Spanish Viola Player to Perform at Next Iris Axon Concert

On Sunday 2 February at 4pm at Acton Hill Church she will playing a programme including Schumann's Adagio and Allegro Op. 70 originally written for horn and piano with its languid romantic melodies in the Adagio followed by the fiery Allegro; the lyrical Konzertstück by the Romanian virtuoso violist and composer George Enescu (1881-1955), York Bowen's technically demanding Viola Sonata No. 1 in three movements and the Russian-American composer Efrem ZImbalist's (1889-1985) "Tango" from his Sarasateana with its rhythmically jaunty themes.

Sofía is currently studying for an Artist Diploma at the Royal College of Music with Itzhak Rashkovsky and Bryony Gibson-Cornish as a Gladys Hay Scholar.

Throughout her studies, she has participated in masterclasses with musicians such as Maxim Vengerov, Alina Ibragimova, Tanja Becker-Bender and Nobuko Imai. Sofía is a graduate of the 2024 Keshet Eilon Mastercourse.

As a chamber musician, Sofía has performed at the Elgar Room, Chipping Campden Music Festival, Lichfield Festival, Stamford International Music Festival and Musethica, as well as in various music societies around the UK. Last May, she performed Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht at the Wigmore Hall as part of the 2024 RCM Strings Showcase.

As a keen orchestral player, Sofía took part in the 2023/2024 BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Pathway Scheme and has been freelancing with the London Symphony Orchestra since January 2024. She has also performed with the European Union Youth Orchestra and LGT Young Soloists and is currently taking part in the 2024/2025 Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation Programme.

She was recently awarded 3rd Prize at the 2023 Llanes International Viola Competition. Other prizes include the Viola Prize at the 2022 RCM Viola Competition and the 2018 Lutine Prize (Junior Guildhall).

Sofía plays on a Nicolò Gagliano violin and a Joseph Hill viola, both kindly on loan from the Royal College of Music.

Sofia will be accompanied by the Ukrainian pianist Svitlana Kosenko who was staff pianist at the Yehudi Menuhin School.

The Iris Axon Concert Series is an annual season of short (60-70 minute) monthly recitals on Sunday afternoons at the Acton Hill Church. The series was started by Music Director Jane Schopf in 2004 to provide a venue for young musicians starting on their professional careers, many of whom have subsequently enjoyed international success in competitions and on the concert platform. The series has continued to grow and now attracts established international artists as well.

Originally called the Acton Classical Music Concert Series, it was re-named in 2009 in memory of one of its most loyal supporters, Iris Axon, who made possible the purchase of a concert grand, handmade by Clive Pinkham.

The church is deemed ideal for concerts as it has the largest unsupported wooden barrel-vault ceiling in London which brings out the middle harmonics, creating a luxuriously warm sound.

Concerts are usually held on the first Sunday of the month at 4pm. Programmes at the door. There are crèche facilities available.

More information is available at classicalconcerts-acton.com.

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