When Melbourne-born cellist Charlotte Miles steps on stage, she is accompanied by either Mr Hill, Joseph or Jojo, depending on how she’s feeling and the music she is playing.

Her musical partner is, of course, her instrument – a ca. 1780 Joseph Hill cello, on loan to her for the past five years.

AFCM 2026

Charlotte Miles. Photo © Brian Cassey

“I have three nicknames for him,” says Miles, chatting to Limelight over Zoom from Europe. “He’s Mr Hill when I want him to seem distinguished. That’s the name the lovely lady who owns my cello uses. He is a distinguished gentleman. He’s nearly 250 years old, but we’re in a marriage, you know? After a time, I started calling him Joseph, and then I began referring to him as Jojo too.”

Miles says she has never played a more colourful cello. “He’s not perfect. Sometimes, you’ve got to start him like a lawnmower, and he has his own quirks, but I’ve never met a cello quite as interesting. My teacher and I used to play this game where he would say a word, and I would have...