Stephen Upshaw

Stephen Upshaw serves as Professor of Viola at Trinity Laban since 2022, having joined as a Carne Junior Fellow in 2015. He concurrently holds a faculty position at Switzerland's Lucerne Festival Academy, where he co-curates the annual Festival Forward initiative founded by Pierre Boulez. His performance career spans major international festivals including the BBC Proms (2025), Glastonbury Festival, and venues like Paris Philharmonie, London's Barbican, and Tokyo Opera City as a core member of the Solem Quartet and London's Riot Ensemble.

Specializing in contemporary repertoire, Upshaw explores the viola's expanded sonic capabilities through commissions and premieres. His 2025 EP "Veneer" features works written specifically for him, showcasing stylistic diversity across modern classical genres. Notable projects include Errollyn Wallen's "Lavinia"—inspired by her opera "Dido's Ghost"—which transformed operatic drama into solo viola expression, premiered at Wigmore Hall during the emotionally resonant post-lockdown return of live audiences.

As an educator, Upshaw cultivates innovation at Trinity Laban through student mentorship and at Lucerne Festival Academy by coaching emerging violists in contemporary interpretation. His collaborative ethos connects him with artists like Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Tai Murray, while his advocacy for new music positions him at the forefront of 21st-century classical performance practice.