Julia’s biography

Julia O’Riordan is an Irish violist based in London. She has received the Medaille d’Or d’Excellence of the Conservatoire National de la Region, Nantes, France. Julia was a scholarship student of Maurice Hasson and then Matthew Souter at the Royal Academy of Music, London throughout her undergraduate and postgraduate studies. She is the recipient of awards including Philharmonia Orchestra/Martin Musical Scholarship Fund Meyer Foundation Scheme and Scholarship Fund Awards, an MBF Music Education Award, the Leverhulme Orchestral Mentorship Award, Thomas C Fitton Will Trust (Hovis Prize) and Sir John Barbirolli Prize.

In 2009 Julia joined the Tippett Quartet, with whom she regularly performs at Kings Place, Purcell Room, on BBC Radio 3 and has appeared at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Bridgewater Hall,  The Sage Gateshead and at the BBC Proms. With the quartet, she has recorded to much critical acclaim for Naxos, EMI Classics, Classic FM Records, Signum, Guild, Dutton Epoque and Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records. 2010 saw the Quartet’s highly successful debut in the Gramophone Classical Chart with their recordings of Bax and Bridge Piano Quintets.

Julia has performed in chamber music recitals throughout Europe and Asia. She has performed as a soloist in the UK, Ireland, France and the Czech Republic. She works with the UK and London’s top symphony and chamber orchestras. Julia is currently on trial for the position of Principal Viola at the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House covent Garden.