Theo Espy (he/they) is a GRAMMY-nominated violinist based in San Francisco. Theo spent six years as a member of the Chicago-based Spektral Quartet; through his work with the quartet he collaborated with a wide range of composers and instrumentalists and was involved in commissioning many new works for string quartet, including pieces by Anna Þorvaldsdóttir, Augusta Read-Thomas, Samuel Adams, Tonia Ko, Eliza Brown, Christopher Trapani, Charmaine Lee, and inti figgis-vizueta.

During his tenure with Spektral he performed in such venues as The Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts, Miller Theatre, and National Sawdust, had appearances at the American Academy in Rome, Reykjavík Arts Festival, and Big Ears Festival, and shared the stage with notable collaborators Claire Chase, Nathalie Joachim, Miguel Zenón, and Julia Holter. Theo has also collaborated with / recorded strings for the bands Crumb, Pixel Grip, IVERSON and Carlile.

Theo studied at the Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg with Paul Roczek, and at the New England Conservatory in Boston with Lucy Chapman. He attended Sarasota Music Festival, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, the Composer’s Conference Contemporary Performance Institute, and Lucerne Music Festival, and was invited back to the Composer’s Conference as a chamber coach and member of the faculty ensemble.

In his free time, Theo enjoys drawing with micron pens, film photography, tending to his plants, electronic music production, and hanging out in the woods.