Adjudicator Spotlight: Juila Bishop RCM dip perf, ARCM
Julia discovered her love of Early Music during her studies at the Royal College of Music, when one day she heard the Baroque orchestra being directed by the inspiring Cat Mackintosh. 30 years later, Julia is recognised as one of the leading Baroque violinists of her generation, touring the world extensively and making numerous recordings with the period instrument orchestras of the UK including the London Classical Players, the Hanover Band, the English Concert, with whom she was a member for 6 years, and as leader and soloist with the Gabrieli Consort and Players and more recently the Academy of Ancient Music and Florilegium.
In 1997 Julia co-founded the ensemble Red Priest with recorder player Piers Adams and enjoyed 19 years of huge success touring Europe, the Far East and America, and also making 6 highly acclaimed CDs. After a break from Red Priest while her daughter was growing up, Julia is now back with the group again, and from the 2024/25 season will be performing throughout the UK and abroad (see www.redpriest.com for all upcoming dates).
2024 also sees the beginning of a flamboyant new collaboration between Julia and acclaimed lutenist Paula Chateauneuf, exploring the fabulously bizarre and maverick composers of the 17th century!
In recent years, Julia has become increasingly popular for her fun and informative teaching on Baroque workshops and courses around the UK and abroad. Since 2014 she has developed the Early Music department of the University of Chichester Conservatoire, and has also been guest Baroque violin teacher at the Royal Academy of Music and the University of York.