Sophia Elger, saxophone

Sophia Elger is a British saxophonist whose performances have been described as “captivating, exciting, and engaging” (Richard Ingham, Clarinet and Saxophone, Spring 2021).

Sophia is studying for her Master’s degree with Kyle Horch at the Royal College of Music as a Leverhulme Arts Scholar after having graduated with a First. She is the recipient of the Biddy Baxter and John Hosier Trust Award 2021 and has received a Postgraduate Award from Help Musicians. Previously, she was the recipient of a scholarship from the Henry Wood Trust.

In 2021, Sophia won First Prize in the Jane Melber Saxophone Competition, Second Prize in the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain Competition, and Third Prize in the RCM Contemporary Competition. In 2020, she was awarded Second Prize in the RCM Concerto Competition and First Prize in the RCM Woodwind Ensemble Competition (with her saxophone quartet).

Sophia has performed extensively as a soloist at venues including St Martin-in-the-Fields, Charing Cross; the Victoria and Albert Museum, Kensington; the Regent Hall, Mayfair; and The Lighthouse Concert Hall, Poole. Recently she performed Jacques Ibert’s “Concertino da Camera” with the RCM Orchestra. She is a Musician’s Company Young Artist.

Sophia has participated in masterclasses with Arno Bornkamp, Graeme Blevins, Vincent David, Claude Delangle, Simon Diriq, Mariano Garcia, Daniel Gauthier, Simon Haram, Joshua Hyde, Lars Lien, Joonatan Rautiola, and Christian Wirth. Past teachers include Amy Dickson and Huw Wiggin.