Isabel Williamson

Cellist and string arranger

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19 Reviews (16 Verified)
Isabel Williamson on SoundBetter

I can write and record stunning cello parts to elevate your song to the next level, or score out a full string quartet arrangement. Classically trained, with a masters degree from the Royal Northern College of Music, I have extensive experience collaborating with artists and a strong creative instinct for adding exactly what is needed to each song.

I will base my cello parts on your guidance, which can be as specific or as vague as suits you. If your part is already written and just needs recording, I am equally confident transcribing from a voice note/audio, or playing from sheet music. Choose from a single line, or layers of cello to create a rich, full string section sound.

All recordings are done on professional audio equipment in my acoustically treated home studio, and exported as high fidelity .wav files. In addition to the raw stems, I will send a rough mix at every stage so you can hear the cello in the context of the song. To make sure you are completely happy with the arrangement, a revision/edit is included in the price. I can also export stems with EQ and reverb applied at no extra cost, if requested. I record at 48k, 32 bit unless otherwise specified.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

19 Reviews - 3 Repeat Clients

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  1. Review by Chris Garcia
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    Totally nailed the emotion of the song I just wrote with the artist! Amazing! I could tell Isabel was listening to the lyrics and reacting to the song :) I am so so happy.
    Brilliant- Thank you so so much!

  2. Review by Joseph A.
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    Isabel did a great job on my track! Quick turnaround and beautifully done. She has a great ear and instinct. Very tasteful with her choices and dynamic flow. Highly recommend!

  3. Review by Jake Jenkins
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    Isabel did an incredible job. In one pass, she wrote and performed a cello line that added a new layer of emotion to my song. She also did an excellent job recording, capturing a gorgeous tone. Highly recommend!

  4. Review by Beejay O.
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    Isabel is great to work with.
    She's responds well to notes and is easy to communicate with.
    Recordings are always solid.

  5. Review by Maarten R.
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    Isabel played a very beautiful cello line.
    She feels the music!

  6. Review by Johannes E.
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    It's so great to work with Isabel. I worked with her again on seven of my songs. After sending her my backing tracks and some roughly sketched ideas, she transformed my songs into a delight for my ears with her talent and expertise. It's like getting your song back, but way better than you ever imagined. I will definitely continue to work with her.

  7. Review by Banjo N.
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    Isabel showed versatility playing on an unusual section of a banjo tune. Great communication and prompt service. Gave us a couple options and added piano for good measure. Can recommend her without hesitation.

  8. Review by Beejay O.
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    Isabel was a pleasure to work with.
    Communication was easy and she executed all of my notes with ease.
    We layered several cellos for rich and warm sounding parts, and
    her recordings were captured beautifully with the gear she has on hand.
    I look forward to working with her again on future projects!

  9. Review by Eric S.
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    First time working with Isabel and she provided a great result, filled with the emotion I was hoping for and I look forward to working with her again.

  10. Review by guy a.
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    by guy a.
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    It was great working with Isabel.
    The work is done quickly and qualitatively. I would like to work with her in the future.

  11. Review by Johannes E.
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    Once again Isabel uplifted my song to another level. She took my ideas and added her personal ideas. The result is amazing and beautiful to listen to.

  12. Review by Van Wampler
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    Isabel did a wonderful job tracking multiple cello parts. She played them exactly how I wanted, and it really brings the song to life! She also went out of the way to get me the tracks with a quick delivery. Great experience.

  13. Review by Johannes E.
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    Working with Isabel is a pleasure. She turned my rough ideas into high quality and emotional cello tracks. Looking forward to work with her again.

  14. Review by Mariana Contreras (Bea Mar)
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    Very talented pro musician, creative and sensitive. Has a great sound. Isabel was really nice and propose ideas all the time. I hope to work together again.
    Thank you very much Isabel :)

  15. Review by Lorenzo Gabanizza
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    It's wonderful to find a professional who does the job as requested, but when you find a fellow musician who lives what she plays, and through deep empathy makes you understand that she feels the same emotions as you, the same ones you felt in composing the song that you submit, that's family, fellowship, brotherood. It's indeed like recognizing a sister soul in the crowd. And that's one of the most wonderful experiences for an artist. Highly recommend this stunning pro.

  16. Review by Michael S.
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    I worked with Isabel on a track that required an existing recorded cello track. Isabel was super easy to work with and put in the extra mile to ensure the existing line was enhanced with additional complimentary parts. I was really pleased with the end result and would certainly work with Isabel again.

  17. Review by Craig Gibson
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    by Craig Gibson

    Very professional and easy to work with. Isabel consistently delivers her compositions for us to a high standard. Would highly recommend!

  18. Review by Michael Webster
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    by Michael Webster

    Professional to work with, high quality recordings provided and great creative ideas put on the table!

  19. Review by Jay Plent
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    by Jay Plent

    Izzy consistently brings new depth, melodies and imagination to any music she works on. The cello parts she has written for my project Scatterchild elevated the songs to a new level.

    She's a joy to work with, constructive in her feedback and suggestions without being pushy, and a highly skilled player who achieves recorded takes quickly and with passion.

    She's a must if you want any kind of strings work be it live or recorded.

Interview with Isabel Williamson

  1. Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

  2. A: My main creative project is being a permanent member of the band Bonfire Tide. As well as playing cello and keyboards/backing vocals live, I write all the string arrangements and record the cello parts. The work I'm most proud of to date is the string arrangements on our EP, 'Not The Life You Promised'.

  3. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  4. A: I often write and record multiple layers of cello parts for songs. The cello has such a rich sound and versatile range that by layering up I can achieve the effect of a full string section - without the client having to budget for violinists/viola players.

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Isabel Williamson - Past Times

I was the composer, cellist and pianist in this production

Terms Of Service

One revision included
Typical turnaround 2-5 days; same day available for a small extra cost

GenresSounds Like
  • Bonfire Tide
  • Arcade Fire
  • Demi Marriner
Gear Highlights
  • 2008 Alan McGeoch Cello
  • AKG C214 condenser mic
  • CM25 MKII condenser mic
  • DAW - Cubase 13
More Photos
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10% discount for 3+ tracks