Solfa Carlile is originally from Cork. She was awarded the Bill Whelan Music Bursary and studied composition at Royal College of Music, London, graduating with a BMus in 2009 and MMus in 2011.
In the UK, Solfa's work has been workshopped and performed by Okeanos, BBC Singers, London Chamber Orchestra and the Composers Ensemble. In 2010 she was awarded the Jerome Hynes Commission by The National Concert Hall for her piece Sounds.
She participated as an emerging artist in a music theatre project entitled 'Theatre of Illusion' at Dartington in 2010, mentored by composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle, designer Alison Chitty and director Stephen Langridge.
From 2011-2013 she was appointed composer-in-residence for the Orchestra of St. Paul’s, Covent Garden. She is also interested in musical research and has contributed articles to two International Arts Journals.
In 2013 she was awarded the Seán Ó Ríada prize for her Upon the Rose, which was performed by the National Chamber Choir of Ireland at the Cork International Choral Festival 2013.
She graduated with a Doctorate (DPhil) from University of Oxford in 2017. In 2019 she was the featured composer for the Spotlight Chamber Music series at Triskel Arts Centre, culminating in the premiere of her solo 'cello work Rhapsody.
