Thomas Gould

Thomas Gould, leader

One of the leading British violinists of the younger generation, Thomas Gould combines a busy solo career with the positions of leader of Britten Sinfonia andAurora Orchestra.

As concerto soloist Thomas has performed throughout the UK and Europe at venues including the Barbican, Bridgewater and Royal Albert Halls with conductors John Rutter, Andre de Ridder, Nicholas Collon and Robin Ticciati. Highlights from recent seasons include the world premières of concertos by Nico Muhly and Christopher Ball, the complete Brandenburg Concertos in Montreal, Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto with Camerata Zürich, and performances with Sinfonia ViVA, Orchestra of Opera North and the Gävle Symfoniorkester.

In 2010-11 Thomas appears as soloist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and Aurora Orchestra (conducted by Sir Colin Davis), directs a tour with ACO2 (the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s regional touring orchestra), and performs chamber music at the Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, and at festivals including Ernen, Presteigne, Plush, Nürnberg, Hampstead & Highgate and Perth’s Schubertiad. His recording of Nico Muhly’s Concerto for Decca with the Aurora Orchestra is due for release in Spring 2011.

Thomas is also an accomplished jazz violinist and improviser and has shared the stage with Tim Garland, Gwilym Simcock and Pekka Kuusisto at Ronnie Scott’s.

Thomas regularly leads Manchester Camerata and Montreal’s McGill Chamber Orchestra, and has guest led the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Chamber Orchestra and Manning Camerata. Recent projects have included directing the Lanaudiere Festival’s FILArmonia chamber orchestra with soloist Paul Lewis, and directing the Royal Northern College of Music’s string orchestra in a performance of Bartok’s Divertimento.

Thomas performs frequently as recitalist and chamber musician, working regularly with pianists John Reid and Alasdair Beatson. He has given recitals at venues across the UK including the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, St. David’s Hall (Cardiff) and St. George’s (Bristol). Thomas frequently plays with some of the country’s foremost chamber ensembles including the Nash Ensemble, Razumovsky Ensemble and Scottish Ensemble. He is a regular participant in Open Chamber Music at IMS Prussia Cove in Cornwall, and has also appeared at festivals including Aldeburgh (Suffolk), Aldborough (Yorkshire), Buxton, Chester Summer Music, Hampstead & Highgate, Perth’s Schubertiade, Music at Plush, Stratford-on-Avon and Music at Tresanton. Festival appearances abroad include Ernen (Switzerland), Spoleto (Italy), Nürnberg Kammermusik (Germany), Lanaudiere (Canada) and the Malta Arts Festival. Thomas has also participated in the Verbier Festival, both as a member of the Academy (2007) and as a coach in the Amateur Chamber Music Week (2009-2010).

As well as using his main instrument, a 1754 Gennaro Gagliano violin, Thomas also plays a six-string electric violin made by John Jordan.

Having started violin lessons at the age of three with Sheila Nelson, Thomas’s subsequent teachers included Simon Fischer, Joji Hattori and György Pauk. Between 2001 and 2006 Thomas studied at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating with numerous prizes and a final recital mark of 98%. In 2009 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM). Thomas is represented by Young Concert Artists Trust (YCAT).

Related Articles

• Concerts

Related Web Sites

• Thomas Gould’s website