Sophie Curtis is passionate about sharing the benefits of music making with others. Trained in Perth WA as a classical cellist, Sophie’s combined loves of chamber music and education inspired her to establish the WA Young Artists Chamber Music Program (WAYACHAMP) in 2011. Since its inception the Program has fostered the development of over 1000 young West Australian musicians from Kununurra to Albany, provided teaching work to over 40 local artists and commissioned two new compositions for a student string quartet by a local WA composer.

Sophie’s freelance performing career spans the roles of soloist, chamber musician, orchestral section leader and recording artist. She performs in solo/principal roles with Freeze Frame Opera, Perth Symphony Orchestra and Cygnus Arioso. She has also performed in the cello sections of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Darwin Symphony Orchestra.

Sophie has extensive experience as an educator, having taught both piano and cello for 20 years. Between 2004 and 2015, she performed in a number of ensembles across Australia as part of the Musica Viva In Schools Program. Sophie is currently an active member of the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA), coaches chamber music ensembles as part of WAYACHAMP and is often invited to be a guest adjudicator or examiner at schools and performing arts festivals across Perth.

Sophie is currently a PhD student at UWA, researching pedagogical approaches to chamber music education in pre-tertiary students.