Photograph: Ghina Sari

Sophia Mackson

Sophia Mackson is a Queensland-based violist, composer, advocate and educator. She completed her Honours year of her Bachelor of Music in 2023 at the University of Queensland, under the tutelage of the Professor Patricia Pollett.

As a violist, Sophia actively plays and composes for the Sketch Ensemble based at UQ. She is involved with UQ's Pulse Chamber Orchestra and the University of Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Sophia has also been a part of Australian Youth Orchestra's National Music Camp, Opera Queensland's Festival of Outback Opera, Nonsemble, and other ensembles. Through her composing, Sophia has received mentorship through Ensemble Offspring's Hatched Home Academy in 2020, and taken part of the Women Composers Development Programme with Coro Innominata. She has also worked with ensembles such as Melbourne based ensemble Ellipses Trio, and violist Helena Burns.

Sophia has been interviewed by ABC Classic, ABC New England Northwest, and ABC Brisbane for her advocacy in classical music, particularly around being a musician and having ADHD. Her podcast “On-the-spot” features people who work in the arts that experience neurodiversity and have disabilities. Sophia hopes to use her experiences to inspire change through her writing and creative works, as well as to communicate music to audiences around the country.