Jane Atkins

Jane Atkins started to learn the violin at the age of four, and two years later she gained a scholarship to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School. Whilst continuing her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with David Takeno, Jane won both the 1988 London Philharmonic/Pioneer Young Soloist of the Year and the Royal Overseas League competitions, gained second prize in the Lionel Tertis competition and won representation by the Young Concert Artists Trust (YCAT) in 1990.

 Since her debut performing the Walton concerto with Kurt Sanderling and the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1989, Jane has appeared as a soloist throughout the UK and Europe, performing with many orchestras, notably The Chamber Orchestra of Europe; The English Chamber and Ulster Orchestras; BBC Symphony; National Orchestra of Wales; the Dutch and Danish Radio Orchestras; City of London and Northern Sinfonias; Orchestra of St John’s and the Brunnel Ensemble. As a recitalist Jane has toured Argentina twice and performed in all the major British festivals including Newbury, Harrogate, Cheltenham and Spitalfields.

 Jane is committed to expanding the viola repertoire and has commissioned and performed many new works. Composers include Ib Norholm, John Woolrich, Diana Burrell and Andrew Toovey. In 2000 Jane gave the British premiere of Dialogue, a work for viola and strings by Jeremy Lubbock. Her contemporary recordings include Woolrich’s Ulysses Awakes, Diana Burrell’s Concerto and Tavener’s Out of the Night for viola and tenor. Her more recent recordings include the Telemann Viola Concerto and the newly constructed Bach concerto, both recorded with the Adderbury Ensemble. In 2007 Jane recorded Rothko Chapel by Morton Feldman with James Wood and the New London Chamber Choir.

 Jane was Principal Viola of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe from 1996-2000 and since then has enjoyed a varied freelance career working as guest principal with the London Sinfonietta, Philharmonia Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Garsington Opera. Before taking up the position of Principal Viola with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in August 2008, Jane was a professor at Trinity College of Music and a deputy teacher at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Harrow School.