About me

Luke Turrell was born in England and is currently the 1st Solo Violist of the Gewandhausorchester and teacher at the HMT Leipzig.

He began playing the viola at the age of four under the guidance of his father and, by the age of nine, had already achieved the highest national scores in his musical examinations. At ten, he was accepted into the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School.

He continued his studies at the University of the Arts in Berlin, where he was mentored by renowned violists such as Prof. Hartmut Rohde and Prof. Wilfried Strehle. His exceptional talent earned him numerous scholarships and awards, including the title of “Most Promising British Violist” at the Lionel Tertis Viola Competition in 2010.

In 2013, Luke was accepted into the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, where he studied under Máté Szűcs. In addition to his role as 1st Solo Violist of the Gewandhausorchester, he frequently appears as guest principal with the Sinfonia of London, the BRSO, the Munich Philharmonic, NDR Elbphilharmonieorchester and many other orchestras across Europe and Asia.

Beyond his orchestral career, Luke is also a distinguished chamber musician and soloist. He has performed in numerous concerts and festivals worldwide, collaborated with many renowned artists, and established himself as one of the most versatile and dynamic violists of his generation.