Sophya Polevaya is a British composer and performer from and currently based in London.

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.  Polevaya’s performance background ties closely with her compositional work, which is often infused with electronics, found objects, and theatrical elements. Through her saxophone playing in particular, Polevaya became immersed in more experimental forms of performance, in particular electroacoustic improvisation with effect pedals.

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.

Polevaya has collaborated with a range of musicians and ensembles, most recently the London Symphony Orchestra who commissioned Polevaya to write an orchestral piece for their 2019/20 season. In 2019 her debut album of music, Electric Scent, was released under the New England based label Ravello Records. Subsequent releases of her music include Within the Flames (2020) and Horae (2021).

In 2021 Polevaya received the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists for her contribution to the field of composition.