For 2009 Charmian Keay is a violinist in the Southbank Sinfonia, London.

Violinist Charmian Keay began learning the violin at an early age mainly from her mother, Miranda Adams, who is the Associate Concert-Master of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Other violin teachers include Justine Cormack, of the New Zealand Trio, Kevin Lefohn, director of the Queenstown Violin Summer School (NZ) which Charmian attended in January 2006, and Tessa Petersen. Charmian Keay also took piano lessons from ages 8-17, completing Grade 8 while studying with Sharon Vogan, a renowned New Zealand pianist. Charmian still enjoys playing piano from time to time.

Charmian Keay completed ATCL on the violin at age 14. She also sang during high school, reaching Grade 6. Charmian has also gained a few noteworthy awards, including top mark of the year for Grade 6 theory 2003, and top in New Zealand for Level 4 NCEA Scholarship Music (Written) Exam in 2004. She was a violinist in the NZSO National Youth Orchestra in 2005, 2006 & 2008. As a violin teacher Charmian Keay taught in Dunedin, NZ during her time at university. Charmian has performed regularly, at the university and around Dunedin.

Charmian Keay completed her Bachelor of Music with Honours (First Class) in Performance Violin in 2008 at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Now living in London, she welcomes anyone interested in taking violin lessons to contact her. She has had experience teaching beginner level through to advanced, and a wide range of ages. She teaches traditional method as well as Suzuki. She plays on a violin made by the violinmaker Adrian Studer in Nelson, New Zealand with bow by Doriane Bodart of Paris.