ABOUT...
Shulah Oliver-Smith is a vibrant, talented & well-respected professional violinist/violist who has a busy freelance career performing as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician. She has performed extensively across the UK and Europe and performed in Sri Lanka in the presence of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister.​
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MUSICAL TRAINING & AWARDS
She gained a Distinction for her Masters at the Royal Academy of Music, having studied violin with Howard Davis and was awarded the Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music for an outstanding Final Recital. Her studies were assisted by awards from the Elmley and EMI Music Sound Foundations, Musicians’ Benevolent Fund and Winifred Disney. In 2004, Shulah graduated from the Royal College of Music with a First Class Honours Joint Principal (violin / viola) degree.
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She has been a finalist and received commendations in competitions including the Haverhill Sinfonia Soloist Competition, Delius Prize, Wilfred Parry Prize, Winifred Small Prize and Sir Arthur Bliss Prize, and received awards including the John Mundy and D-Day Fund Prize Awards from RAM.
CHAMBER MUSIC & ORCHESTRAL PLAYING
Shulah is a sought-after chamber musician including lead violinist/founder of Selina Bella Strings, The Musical Storytellers, Fordante and Duo Armande. She was also lead violinist of the Astaria String Quartet who as well as their regular performances for music societies, Scotland Music Tours and Rural Touring, were also Quartet in Residence at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester and founded the Chamber Music @ Worcester Festival.
As a soloist and ensemble member she has played in many of the leading concert venues in Europe and been invited to play in festivals such as the Paganini London Festival, Norfolk & Norwich, Three Choirs, and St. Endellion Festivals. Shulah freelances with orchestras including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Hallé, Opera North, English Symphony Orchestra, Longborough Festival Opera, Northern Ballet Sinfonia, and has been invited to guest lead and principal 2nd for orchestras including Scottish Ballet, Orchestra of the Swan, Bampton Classical Opera, Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra and CHANDOS Symphony Orchestra.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
In 2021 Shulah was delighted to be appointed Artistic Director of The Midland Sinfonia and alongside her innovative and accessible concert programming she has established a varied Outreach and Education Programme.
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Shulah is passionate about making music accessible to all in the community. She is involved in many Education and Outreach projects including Family Concerts, School Workshops and performances in community settings such as nursing homes, hospices, day care centres & prisons. She has trained with ‘Mindsong’, a charity that works through music and song, with people living with dementia and has gained experience of presenting both concerts and videos specially designed for people living with dementia.
COACHING & TEACHING
Shulah is a sought after coach and teacher. Her private teaching practice includes adult students, advanced students, beginners and young children. She is also a peripatetic teacher in schools settings.
Shulah has given several masterclasses including at Chamber Music @ Worcester and a music school in Germany.
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As well as individual teaching, Shulah also coaches the Advanced String Group at the Gloucestershire Academy of Music (GAM). She also coaches on the annual BIG String Project - a 2 day orchestral project working with approximately 150 young people between 5 and 18 years of age and ranging from beginner standard to post grade 8.
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Shulah is regularly invited to coach on orchestral courses including the National Schools Symphony Orchestra (NSSO), English Symphony Orchestra (ESO) Youth Orchestra, GAM Orchestral Courses.
OTHER MUSICAL PROJECTS
Lunchtime Concert Series: During the COVID Pandemic she set up a Lunchtime Concert Series online and since lockdowns ended it has become an established ‘in-person’ concert series. The series presents a monthly concert performed by professional musicians in St George's C of E Church, Barbourne, Worcester. Admission is free enabling all in the community to access live classical music.
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Research & Recordings: Shulah enjoys researching and performing the works of composers who are little known or works that have been forgotten especially British late 19th Century / Early 20th Century composers. She has recorded and has released two CDs featuring some of these works including a recording of a a Violin Sonata by the female composer Christian Carpenter and a Violin Sonata by Thomas Dunhill.
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Shulah has featured on many recordings with different groups including recordings of works by contemporary composer Clement Jewitt and Helen Ottaway with the Astaria String Quartet and various orchestral recordings including with Orchestra of the Swan.
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Charity Fundraising through music
Shulah loves to spend time with the Guide Dog Puppies her family walk and has raised over £60,000 by performing recitals and busking at Christmas. Shulah also raises funds for other charities including organising two concerts in aid or Young Lives VS Cancer (formerly known as CLIC Sargent) in Worcester Cathedral, raising over £25,000 for the charity.