Julian Lloyd Webber: Music, Mentorship, and new Autobiography

Julian Lloyd Webber has always been more than just a world-renowned cellist. As an educator, advocate, and passionate mentor, he’s spent much of his career fighting for music education and creating opportunities for young musicians to thrive. Headliner can also exclusively reveal that he is currently in the midst of penning his autobiography (as if he doesn’t have enough going on). We sit down for a chat to find out more…

Our conversation starts out in education - and it’s certainly as good a place as any to begin. Lloyd Webber’s work in this key area began in 2003 when he co-founded the Music Education Consortium with Evelyn Glennie, James Galway, and Michael Kamen, pushing for more investment in music in schools.

“We wanted to make sure there was more focus on music education, especially in areas of social deprivation,” he recalls. While the push was successful in many ways, it wasn't without its challenges. Despite the government's promises, funding was often limited, leaving much to be desired in terms of policy.

But Lloyd Webber didn’t stop there. He saw the impact that music could have on communities, especially when it was introduced at a young age.

“One of the greatest projects I was involved with was In Harmony, which places music at the centre of the curriculum in deprived areas of the UK,” he says. “It changed lives. It made a difference to schools and communities across the country, and for me, that's what makes it all worthwhile.”

Lloyd Webber had to stop playing the cello in 2014 due to health issues, and although that was a challenging time, this shift allowed him to focus on music education and mentoring young musicians, leading to initiatives like ‘Rising Stars’ on Classic FM and his role as principal at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

“I remember rooting for my students like they were my own children,” he reflects. “One of our junior students, Lauren Chang, went on to win BBC Young Musician in 2018, and I was so proud of her.”

Lloyd Webber clearly sees his role as more than just an educator. It’s about fostering an environment where students can grow, discover themselves, and realise their potential.

THE TRANSITION TO WRITING

Beyond his role as a mentor and educator, Headliner can exclusively reveal that Lloyd Webber is now turning the pages of his own life story - literally. After years of contemplating the idea, he’s finally working on his autobiography.

“I’ve started in earnest,” he shares, with a smile. “And it’s one of those things you’ve got to do properly. I’m beginning from the very start - my earliest memories of growing up in a small flat in London, to living with remarkable figures like concert pianist John Lill and lyricist Tim Rice. It was a fascinating time.”

Lloyd Webber is determined to tell his story, not just as a musician, but as someone shaped by the people and experiences around him. The early chapters of the book focus on his family’s influence, his exposure to great musicians, and his determination to pursue the cello after hearing Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich perform:

“That was the moment I knew that I wanted to do this for myself. I had to. It became my mission.”

Lloyd Webber reflects on the structure of the book’s narrative; while he began with a chronological approach, he is aware that as he writes, the story might take on a more organic shape.

“I’d been working with many top conductors in my twenties and thirties, and that could lead to an entire chapter about conductors,” he explains. “It may not stay in date order, but I’m structuring it that way for now. Ultimately, this autobiography will be about my experiences, my discoveries, and the incredible journey of a lifetime.”

In addition to his career as a cellist and educator, Lloyd Webber has a deeply personal connection to music through his daughter, Jasmine.

“I wrote a piece for her which, naturally, I called Jasmine. It’s just been released by the violinist Esther Abrami,” he shares. “Jasmine had a real love of music when she was young, and I wanted to create something special for her.”

His desire to compose something meaningful for his daughter speaks to the way music has always been a central part of his life - both professionally and personally. Jasmine as a composition is as beautiful in its simplicity as it is melody and reflects the love and care Lloyd Webber clearly has for his family.

“It wasn’t just a piece of music,” he confirms. ”It was my way of expressing something deeply personal for someone I love dearly. Music has that power - it can capture emotions and experiences that words alone often can’t.”

“Just because I'm not performing, doesn’t mean I’m not involved with music,” Lloyd Webber says. “My wife, who’s a brilliant cellist, is always playing at home. It's inspiring just to hear her practice. Music is never far from my life.”

Whether it’s mentoring budding musicians or reflecting on his own legacy, music is still at the heart of everything Lloyd Webber does. Even as he writes his autobiography, he’s actively engaged in teaching, sharing wisdom, and nurturing talent.

“It’s about creating an environment where students feel supported and encouraged,” he adds. “If you can help shape someone’s future, that’s an incredible privilege.”

The question arises: Does he still find time to listen to music himself?

“Yes, I do,” he says, “but often I’m so involved with teaching and the work I’m doing, I’m less likely to just sit and listen for enjoyment. But my life is full of music, whether it’s my wife playing or students practicing. Music surrounds me every day.”

EARLY DAYS AND FAMILY INFLUENCE

Lloyd Webber’s journey as a musician is inextricably tied to his family, and the bond between him and his brother, Andrew, is something that’s remained constant throughout their lives. When asked if he ever knew that he and Andrew would go on to achieve such extraordinary success, he responds thoughtfully.

“I don’t think you ever really know that,” he admits. “But when Andrew’s success started in the early ‘70s, it didn’t surprise me. He was always destined to be something great. It wasn’t the same with me. It was never a given that I would succeed, but I worked relentlessly for it. I stopped doing my schoolwork and focused all my energy on becoming a solo cellist. I was fully committed, but even then, it wasn’t clear if I’d make it.”

He recalls the time in his late twenties when his career truly began to take off.

“I was doing 80 to 100 concerts a year at one point,” he says. “I look back on it now, and I can’t believe how hard I was working. Every concert was a new challenge, and the grind was real. But it was through that determination that I achieved what I did.”

Being a soloist in the classical world, he reveals, is far from easy.

“The pressure is intense,” he notes, “and it’s not just about performing well. It’s about maintaining your craft over the years, always striving to improve, and keeping your passion for it alive.”

Lloyd Webber admits that day to day life is becoming something of a balancing act between the demands of writing and ongoing commitments to teaching and mentoring - but it sounds to me like he’s pretty good at spinning plates:

“It’s hard to dedicate total time to the book, especially with everything else going on. But I’m making progress, and I hope to finish it as soon as I can… [pauses] Who knows? Maybe the writing will spark new inspiration or new chapters that weren’t part of the plan.”

As for what lies ahead in his career, Lloyd Webber is still deeply focused on music and education. He’s driven by the idea that his work will continue to shape the next generation of musicians, whether through his mentoring or his eventual published autobiography.

“I don’t know how long this book will take, or if I’ll ever truly finish it,” he says with a chuckle. “But it’s a work in progress, just like music.”

Lead photo: Simon Fowler