Viola
2026
Since her debut with the Philharmonia in 1992 and at the Wigmore Hall in 1997, Sarah-Jane has established a distinguished international reputation as a soloist and chamber musician.
Sarah-Jane has performed and recorded as a soloist with major orchestras such as the Philharmonia, Hallé, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra and City of London Sinfonia, including live broadcasts on radio 3.
Sarah-Jane is a pioneer of new works and has premiered and recorded a number of new concertos written for her, and commissioned by the Presteigne Festival including those by David Matthews, Paul Patterson and Matthew Taylor. Her extensive discography of acclaimed solo recordings includes 9 CDs of viola concertos and 4 recital discs as well as numerous chamber recordings for Hyperion, Chandos, Dutton, Naxos, Nimbus and Toccata Classics.
Sarah-Jane is in high demand as a recitalist and chamber musician; she regularly plays in recital with pianists John Lenehan and Martin Roscoe. She is also a founder member of the Rossetti Ensemble and Karolos and a frequent guest with other chamber groups including I Musicanti and Zoffany Ensemble. A founder member of the Leopold String Trio, Sarah-Jane has also been a member of the Sorrel Quartet, Fidelio Piano Quartet, London Soloists Ensemble and Co-Artistic Director of Sound Collective. She has toured widely as well as making frequent broadcasts 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 Kuhmo, Marlboro and West Cork where she performed with pianists Marc-Andre Hamelin and Richard Goode.
Sarah-Jane has worked as guest principal viola with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, London Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, London Mozart Players, City of London Sinfonia and Orchestra of the Swan.
A prizewinner at the 1994 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, Sarah-Jane was on the jury in 2013 and is currently Co-Artistic Director of the Competition.
Sarah-Jane is Professor of Viola and Chamber Music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and also teaches viola at the Royal College of Music Junior Department and The Purcell School.
She plays on a G.A Chanot viola of Manchester, 1896.
“Exceptional…Bradley is an adventurous artist…every whisper of the bow was loaded with insight and intelligence…Is there a better British Violist than Sarah-Jane Bradley?” The Strad
“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)
“Sarah-Jane Bradley: ardent, affecting soloist” The Daily Telegraph August 2009
“Sarah-Jane Bradley impresses..a virtuosic recital” The Guardian July 2018