Steven Wilkie
Professor of Violin
GMusRNCM(hons), PGDipRNCM
Email: [email protected]
Tutor in Violin
Edinburgh born violinist Steven Wilkie has forged a highly distinguished and versatile career nearing four decades in continuous high demand as a soloist, orchestral player/ leader, chamber musician, violin pedagogue and music educator. A prize winning graduate from the class of Yossi Zivoni at the RNCM, Steven subsequently freelanced with the Halle, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic , BBC Philharmonic, Scottish Chamber, Philharmonia, and John Wilson Orchestras. He is a founder member of the Sinfonia of London (2018) and leader of the Manchester Concert Orchestra and the Sinfonia UK Collective with whom he has toured extensively. He has performed the major violin concertos with orchestras both in the UK and internationally and is a seasoned chamber musician. Steven has given over 100 world premieres as a former member of the Goldberg Ensemble and has undertaken commercial television and session work as a component of his wide range of performing activity.
With a visionary and creative desire to broaden and increase audiences for high quality live classical performances, Steven founded the Lindow Ensemble in 2016 and is its Artistic Director and Leader. This ground breaking project consists of 12 string players, combining five principal professional players, alongside advanced amateurs and senior conservatoire students. They present concert programmes including commissions from both renowned composers and emerging talents in composition, alongside core string orchestral repertoire. Education is a key element of the ensemble’s work, with every concert performance matched with participatory music workshops in local schools. The professionalism and inspirational stimulus offered to the student performers on the cusp of professional careers is an invaluable experience. It illustrates Steven’s approach to teaching- preparing young musicians for the demands and standards of fine music making at the highest level.
Steven’s expertise, sensitive critical abilities and grasp of essential professional standards have been recognised in his regular invitations to be a specialist violin examiner at, amongst others, the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He also acts as a regular juror member in the annual international New Talent Festival, and is an examiner for the ABRSM.
Steven Wilkie’s studio at the RNCM is an energised and motivating training ground designed to prepare 21st century violinists for every aspect of their chosen career.
Former students pursue a range of careers from professional orchestral leader to prize winning jazz artist, and his younger pupils have featured prominently in the National Youth Orchestra including the current co leader.
