Biography

Hailed by the Times as ‘a prodigious talent, that could blossom in any direction she chooses,’ and by renowned composer John Williams as ‘an extraordinary actor and consummate musician,’ Sophie Kauer’s cello playing is characterised by the ‘beautiful, sensual depths’ of its tone (Die Zeit), ‘impeccable technique and deep musicality’ (Richard Balcombe).

Sophie’s breakthrough came with a leading role in Todd Field’s feature film TÁR, starring Cate Blanchett, where her performance was praised as ‘a standout’ (The Face), ‘scene-stealing’ (Variety) and ‘star-making’ (TotalFilm) and won her a Best Supporting Actress award. Sophie played live in the film alongside the Dresdner Philharmonie, with her solos from the Elgar Cello Concerto receiving critical acclaim from Leonard Slatkin and the Telegraph. She later recorded music for the soundtrack album with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Natalie Murray Beale. Released by Deutsche Grammophon, it went to No.1 in the US Classical Billboard chart.

Kauer has achieved remarkable early success in her musical career. Her debut EP, Unsung, released by Deutsche Grammophon, made her the youngest artist to reach No. 1 on the Classical On-Demand Audio Streaming Chart. She is a Classic FM ‘Rising Star,’ has been nominated for an Opus Klassik Award, and was chosen by the Times as the Classical Breakthrough nominee for the 2023 South Bank Sky Arts Awards. She was named ‘One to Watch’ by People Magazine and a ‘Rising Star of Stage and Screen for 2023’ by the Evening Standard.

Her upcoming 2024-25 season will see her perform at international concert venues, including Dukes Hall (London) and Oslo Konserthus and record with orchestras such as Deutsches Symphonie Orkester and Westdeutsche Rundfunk. Recent highlights include the ‘Bach300 Festival’ in Leipzig alongside Lang Lang and Daniel Hope (broadcast on ARTE), ‘Festspillene in Bergen’, Elgar’s Cello Concerto with Gordon Hamilton and the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, and solo and chamber recitals in Scandinavia and the UK. Committed to supporting underrepresented voices in classical music, Sophie has commissioned new works from female composers to premiere and co-organized a chamber music festival celebrating female composers at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.

Born in London in 2001, to a British-German family, Sophie began playing the cello aged 8. Just 18 months later, she was accepted into the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music where she held a scholarship. From 13 to 18 years old she was also a private student of distinguished cello professor, Melissa Phelps and leading collaborative pianist and coach Alison Rhind. Currently studying at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo under world-renowned cellist Torleif Thedeén, Sophie continues to receive contemporary music coaching from Peter Herresthal and duo coaching from Per Lundberg. She has been fortunate to participate in masterclasses with Andreas Brantelid, Henrik Brendstrup, Vilde Frang, Alban Gerhardt, Johannes Goritizki, Thomas Grossenbacher, Anssi Karttunen, Henning Kraggerud, Kian Soltani and Troels Svane.

Beyond her musical achievements, Sophie is an ambassador for the ‘Cheryl King Trust’, a charity dedicated to funding music tuition for financially disadvantaged children. She is supported by the ‘Scandinavian Cello School Young Artist Scheme’, is a current ‘Royal Philharmonic Society’s Julius Isserlis Scholarship’ holder, “Tom Wilhelmsens Stiftelse Award’ recipient and ‘Dextra Musica Artist’.

Her media presence is extensive, with performances and interviews featured on BBC Radio 3, ZDF, RBB, ClassicFM and numerous international print and broadcast media outlets, including the Times, Telegraph, New York Times, Die Zeit, Arte Magazin, Aftenposten, Gramophon, Strad, The Face, BBC News, SWR3, TV4, BR-Klassik, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Sveriges Radio and NRK radio.

Sophie plays a Goffriller cello kindly loaned to her through the Beare’s International Violin Society by a generous sponsor.

SOPHIE KAUER

Biography