Martin Outram

Since studying at Cambridge University and the Royal Academy of Music with John White, Martin Outram has enjoyed a wide ranging career as quartet player, soloist and teacher.
In addition to his work with the Maggini Quartet, Martin appears frequently as a soloist. His repertoire embraces the major works for viola. His programmes often include rarely heard pieces, particularly by British composers, and several works have been written for him, including concertos by Adam Gorb and David Gow. Since making his Royal Festival Hall concerto debut in 1992 with the London Mozart Players, notable solo appearances have included the broadcast premiere of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' Strathclyde Concerto No.5 with the composer conducting. Martin gave the first concert performance of Britten's Portrait No.2 in London and on tour with Martyn Brabbins and Sinfonia 21 in Russia. He was the soloist in rare performances of the Maconchy Romanza with the Ambache Chamber Orchestra and the Dale Romance with Vernon Handley conducting. Martin gave the first European performance for seventy-five years of York Bowen's Viola Concerto, with Ronald Corp and the New London Orchestra. He has played the Britten Lachrymae many times at home and abroad with the Britten Sinfonia and in 2006 he performed Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante together with Tasmin Little on tour. In 2007, he made his debut as a soloist in South America, performing in Argentina and Brazil.
Martin performs in recital with Julian Rolton. Together they have performed widely throughout the UK and have recorded several discs for Naxos. Their performances have included highly acclaimed recitals at many international viola congresses and Martin served on the jury for the 2003 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition. His recording of all the music for viola and piano by Bax with Julian Rolton attracted a five-star review in the BBC Music Magazine and their recent disc of English Viola Sonatas has received similar outstanding praise.
Martin Outram is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, where he has been a professor since 1984, and also an Honorary Fellow of Canterbury Christ Church University and Brunel University. He has taught and coached in major music institutions in Britain, Poland and America, and regularly gives masterclasses in Leipzig. He plays on a very fine viola made by Henricus Catenar made in Turin in 1680.

The Scottish Viola