Ysla studied at  RSAMD gaining a BA Musical Studies and a postgraduate diploma in perfomance.

She spent four years as a tutti violinist in Orquestra do Norte in Amarante, Portugal before returning to Scotland in 2006.

She has freelanced with Scottish Ballet's orchestra and plays regularly with her own string quartet.

Before joining Big Noise in August 2009, she worked as a violin teacher and for NYCOS delivering musicianship classes.