Martin Outram

Martin Outram enjoys a wide-ranging career as quartet player, soloist and teacher. He studied at Cambridge University and the Royal Academy of Music. He is a member of the internationally renowned Maggini Quartet and also appears regularly as a soloist. He has recorded over fifty discs with the quartet and other chamber music ensembles and has been the recipient of the Gramophone Award, the Diapason d'Or, a Cannes Classical Award, two Grammy nominations and the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for chamber music.

Alongside his work in the Maggini Quartet, Martin’s experience includes an extremely busy career as a freelance player, appearing as principal viola and guest principal with all of London’s premier chamber orchestras. His nine solo discs have received wide international acclaim, including five-star reviews in the BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone and Strad magazines.

Many works have been written for him, including concertos by Peter Aviss, Adam Gorb and David Gow. He has appeared as a concerto soloist in the USA, Russia, South America, Europe and the UK, including performances at the Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall. His recital partner is Julian Rolton, with whom he appears regularly. Together they have performed at several international viola competitions and congresses. He has given masterclasses at premier conservatoires throughout Europe, China and the USA. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and an Honorary Fellow of Brunel University and Canterbury Christ Church University. He is in demand as a jury member at international viola competitions.

Martin’s extensive repertoire of arrangements and transcriptions is available in the catalogues of major publishing houses, including Boosey and Hawkes, Oxford University Press and Chesters. Martin plays on a very fine viola by Henricus Catenar, made in Turin in 1680.