Emma Selby was born in Woking in Surrey and started playing the bassoon at the age of 14. After attending the Junior School of Music and Drama for four years, studying with Graham Hobbs, she won a scholarship to study on the BMus course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Meyrick Alexander, Daniel Jemison, and Gordon Laing. During her studies she did a six month ERASMUS exchange to the Geneva Conservatoire, where she studied with Afonso Venturieri. After Graduating with a first in July 2009, Emma is now freelancing as a bassoonist, teacher, and reed- seller around London.