Welsh violist Edgar Francis leads an increasingly busy life as a chamber musician, orchestral principle and soloist. A 1st Prize at the 2021 Cecil Aronowitz International Competition kickstarted a rapidly growing career, and soon his debut album will be released on Champs Hill.

Chamber music has always been a passion of Edgar’s, taking him to festivals such as  IMS Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music, Lockenhaus, Ernen Chamber Music Plus, Yellowbarn, Festivalta, Mendelssohn on Mull and Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival, sharing the stage with the Doric String Quartet, Anthony Marwood, Sheku-Kanneh Mason, Torleif Thedeen, Sitovetsky Trio, Alasdair Beatson and many more wonderful musicians. He also plays regularly with the Kaleidoscope Collective, a UK based chamber ensemble with a pool of international musicians who find the greatest joy playing together. Edgar also plays in Jackalope Ensemble alongside some of his closest friends.

Not liking to stay boxed in, Edgar also acts as principal viola of Sinfonia of London, a handpicked orchestra conducted by John Wilson. They regularly tour the UK, including the BBC Proms, and have recorded a number of award winning albums with Chandos. He is regularly invited as Guest Principle to orchestras in the UK and around Europe such as the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Amsterdam Sinfonietta. Edgar’s teachers have included Sheila Nelson, Juan-Miguel Hernandez, Jim Sleigh, Hélène Clément and Silvia Simionescu alongside many masterclasses with the ever wonderful Nobuko Imai. Edgar is now studying in Basel with Claudio Martinez-Mehner.

Highlights of the 25-26 season include his concerto debut with Sinfonia of London, multiple appearances at the Wigmore Hall and the release of the Enescu Octet with Kaleidoscope Collective on Chandos.