Joel Hunter

British classical violist, born in Yorkshire.

He picked up the viola at aged 7. He ended up in London continuing his studies at the Royal Academy of Music.

Immediately after finishing his studies, Joel was appointed Co-Principal Viola with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow, moving on to the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Stockholm a few years later where, as Principal Viola, he worked until 2014. He is currently the principal violist of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, which he combines with a busy freelance career throughout Europe.

He has appeared as a Guest Principal Violist in most of the UK orchestras, including the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony, The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Philharmonic and Concert Orchestras, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, London Chamber Orchestra, Aurora, Royal Northern Sinfonia, as well as internationally with the Symphonie Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunk, Bamberg Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and the Amsterdam Sinfonietta.

As a chamber musician, Joel has performed with many eminent artists, including Christian Tetzlaff, Alisa Weilerstein, Pascal Roge, Mitzuko Uchida and Leif Ove Andsnes in concerts throughout the world. Recent recordings include the Korngold string sextet for Chandos. He is a founding member of the Logos Chamber Group playing annually at the Joy Of Music Festival and International Piano Competition in Hong Kong.

In 2001 he was made an ʻAssociate Member’ of the Royal Academy of Music in London (ARAM) for his services to the profession.