Joe Bronstein

Joe Bronstein
Pro Corda / Leverhulme
Fellow 2016-18
Joe Bronstein (b.1991) grew up in Watford,
Hertfordshire. His musical education began at
the age of six, when he began recorder lessons,
following by the violin aged seven and the baritone
horn at eight, progressing to the trombone at ten.
He transferred to viola aged fifteen, to alleviate the
extra work incurred by his teacher writing out string
quartet viola parts for third violin, and has not
looked back since. After finishing his A-levels at Watford Grammar School for Boys, Joe studied
for a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Manchester, achieving first class honours,
and during his final year of study gained a place to study the viola with Martin Outram on the
postgraduate programme at the Royal Academy of Music. He graduated in the summer of
2014 with an MA Distinction. Since completing his studies, the Aurora Trio, of which Joe is the
violist, has been successful in auditioning for two consecutive Chamber Music Fellowships at the
Academy; they are part of the way through the second fellowship which lasts for the duration of
the 2015-16 academic year.
Since graduating, Joe’s freelance career has developed and as well as his work with the Aurora
Trio, he performs as an extra player with a number of top UK orchestras including the BBC
Concert Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
and Welsh National Opera, with whom he is excited to be performing at the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden this summer. As a soloist he has performed Berlioz Harold in Italy with the
Watford and Wirral Symphony Orchestras and Mozart Sinfonia Concertante with Olivia Jarvis
and the Aldwych Sinfonia. Joe plans to extend his orchestral portfolio and would like to secure a
co-principal chair in an orchestra later in his career. Another career aim is to perform in London’s
West End. He plays a fine modern viola by James Stephenson.
Joe was married in the summer and enjoys spending time with his wife and family. In his spare
time he enjoys cycling, walking and seeing friends. An astronomy enthusiast, Joe would one day
like to see the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.