Chi Chi Nwanoku

British Double Bassist and Classical Music Advocate

Chi Chi Nwanoku is a renowned British double bass player of Nigerian and Irish descent. She has made significant contributions to classical music both as a performer and as an advocate for diversity within the genre. Nwanoku is the founder of the Chineke! Orchestra, which is the first professional orchestra in Europe to be made up of majority black and minority ethnic musicians. Throughout her career, she has performed with many prestigious orchestras and ensembles, and her musicianship is recognized through numerous awards and accolades. In addition to her performance career, Nwanoku is also a professor of Historical Double Bass Studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She has been a passionate educator and mentor to young musicians, aiming to create opportunities for artists from underrepresented backgrounds in classical music.