About Me
As both a cellist and an actress, I am driven by a deep commitment to storytelling - finding ways to communicate emotion, character, and narrative through sound. Whether on stage, in the recording studio, or on screen, I seek to create meaningful experiences that resonate with audiences. This dual perspective informs my approach to programming, where each concert becomes a curated journey: one that honours classical traditions while embracing new voices and fresh perspectives.
What distinguishes my approach as a cellist is my commitment to innovative programming that pairs standard repertoire with both contemporary works and works by female composers. I strive to offer fresh perspectives that respond to contemporary audiences while honouring classical traditions and maintaining artistic integrity.
​
​My programmes are structured to be inclusive and accessible, while maintaining a unifying theme. By juxtaposing contemporary works with core classical repertoire, they offer a glimpse into the future of concert programming - inviting audiences to experience familiar music in new contexts and expand their understanding of the classical tradition. In doing so, they highlight how innovation and tradition can enrich one another.
​
It is important to note that I would not programme a piece solely because it was written in the last century or by a woman, but because it is a work of quality. That is why I write and perform my own arrangements as the repertoire for cello that falls into these categories is still somewhat limited. I also believe that it is very important to take an active role in expanding the cello repertoire by working on and performing new commissions, ensuring that they achieve a quality that will stand the test of time.
I was incredibly inspired by the reaction to TÁR and to discover that it was a film that made a lot of people discover that they really enjoy listening to classical music despite what they previously thought. As a result, I am more passionate than ever about bringing classical music to a wider audience and taking away some of the fear around it. I’m in such a privileged position in that my work in film has built bridges to audiences beyond traditional concert halls, allowing me to introduce classical music to diverse new audiences while still engaging with core concertgoers. I’ve found there is a real hunger among younger listeners for classical music when it is offered in a fresh and accessible way.
Contemporary culture is challenging for intellectual art forms, but I believe the strength of classical music that will enable it to survive is its incredible power to change the way people feel. I believe that this emotional immediacy should be our primary focus at present, not just its intellectual aspects which can intimidate some audiences. While we must preserve and respect tradition, we also need to evolve to meet the demands of modern society. My approach to this issue has been influenced by film composers such as John Williams and Hans Zimmer, who excel at establishing immediate emotional connection through their music. I aspire to bring that same emotional directness to classical music and reach more people, be it through film, recordings, interdisciplinary projects or concerts.​​​
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, (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 saw her perform at international concert venues, including Dukes Hall (London) and Oslo Konserthus and record with orchestras such as Deutsches Symphonie Orkester. 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 the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations on tour across Norway and solo/chamber recitals in Europe. 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.
​
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 and of which she is now an associate (ARAM). 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. She continued her studies at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo under world-renowned cellist Torleif Thedeén, where she also received 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, Frans Helmerson, 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 Talent Norge’s ‘Podium’ programme, a new talent scheme for emerging soloists, and the ’Scandinavian Cello School Young Artist Scheme’. She 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, Gramophone, Strad, The Face, BBC News, SWR3, TV4, BR-Klassik, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Sveriges Radio and NRK radio.
Sophie plays a Thomas Meuwissen cello kindly loaned to her through Dextra Musica.
​
610 words
Not to be altered without permission.
© Sophie Kauer 2025
​​
​