About Me
As both a cellist and an actress, I am driven by a deep commitment to storytelling. I seek to create meaningful experiences that resonate with audiences, be that on stage, in the studio or on screen. This dual perspective informs my approach to programming, where each concert is carefully curated to honour classical traditions while embracing new voices and fresh perspectives. By juxtaposing contemporary works or works by female composers with core repertoire, I invite audiences to view familiar pieces in new contexts whilst also expanding their understanding of classical music. I also believe that it is important to take an active role in expanding the cello repertoire by working on and performing new commissions.
I have had the opportunity to connect with audiences worldwide through my role as the cellist Olga opposite Cate Blanchett in the award-winning film TÁR, in which I performed Elgar’s Cello Concerto. I recorded the soundtrack for the film live with the Dresdner Philharmonie and then later recorded music for the 'soundtrack album' with the London Symphony Orchestra. This led to a lasting association with Deutsche Grammophon, with whom I have since recorded several EPs. All this has built bridges for me to listeners beyond traditional concert halls, allowing me to introduce classical music to diverse new audiences while still engaging with core concertgoers. It has opened my eyes to how much people discover they enjoy classical music and respond to its emotional immediacy when given the chance.
Biography
Sophie Kauer is a British-German cellist and actress known for 'putting herself at the forefront of evolving classical music and the way we see it' (Herbert Music). 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', her cello playing is characterised by 'the beautiful, sensual depths of its tone' (Die Zeit), and '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 - 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.
Past seasons have seen Sophie perform as a soloist with a number of world-renowned orchestras such as the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, and Gewandhaus Orchester. Recent festival highlights include the Bach300 Festival in Leipzig alongside Lang Lang and Daniel Hope (broadcast on ARTE), Festspillene in Bergen, Oslo Kammermusikkfestival and solo/chamber recitals across Europe, such as at Aula Seriene or Oslo Konserthus. Committed to supporting underrepresented voices in classical music, Sophie has commissioned new works from female composers to premiere, and co-organized a festival celebrating them 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, Evening Standard, SWR3, TV4, BR-Klassik, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Sveriges Radio and NRK radio.
Sophie plays a Thomas Meuwissen cello kindly loaned to her through Dextra Musica.
Not to be altered without permission.
© Sophie Kauer 2025