Graham Oppenheimer, Principal Viola

“It certainly felt like a special time in the early days of COE. Lots of chats, the feeling that we were trying to do something exciting, new and attempting to be ground breaking. Although some of us went different ways, I certainly think we succeeded and created a lasting testament to a little bit of idealism!”

BIOGRAPHY

Graham Oppenheimer is one of the UK’s foremost and most respected violists. He studied with Atar Arad at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester and Eastman School of Music, USA, and with Alberto Lysy at the International Menuhin Music Academy, Gastad. Joining the English Chamber Orchestra while still a student, he was later a founder member and Principal Viola of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, under Claudio Abbado. Oppenheimer has appeared as guest violist with leading quartets, including Vermeer, Lindsay, Pacifica, Vogler, Vanbrugh, Carducci, St Lawrence, Australian and Petersen, and with piano trios including the Cropper/Welsh/Roscoe, Busch and Hochelaga. He has appeared in chamber music collaborations with Yehudi Menuhin, Paul Tortellier, Murray Perahia. Imogen Cooper, Lars Anders Tomter, Martin Roscoe and James Galway, and was a founder member of the Schidlof Quartet who appreared worldwide, recording several CD’s for Linn Records. Oppenheimer is Senior Chamber Music Tutor at Chetham’s School of Music and gives masterclasses internationally. He has also broadcast on radio throughout the world, from the BBC in the UK to the ABC in Australia.