"Ms. Stephen has a fine ear for bringing forth subtle colours and nuances of a refined musicality and with complete ease. There were times that I was in awe of her."
"Kay Stephen on violin and viola was especially outstanding technically."- Strings Attached
"Kay Stephen was a star turn with her quite wonderful contribution."
- Classical Source, Wigmore Hall review
"Jacquin Trio's thrilling recital proves potency of the viola to Whangerei audience."
- Seen and Heard International
"Ms. Stephen's playing captured my full attention right from the beginning."
Scottish musician Kay Stephen is passionate about ensemble playing in all of its forms, and loves the spontaneity and communication of making music with others.
As a chamber musician, she has been a recipient of numerous awards including the Royal Overseas League Chamber Music Prize and the Audience Engagement Prize at the Franz Schubert and Modern Music Competition, Graz. She has been supported by the City Music Foundation, the Tunnell Trust and twice by the Park Lane Group, performing regularly at major UK venues including Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, the Wigmore Hall, the Cadogan Hall and frequently on BBC Radio 3.
Kay is a member of the Jacquin Trio, alongside clarinettist Jessie Grimes and pianist Charis Hanning. Dedicated to exploring and expanding the repertoire for their lineup, the trio have performed their arrangements and reimaginings together all over the world, most recently touring New Zealand and making their debut at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.
Concerto performances have included first viola in Brandenburg 6, under the baton of Nicholas Kremer, and Bosso's 'Within the Golden Hour', both with the Manchester Camerata, Auerbach's Sogno di Stabat Mater and Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante with the Northern Chamber Orchestra, Telemann Viola Concerto at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and violin concertos by Brahms, Mozart and Joe Cutler.
For nearly ten years, Kay was violist with the award winning Gildas Quartet, performing with them world wide throughout China, South Africa and Australia, among others and recording for Champs Hill.
She has performed with ensembles such as the Consone, Elias, Navarra, and Edinburgh quartets, Ensemble 360, the Rautio Trio, and Manchester Collective, Vonnegut Collective, Red Note Ensemble and the United Strings of Europe. Formerly no. 2 viola with the Manchester Camerata, she appeared many times as principal and as soloist with the orchestra.
She has been invited as guest principal viola with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, Camerata Alma Viva, as no. 2 with the Aurora Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Britten Sinfonia, and as a freelance player with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Dunedin Consort. She also performs as violinist with orchestras such as the London Contemporary Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the Hallé and the Gabrieli Consort.
In 2020 she recorded works for piano quintet and sextet by Thomas Adès and Tullis Rennie with the Vonnegut Collective. The disc was described as: "Savagely elegant, approachable – and wholly satisfying," in BBC Music Magazine.
Through a long time musical collaboration with clarinettist and composer Jack McNeill, Kay joined twelve piece cross-genre ensemble, Propellor for their residency at Snape Maltings. The band has gone on to perform at some of the country's most prestigious music festivals, released their debut album, Loom, and recorded a podcast, Flight, which also tours as a live show.
As a teacher, Kay is thrilled to have been invited to curate the chamber music strand of the incredible Aldeburgh Young Musicians programme. This has involved devising and leading residential courses at Snape Maltings, and more recently coordinating a month long online project during the Covid 19 lockdown.