Elizabeth Wilson was born in London, attended schools in England, China and the USA and studied cello at the Moscow Conservatoire with Mstislav Rostropovich between 1964 and 1971. She has combined careers as performer and teacher, playing with distinguished ensembles in Britain and Europe as well as devising and presenting radio and concert series on a range of Russian themes. In parallel with these activities, she also writes about music and musicians, including biographies of Jacqueline du Pre and Shostakovich. Her most recent book, Mstislav Rostropovich: Cellist, Teacher, Legend was published by Faber in April 2007.