Sophia Kannathasan made her BBC Proms debut as a member of Chineke! Orchestra, aged just 21. She enjoys regular solo, chamber and orchestra performances in venues including Konzerthaus Berlin, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the Barbican, and the National Concert Hall in Dublin. Sophia was the sub principal first violinist in the Chineke! Junior Orchestra on their 2022 European Tour, and has a growing reputation as a freelance orchestral musician, with recent performance engagements alongside Katherine Jenkins OBE and the National Symphony Orchestra. Sophia is proud to have been the solo violinist in the world premiere of HER DAY, an all-female opera, commissioned for Coventry UK City of Culture. Sophia connects with openness and honesty, which shine through her music making. Her candid approach to sharing the daily reality of practice and performance - chiefly on Instagram - has fostered a supportive community for fellow musicians. Sophia has been a featured guest on the Things Musicians Don’t Talk About podcast as part of their injury awareness week, and will star in a soon-to-be released episode of podcast B4 The Stage, where she will speak about practice schedules, diversity in classical music and imposter syndrome. Sophia hopes to never stop learning. She received a £3000 scholarship to study at the Summer Strings Academy for Girls where she was honoured to have a masterclass with Rachel Barton Pine. She also received mentorship from renowned violinists Dovid Friedlander and Richard Amoroso through The Violin Virtuosos programme. In October 2022, Sophia was accepted onto the pilot mentorship scheme with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Born and raised in north east London, Sophia studied with Roberta Sullivan at the Redbridge Music Service. She led the Redbridge Music School Symphony Orchestra and co-led the University of Leeds Chamber Orchestra. She also led the Redbridge String Quartet which performed at Hampton Court Palace for Prince Edward. Sophia has gained a wealth of valuable industry experience through her undergraduate degree placement year at award-winning Essex concert hall, Saffron Hall. She plays on a Richard Duke violin made around 1750.