Violinist Leila Josefowicz has appeared with many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras and eminent conductors since she made her debut in 1984 at Carnegie Hall with Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Her passionate advocacy of contemporary music for her instrument is reflected in her diverse programmes and enthusiasm for performing new works.

As a favourite of living composers, she has premiered many concertos – including those by Colin Matthews, John Adams and Esa-Pekka Salonen, all of which were written especially for her – and recently gave the Dutch premiere of Helen Grime’s Violin Concerto. She enjoyed a particularly close working relationship with the late Oliver Knussen, performing various concertos, including his own, with him as conductor in over 30 concerts. Other premieres have included John Adams’ Scheherazade.2 with New York Philharmonic and Steven Mackey’s Beautiful Passing with BBC Philharmonic. As a recitalist she has performed in renowned venues throughout the world and this season gives the first performance of Charlotte Bray’s new commission Mriya, which pays tribute to the people of Ukraine, at Wigmore Hall with pianist John Novacek; and of Colin Matthews’ Paraphrases with Huw Watkins at the 2025 Aldeburgh Festival.

Leila Josefowicz begins her Festival residency with fellow Featured Artist Helen Grime’s violin concerto, performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and conductor Sakari Oramo.

Josefowicz is accompanied by brothers Huw and Paul Watkins, for a stellar chamber concert that includes the premiere of Colin Matthews’ new piece, Paraphrases.

Josefowicz leads a fascinating discussion on the theme of the psychology of performance.