Sophie Rowell

Sophie Rowell is Associate Professor in Violin at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music at the University of Melbourne, appointed to this full-time academic role in 2025. She brings an illustrious performing career as a soloist, chamber musician, and principal orchestral violinist across Australia and internationally. Her notable orchestral appointments include Principal Second Violin with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra from 2013 to 2014, Co-Concertmaster of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra from 2015 to 2023, and principal violin positions with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Since 2023, Rowell has served as Artistic Director and Leader of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. In chamber music, she founded the Tankstream Quartet, which won prestigious string quartet competitions in Cremona and Osaka after studying with the Alban Berg Quartet in Germany. Upon returning to Australia in 2006, she performed as First Violin with the Australian String Quartet for six seasons from 2006 to 2011, appearing and recording at chamber music festivals worldwide.

Rowell won the ABC Young Performer of the Year Award in 2000 and trained with distinguished teachers Beryl Kimber in Adelaide and Alice Waten in Sydney. An accomplished educator, she has taught violin and chamber music at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, the Australian National Academy of Music—where she has been Head of Chamber Music (Strings) since 2020—the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide, and Monash University. Her expertise encompasses chamber music, octet performance, and festival engagements, as recognized in her University of Melbourne profile. Conservatorium Director Professor Richard Kurth highlighted her appointment, praising her artistic versatility, commitment to imaginative performances, teaching dedication, and mentorship of emerging artists, positioning her as an exemplar of Australian musical excellence on the international stage. Rowell's contributions enrich the Conservatorium's tradition and bolster Melbourne's vibrant artistic community.

Professional Email: sophie.rowell@unimelb.edu.au