to learn the cello at the age of eight, after requesting to learn the double bass, but being told that the family car was not big enough and that the repertoire for the cello was much better (the latter did not mean much to him at the time). Speaking of the car, it was those journeys to school, listening to recordings of Paul Tortelier's Bach and Christophe Coin's Haydn & Vivaldi that inspired him greatly. All these years later, Ashok is now indisputably recognised as the leading half Indian, quarter Irish, quarter Czech (but still actually British) cellist in Buckinghamshire.
Chamber music is a particular love of Ashok’s and has formed a large part of his life. Ashok has performed in ensembles such as the Artea Quartet, the Fibonacci Sequence, Ensemble 360, the Jigsaw Players, cello octet Cellophony, , and the Barbirolli Quartet. Ashok is also proud to have been a member of Chineke! - the UK's only orchestra and chamber ensemble made up predominantly of BAME musicians - since its inception in 2015. As a cellist he has won various competitions and prizes, but the biggest ‘achievement’ by far that he continues to be a part of, is raising two children – Enzo & Anoushka – with his wife Natalie Klouda, whilst both of them continue to be performing musicians and jointly run the Highgate International Chamber Music Festival.
Ashok recently joined the Carducci Quartet for a performance of Schubert’s String Quintet at the Carducci Festival in Highnam, Gloucestershire. We are delighted that Ashok is returning to us after being a member of our Festival team in 2022.
