Have you had any humorous or unpredictable moments whilst performing in a concert?

There’s always something slightly unpredictable about live performance, which is part of the thrill. I’ve had the occasional page-turn disaster, iPad malfunction, even a broken dress zip… but of course, as a violinist, breaking a string mid-performance is practically a rite of passage!

 

Can you tell us about your beautiful violin and where it was made?

I currently play on a G.B. Guadagnini violin, crafted in Milan in 1734, named “The Adelaide,” on loan from the UKARIA Cultural Trust. It has a rich and deeply resonant sonority - almost velvety in sound - and I feel enormously privileged to perform on such an illustrious instrument.

 

When did you start learning the violin and have you learnt any other instruments?

I started learning the violin at the age of three, and as I grew, the violin grew with me. I also learnt piano when I was younger, which has been invaluable in my musical development and still informs how I approach sonatas and recitals today.

 

How do you approach the balance between technical precision and emotional expression in your performances?

Technique is always in service of expression. The more secure and free you feel technically, the more space you have to communicate emotionally and take risks in performance. In the practice room, I balance detailed, methodical work with musical exploration and emotional commitment.

 

During your upcoming BAMF recital you’re performing with pianist Vatche Jambazian a sonatina by Schubert, a sonata by Strauss as well as a sonata by Fazil Say — can you tell us how you chose the program?

I am so thrilled to be performing with director Vatche Jambazian in this recital, which brings together some real gems of the violin and piano repertoire.

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The Sonatina by Franz Schubert was written for salons and private homes - intimate gatherings known as “Schubertiades” - so we wanted to begin with that sense of closeness and warmth, sharing music filled with lyricism and classical elegance.

Fazıl Say is a composer who resonates strongly with both of us, and this particular sonata serves as a powerful reminder of humanity’s impact on climate change and the importance of preserving the beauty of nature.

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We finish with the majestic Violin Sonata by Richard Strauss, with its sweeping romanticism and rich harmonic colour - a work that is always a huge pleasure to perform and equally thrilling to experience as a listener.

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Interview conducted by Catherine Barnett (BAMF Committee) February 2026

​For further information about Emily Sun please click here: https://www.emblemartists.com/roster/emily-sun