13 Musical Comedians
The world of classical music comedy isn’t huge but it does exist. We present a range of comedians with funny things to say about classical music, or with a background in music that’s helped them get to where they are now. If you enjoy our content, you can support us on Ko-fi, where anyone who feels like it can gift us the price of a coffee with no strings attached. Thank you.
Isabel Hagen
@isabelhagen_ on Instagram / @isabelhagen on TikTok
Isabel Hagen is a stand-up comedian and classically trained violist from New York. Every little girl’s dream. Isabel started stand-up straight after earning her Bachelors and Masters degrees in viola performance from the Juilliard School. As a violist, Isabel has played in the orchestra for several productions on Broadway, and has worked with numerous artists such as Björk, Max Richter and Steve Reich. Isabel combines viola and comedy in her YouTube series IS A VIOLIST and in her 1-hour comedy special released in 2026.
Lloyd Griffith
@lloydgriffith on Instagram / @thelloydgriffith on TikTok
Lloyd Griffith is a “disarmingly good” comedian (The Times) and a professional choirboy, and sometimes he combines the two. He supported Jack Whitehall and Rob Beckett on their respective sold-out UK tours and you may have seen him on Return to Paradise, Ted Lasso or It’s A Sin. As a countertenor, he can often be found singing with the choirs of Westminster Abbey and St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Lloyd says: “Being a chorister was the best time of my life. I owe all of my career to the fact that I was a choir boy.”
Kieran Hodgson
@kieranchodgson on Instagram
Three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Kieran Hodgson is an acclaimed actor, writer and comedian. You may be one of his 45k Twitter followers, where he shares hilarious impersonations of TV series, or from any one of Netflix’s Lovesick, BBC2’s Upstart Crow or Channel 4’s God’s Own County. Kieran has a brilliant stand-up show all about classical music, Maestro, which was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award and rated 5* by The Telegraph (which used to be available to watch on Amazon Prime. Kieran is also an enthusiastic amateur violinist.
Brett Yang & Eddy Chen
@twosetviolin on Instagram & TikTok
Better known collectively as the duo TwoSet Violin, Brett Yang and Eddy Chen are Australian violinists who chose to give up their spots in the Sydney and Queensland Symphony Orchestras and began hosting live classical comedy performances instead, including a sold-out debut at the Sydney Opera House. They creatively integrate humour with an actual recital. In 2017 they produced the first ever crowdfunded classical world tour, and now have over 7,500,500 followers across social media and over one billion views. TwoSet inspires musicians worldwide with humour and a relatable imperfection.
Rachel Parris
@rachelsvparris on Instagram / @rachelsarahparris on TikTok
Rachel Parris is a BAFTA-nominated comedian, musician, actor and improviser, best known for her viral segments on BBC2's The Mash Report. She’s appeared on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, Would I Lie To You?, and QI. During her teens, Rachel thought she would have a career as a classical musician – she has a Music degree from Oxford, she’s an accomplished singer, and an excellent pianist; in fact, she was a piano teacher until a few years ago. Rachel appeared on BBC Radio 3’s Private Passions in 2019, talking about how she moved from music to comedy via drama school, how music still has a central place in her life, and how being part of a choir helped with performing to an audience as a comedian.
Tasmin Sarkany
@tasminsarkany on Instagram
Tasmin Sarkany is a “highly skilful… ingenious” (Chortle) musical character comedian based in London. She trained in violin at the Royal College of Music Junior Department and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra before studying physics at university, where she tried stand up comedy for the first time. In her act she combines classical music and character comedy, playing a woman in a double act with her violin. She was a Musical Comedy Awards finalist in 2023, came third place at the West End New Act of the Year competition in 2024 and is currently touring a solo show all about Bach.
Sue Perkins
@realsueperkins on Instagram
Sue Perkins is well-loved on British screens, doing everything from presenting and acting to directing, writing, and being very funny. Sue learned the piano as a child and opted to do Music at A-Level, saying: “I loved it: it's the only study I've done that I found utterly and compellingly immersive”. Never one to turn down a challenge, in 2008 Sue took part in Maestro, a BBC programme in which famous amateurs with a passion for classical music competed for the chance to conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra at the 2008 Proms in the Park. Sue won the competition and has since conducted several charity concerts including the world’s biggest kazoo ensemble at the Royal Albert Hall. “As a performer, I'm used to seeing my audience. Now, my backside is facing the people I'd normally be facing.”
Vikki Stone
@vikkistone on Instagram / @vikki_stone on TikTok
Vikki Stone is an award-winning writer, composer, comedian, and musician. Her work spans theatre, live performance, and orchestral writing, often combining sharp humour with sophisticated musicality. She is widely celebrated for writing the Olivier Award-winning Hey Duggee Live, alongside a range of acclaimed pantomimes and original stage productions. As a teenager, she won a flute scholarship to Wells Cathedral School and went on to become flautist for the National Children’s Orchestra. She is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, has regularly contributed to the BBC Proms coverage. Vikki has written two classical works: a massed choral piece that premiered at the Royal Albert Hall, and the Concerto for Comedian and Orchestra, which premiered at Glastonbury Festival.
Bill Bailey
@billbaileyofficial on Instagram
Bill Bailey is an actor, comedian, musician and singer, known mainly for his role as Manny in the sitcom Black Books. He’s an accomplished pianist, having started to play at the age of 4, and was the only pupil at his school to study A-level music (achieving an A grade). Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide To The Orchestra came to life at the Royal Albert Hall; he joined forces with the BBC Concert Orchestra and used contemporary and classical references to explain how the orchestra works. Some clips from the show are now available on YouTube…
Amy Webber
@amywebbercomedian on Instagram & TikTok
Amy Webber studied Vocal and Opera Studies at the RNCM graduating with a 1st Class Honours Degree. Seven years on, she returned as a Masters student on the Popular Music course in 2019. Five years on from the masters, she is an award winning musical comedian and full time performer. Her versatile voice and flare for performance has led Amy to have a diverse career as a classical and pop singer, a song-writer, an actor-musician, and a comedian. Amy has a passion for making opera accessible (and sometimes comical…) which has led her to sing live on air for BBC Radio 5 Live and ITV’s This Morning. She’s performed as a soloist across the country including at the Wigmore Hall, Hollywell Music Room and at Leeds Lieder Festival.
Rainer Hersch
@rainerhersch on Instagram
Rainer Hersch is a British conductor, actor, writer and comedian. His YouTube channel, filled with classical music comedy videos, has received over 60 million views. He has appeared 13 times at the Edinburgh Festival and has performed at numerous comedy clubs across Europe, either presenting one-man shows or as guest conductor in comedy concerts with orchestra.
Alexander Armstrong
@xander.armstrong on Instagram
Alexander Armstrong is an actor, comedian, radio personality, television presenter and singer. He hosts Pointless on BBC one, is one half of the comedy duo Armstrong and Miller, and a presenter on Classic FM. Alexander has a strong background in choral and cathedral music, singing first as a chorister at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, and then as a bass choral scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge. He still performs and records as a bass-baritone, and as of April 2021, became an ambassador for the Cathedral Music Trust, saying “I owe my entire career to my experience as a chorister”.
Hannah Fiddy is the Founder of Alternative Classical and a freelance marketing consultant, developing audiences for classical music. Described as a "classical innovator" by Classical Whisper, Hannah has created and promoted numerous concerts outside of traditional spaces, including warehouses, pubs, clubs and museums; interviewed some of the world's most famous composers; and guest lectured on innovation in the classical music industry. Hannah has managed the digital marketing for many music organisations and artists including choral composer John Rutter and The King’s Singers. In a past life she founded London Flashmob, producing quirky events from wedding proposals to cultural pranks for up to 1,000 people.
