Rachel Podger

Baroque Violin
Director

Current Positions:

  • Founder and Artistic Director of Brecon Baroque Festival
  • Founder and Director of Brecon Baroque Ensemble
  • Principal Guest Director of Tafelmusik
  • Patron for The Continuo Foundation
  • Ambassador for the Learned Society of Wales
  • Micaela Comberti Chair for Baroque Violin at the Royal Academy of Music, London
  • Jane Hodge Foundation International Chair in Baroque Violin at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

“Rachel Podger, the unsurpassed British glory of the baroque violin,” (The Times) has established herself as a leading interpreter of the Baroque and Classical. Rachel is in demand as a soloist, director and chamber musician; she is also a passionate pedagogue and presenter.

Rachel was the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Royal Academy of Music/Kohn Foundation Bach Prize in October 2015, was Gramophone Artist of the Year 2018, and the Ambassador for REMA’s Early Music Day 2020. A creative programmer, Rachel is the founder and Artistic Director of Brecon Baroque Festival and her ensemble Brecon Baroque; is Principal Guest Director for Tafelmusik; Patron for The Continuo Foundation and an Ambassador for the Learned Society of Wales. Rachel was awarded BBC Music Magazine’s 2023 Recording of the Year and Instrumental Award for her solo album Tutta Sola.

Rachel continues to broaden her relationships with orchestras, ensembles and venues worldwide. Recent highlights include performances with Tafelmusik as Principal Guest Director, her debut directing Bavarian Radio Symphony, a European tour with Les Musiciens du Louvre, and a long-awaited return to the Netherlands Bach Society. Upcoming performances include her return to Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Early Music Festival, Zurich Chamber Orchestra and Philharmonia Baroque, as well as tours of Duologues with Lucie Horsch, A Guardian Angel with VOCES8, Nature’s Voice with Lucie Horsch and Eleonore Cockerham, Just Biber (Biber 1681 Sonatas) and The Muses Restor’d with her ensemble Brecon Baroque. Upcoming disc releases include Duologues with Lucie Horsch, Jane Rogers, and Alex Rolton (October 2026).

A dedicated educator and inspirational coach, Rachel has begun her own training programme BOGA (Bow Yoga), she holds the Micaela Comberti Chair for Baroque Violin at the Royal Academy of Music and the Jane Hodge Foundation International Chair in Baroque Violin at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Rachel also has a regular relationship with The Juilliard School in New York. Rachel Podger is managed worldwide by Percius.

Broadway Studios
Broadway Studios

Rachel Podger

Baroque Violin
Director

Current Positions:

  • Founder and Artistic Director of Brecon Baroque Festival
  • Founder and Director of Brecon Baroque Ensemble
  • Principal Guest Director of Tafelmusik
  • Patron for The Continuo Foundation
  • Ambassador for the Learned Society of Wales
  • Micaela Comberti Chair for Baroque Violin at the Royal Academy of Music, London
  • Jane Hodge Foundation International Chair in Baroque Violin at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

“Rachel Podger, the unsurpassed British glory of the baroque violin,” (The Times) has established herself as a leading interpreter of the Baroque and Classical. Rachel is in demand as a soloist, director and chamber musician; she is also a passionate pedagogue and presenter.

Rachel was the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Royal Academy of Music/Kohn Foundation Bach Prize in October 2015, was Gramophone Artist of the Year 2018, and the Ambassador for REMA’s Early Music Day 2020. A creative programmer, Rachel is the founder and Artistic Director of Brecon Baroque Festival and her ensemble Brecon Baroque; is Principal Guest Director for Tafelmusik; Patron for The Continuo Foundation and an Ambassador for the Learned Society of Wales. Rachel was awarded BBC Music Magazine’s 2023 Recording of the Year and Instrumental Award for her solo album Tutta Sola.

Rachel continues to broaden her relationships with orchestras, ensembles and venues worldwide. Recent highlights include performances with Tafelmusik as Principal Guest Director, her debut directing Bavarian Radio Symphony, a European tour with Les Musiciens du Louvre, and a long-awaited return to the Netherlands Bach Society. Upcoming performances include her return to Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Early Music Festival, Zurich Chamber Orchestra and Philharmonia Baroque, as well as tours of Duologues with Lucie Horsch, A Guardian Angel with VOCES8, Nature’s Voice with Lucie Horsch and Eleonore Cockerham, Just Biber (Biber 1681 Sonatas) and The Muses Restor’d with her ensemble Brecon Baroque. Upcoming disc releases include Duologues with Lucie Horsch, Jane Rogers, and Alex Rolton (October 2026).

A dedicated educator and inspirational coach, Rachel has begun her own training programme BOGA (Bow Yoga), she holds the Micaela Comberti Chair for Baroque Violin at the Royal Academy of Music and the Jane Hodge Foundation International Chair in Baroque Violin at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Rachel also has a regular relationship with The Juilliard School in New York. Rachel Podger is managed worldwide by Percius.

Watch

Rachel Podger with Brecon Baroque - Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber - Sonata No.1 in A major, C 138: I. Untitled

Rachel Podger with Brecon Baroque - Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber - Sonata No.6 in C minor, C 143: IV. Gavotta

Rachel Podger with Tafelmusik - Arcangelo Corelli Concerto Grosso, Op.6, No. 1: Largo

Rachel Podger with Tafelmusik - Joseph Haydn - Symphony 49 "La Passione": Presto

Rachel Podger with Voces8 - A Guardian Angel' with Voces8 Programme Highlights

Rachel Podger with Brecon Baroque - Francesco Geminiani - Auld Bob Morrice

Other Artists