Q&A with Sophia Prodanova
Tuesday 13 January 2026
Sophia, a Bulgarian-born violinist, is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and an alumna of the Yehudi Menuhin School. Equally at home as a chamber musician, soloist, orchestral leader and improviser, she is increasingly in demand with leading period and modern ensembles across the UK and Europe, including Arcangelo, The English Concert, Pygmalion, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Vache Baroque. A prize winner at the 2022 International Bach Competition in Leipzig, Sophia is also a Jumpstart Jr Foundation artist and recently gave the Bulgarian premiere of Panufnik’s Violin Concerto. We had a quick chat with her about the upcoming performance she is joining us for: The Food of Love.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
My name is Sophia and I come from Bulgaria, but for just over a decade now I’ve been based in London. I come from a family of predominantly woodwind players, whom I failed to convince to teach me to play the oboe, but fortunately I did manage to find another instrument to channel my love towards and this is the violin. I like using differently set up violins and differently shaped bows depending on the epoch of the repertoire I am playing. In our Food of Love performances I will be using a baroque violin with gut strings on and baroque bows.
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“The more I have listening to it and played it over the years, the more I have been in absolute awe of the creative genius of this composition which was the result of Berlioz being in love… or, more accurately, a truly unhinged obsession!”
Is there a moment/person/group in your life so far that has shaped you most as a performer?
I feel that every musician – be it a pedagogue, colleague or a friend, has the ability to influence/inspire me at any moment, so it’s an interrupted process of shaping. There are many people I am grateful towards for sharing their knowledge, ideas, experience, for being the beautiful performers they are and for infecting me with enthusiasm and curiosity. In the last few years I’ve been privileged to be a part of the UK early music ensemble Arcangelo, who first took me under their wing as a New Ensemblist, when I was still an undergraduate student. Since then they have been inspiring me with their exciting and vibrant music making, have been guiding me in finding my own voice with the baroque violin, as well as generously opening doors for me in the field.
What do you hope audiences feel during/take away from this programme?
It would be great and fun if our audience discovers bits of themselves and their life experience in the programme, or feel inspired to notice more poeticness in everyday life.
Do you have a favourite love song/romantic piece of music?
Perhaps a somewhat extreme choice, but here is my favourite large scale outpouring of sentiments and madness of love and it is by none other than the 19th Century French romantic composer Hector Berlioz. I first heard his Symphonie Fantastique when I was around 11 and will never forget the sheer astonishment I experienced then. The more I have listening to it and played it over the years, the more I have been in absolute awe of the creative genius of this composition which was the result of Berlioz being in love.. or, more accurately, a truly unhinged obsession! :D
Outside of music/performing, what inspires your creativity?
I am incredibly lucky to be involved in projects all around Europe, which allow me to visit all sorts of beautiful cities, so in any spare moment that I might have on tour I can be found in the local gallery or museum to fuel myself with curiosity and admiration.
What is your favourite food, and go-to post show drink?
It’s not necessarily a post-concert food choice, but I have to give a shout-out to my grandma, whose food makes me feel loved and cared for like no other food can. And after a concert I do love a glass of wine!
Join us for Food of Love on Friday 13 & Saturday 14 February 2026 at Fidelio Cafe.