Sophie Renshaw

Sophie studied viola with Donald McInnes at the University of Southern California and upon graduating was invited to join the Orford String Quartet. The quartet held a residency at the University of Toronto and during her four years with them Sophie toured widely, made several CD recordings, including the (then) complete Quartet Cycle of R. Murray Schafer, and coached chamber music at Toronto University and other residencies across Canada.

While in Canada she co-founded Music-Theatre Instrumental Ensemble, Blue Rider, and on moving back to Europe, continued her interest in new music, appearing regularly with German Ensemble Modern and Belgian New Music Ensemble Champs D’Action.

Between 2000 and 2008 Sophie held the Principal Viola position in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Since 2008 her freelance playing has included membership of the London Mozart Players and collaborations with trad musicians. These projects have allowed her to explore composition and arranging and include a trio with accordionist Paul Hutchinson and violinist Lucy Russell and a collaboration entitled Hirondelle with Singer-songwriters Brothers Gillespie and polyphonic vocal trio Tant Que Li Siam. This project was recorded for CD just before the Covid Pandemic.

During the pandemic Sophie co-founded an online community, InsideOutMusician, that aimed to provide ways for musicians and other artists to connect and collaborate while all live performing had stopped. She also re-trained as an Integrative Arts Counsellor for young people and currently divides her time between counselling and music. She lives in Kilmacolm, Inverclyde, with her family.