Emily Roberts

Emily Roberts
Emily Roberts (right)
Born	Emily Jane Roberts February 5, 1998 (age 26)
Occupation(s)	Guitarist, Composer, Producer, Mandolinist, Flautist, Vocalist
Years active	2014-Present
Known for	Guitarist, The Last Dinner Party
Website	www.thelastdinnerparty.co.uk

Emily Jane Roberts is the lead guitarist and a vital creative force behind the British indie rock band The Last Dinner Party. Known for her virtuosic skills and eclectic musical influences, Emily has made significant contributions to the band's dynamic sound and rich songwriting. With a background in jazz and classical music, she brings a diverse palette of styles to the group, enhancing their distinct identity in the contemporary music scene.

Early Life and Education

Emily Jane Roberts was born on February 5, 1998, in Cheshire, England. She began playing guitar at the age of six after being inspired by Carly Simon's performance at the end of Piglet's Big Movie; however, she initially found guitar lessons boring and quit. At age nine, she returned to the instrument, learning acoustic guitar from a local teacher she connected with.

Emily moved to Manchester to attend Chetham's School of Music, where she studied both jazz and classical guitar. During her time there, she was a member of Chetham's Big Band and the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra, further developing her musicianship. She later accepted a place in the prestigious BMus Jazz course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. After graduating, Emily was awarded the Guildhall Artists Fellowship and became a semi-finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician competition in 2020.

Career

Emily's professional career began in 2014 when she joined the Creative Leadership Ensemble, a project focused on composing, running workshops, and leading a band to encourage women in jazz. In March 2016, she performed with the Women of the World Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall alongside Sister Sledge and played at the Wigan International Jazz Festival with Eric Marienthal later that year.

In September 2016, Emily participated in the "21st Century Pastoral" concert at the Barbican Concert Hall, collaborating with Iain Ballamy and the Guildhall Jazz Orchestra. She gained experience in musical theater by serving as the official electric guitar, mandolin, bass, and acoustic guitar dep for the West End production of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour at the Duke of York’s Theatre during the summer of 2017.

Emily continued to expand her musical repertoire by touring with Neo-folk artist Blanco White in 2018 and performing with various artists across different genres. She joined a Queen tribute band called Fat Bottomed Girls in 2019 and showcased her talents at numerous festivals and events.

In 2021, Emily released her solo jazz EP, The Persistence of Memory, and continued to gain recognition for her work. She joined The Last Dinner Party in 2022, bringing her diverse experience and musicality to the band, where she plays lead guitar, mandolin, and flute, and contributes backing vocals.

With a reputation for engaging live performances, Emily has established herself as a prominent figure in the indie rock scene, and her favorite songs to play live include "Sinner" and "Second Best".