Sarah-Jane Bradley

ARAM, GRSM (1st class hons), Performance Certificate (1st class hons), LRAM

Viola teacher

Since her debut at the Wigmore Hall in 1997, Sarah-Jane has established a distinguished international reputation as a soloist and chamber musician.

Sarah-Jane is a pioneer of new works and has premiered and recorded a number of new concertos written for her, including those by David Matthews, Paul Patterson and Matthew Taylor. Sarah-Jane has performed and recorded as a soloist with major orchestras such as the Philharmonia, Hallé, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and English Chamber Orchestra. Her acclaimed solo recordings include 10 CDs of viola concertos, 4 recital discs and in excess of 30 chamber recordings.

Sarah-Jane is in high demand as a recitalist and chamber musician; she regularly plays in recital with pianist John Lenehan. A former founder member of the Leopold String Trio, Sorrel Quartet and London Soloists Ensemble, she has toured widely and recorded extensively for Hyperion, Chandos, Dutton, Naxos and Nimbus as well as broadcast on radio 3 as both soloist and chamber musician. Her work as a chamber musician has taken her around the world to festivals such as Marlboro and Kuhmo. Sarah-Jane is a founder member of the Rossetti Ensemble and Karolos and is a frequent guest with other chamber groups including I Musicanti.

Following studies at the Royal Academy of Music, and the Mozarteum Salzburg, Sarah-Jane won an array of awards. A prizewinner at the 1994 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, Sarah-Jane is now on the executive committee of the Competition and was on the jury in 2013. Sarah-Jane teaches viola at the Royal College of Music and The Purcell School, and chamber music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She plays on a G.A Chanot viola of Manchester, 1896.

"Sarah-Jane Bradley: ardent, affecting soloist" The Daily Telegraph August 2009

“Sarah-Jane Bradley impresses..a virtuosic recital” The Guardian July 2018

“Sarah-Jane Bradley is that rare kind of viola player who can make you blush with shame for ever having told a viola joke. In her hands the instrument is passionate, eloquent and wide-ranging in its colours and moods. I would happily put this at the top of any list of recommended recording.”
BBC Music Magazine, June 2007 on “British Viola Music” (5* for performance and sound)

Find out more about Sarah-Jane. Visit website

Faculties / departments: Junior Department