Violinist Sophia Jones was born into a musical family in Brisbane and began learning the violin with her mother at the age of five. She was awarded her A.Mus.A and L.Mus.A with distinction in 2018 and 2020 respectively, before placing as a Recitalist in the 2021 John Curro National Youth Concerto Competition. Sophia placed fourth in the Queensland Symphony Orchestra Young Instrumentalist Prize in 2022 and achieved second place in 2023. Her Piano Trio DMI-Trio won the Musica Viva Strike a Chord Competition String Prize in 2022 with a performance of Shostakovich’s Piano Trio in E minor.
In 2014 Sophia joined the Queensland Youth Orchestra, rising to Principal First Violin of the flagship Symphony Orchestra in 2022 and participating in the International Tour to Singapore and Europe in 2023. During her ten-year membership Sophia was Concertmaster of the Junior String Ensemble (2016-2017), QYO2 (2019) and performed as soloist for Schindler's List later the same year.
In 2024 Sophia participated in Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) programs as Associate Concertmaster of the Bishop Orchestra and in 2025 was Concertmaster of the Walsh Chamber Orchestra alongside Director Andrew Haveron, touring to Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.
Since commencing studies at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) in 2024, Sophia has performed with the Melbourne and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras (MSO and TSO respectively), Australian String Quartet (ASQ) and Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO). She has also performed in prestigious venues such as the Musikverein (Vienna, Austria), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall and Bennelong Restaurant, Hamer Hall (Melbourne), QPAC (Queensland) and Federation Hall (Tasmania).
2026 marks Sophia’s third and final year at ANAM where she has been studying with Adam Chalabi. Highlights of her time here include collaborating with the National Gallery of Victoria, performing with the ACO and making friendships with her colleagues and supporters that will hopefully last her career.
FROM: QLD. Lands of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples.
Sophia is supported by ANAM Syndicate donor Gina Fairfax AC.
Sophia currently plays a A.E. Smith 1927 Violin on loan to ANAM from Jannie Brown, and an Albert Nuernberger violin bow gifted to ANAM by a private foundation.
Photo by Pia Johnson