Sophya Polevaya

Sophya Polevaya is a British composer and performer.

With its present scope ranging from concert works to acousmatic music and graphic scores, Polevaya’s music connects with different edges: classical composition, improvisation, jazz, experimental sounds and the theatrical.

Polevaya’s journey as a musician began with classical training on several instruments. Now an equally accomplished multi-instrumentalist (saxophone, piano, harpsichord, violin and classical guitar), playing her own compositions and the works of others. 

She studied music at Royal Holloway, University of London, whereupon graduating she was awarded the music department’s Final-Year Prize and the university’s prestigious Martin Holloway Faculty Prize.  She went on to study composition at the Royal Academy of Music for a masters degree, graduating with distinction. Alongside her degree studies she participated in various composition schemes for emerging composers.

Since then Polevaya’s music has been performed in concerts and broadcast onthe radio. Polevaya's debut album of her music Electric Scent, was released in 2019 with Ravello Records, featuring her as both composer and performer. In 2021, Sophya received the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists for her contribution to the field of composition.