Emma Stevenson - Viola - born in 1985 began playing the viola at the age of 15 after being awarded a place to study, under the guidance of James Durrant MBE, at the music school of Douglas Academy.

Following this, she was offered the Stevenson Scholarship to study at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with Catherine Marwood where she received her degree in music. While studying in Scotland Emma was awarded the viola challenge prize for 3 consecutive years. She was also awarded prizes for the Watson Forbes competition, Ian D Watt Award and the John McInulty prize for Orchestral string playing.

Since September 2007, Emma has attended the Royal College of Music on the post-graduate course with Professor Jonathan Barritt. During her second term at the RCM she enjoyed leading the viola section in the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.

Since studying at the RCM Emma has participated in masterclasses with Lewis Kaplan and Lawrence Power, while receiving regular coaching from members of the Chilingirian string quartet. Emma is a keen chamber musician and is a member of several new ensembles, including the Oriana Ensemble, who rehearse regularly and perform in venues throughout London.

Emma has recently enjoyed working with a number of ensembles including the BBBSSO and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Emma has also worked with the Scottish Ensemble, performing Richard Strauss’s soul searing Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings, a work which was premiered sixty years ago at the end of the 2nd World War; and the BBCSSO for their BBC Radio 3 recording and performances. She has also taken part in the Lake District summer music festival and the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival.

Emma is very interested and keen to continue promoting contemporary, new and rarely played/forgotten viola music. She performed Elizabeth Maconchy Sketches in May ’07, and in June ‘07 she gave her second performance of Oliver Searle’s ‘Cold Atom’, for which she received a very promising review.