Thomas Gould
Violin
At a glance
Thomas Gould
Violin
The staggeringly virtuosic Gould...his musicianship is enthralling. A talent to watch.The Guardian
Biography —
Described as an artist who “refuses to be defined by a single genre” (The Guardian), Thomas Gould is a violinist with wide-ranging musical interests and a flair for experimentation. His solo repertoire includes many contemporary works, and he has collaborated with some of the leading composers of our time including John Adams, Thomas Adès, Brett Dean, Karl Jenkins, James MacMillan, Nico Muhly and Max Richter.
Gould is leader of the chamber orchestra Britten Sinfonia with whom he often performs as soloist or director. He was formerly the leader and a founding member of Aurora Orchestra. In addition to regularly guest leading orchestras including the CBSO and London Sinfonietta, he is proud to be a member of John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London and has been honoured to play in the prestigious Lucerne Festival Orchestra. Gould also enjoys a longstanding relationship with Sinfonietta Rīga, with whom he recorded Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending on the album Live in Riga.
Jazz has always been a keen interest for Thomas and he is fortunate to have worked with some of the biggest names in jazz including Burt Bacharach, Jacob Collier, Hiromi, Brad Mehldau and Marius Neset. He was the violinist in the popular swing band Man Overboard Quintet with whom he recorded two albums on Champs Hill Records. He has recorded several other jazz releases with artists including Johannes Berauer’s Hourglass, Trish Clowes, Andrew McCormack and Jim Rattigan. Gould curated his own jazz series at Kings Place called Gould Standard inviting long-term collaborators Tim Garland, Kristjan Randalu and Gwilym Simcock among others.
Recent highlights include the première performances with Bruckner Orchester Linz of a new concerto written for him and percussion by Johannes Berauer, a tour of Australia with Omega Ensemble performing Philip Glass’s Violin Concerto No. 2, and a return to Dartington International Summer School to give concerts and masterclasses. Recent and upcoming performances of the 2024/25 season include concerts with Gwilym Simcock at the 2024 Three Choirs Festival and at the 2025 Petworth Festival.
Gould trained at the Royal Academy of Music where he is now a Fellow. He plays a violin made by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini in 1782.
News —
Thomas Gould directs Britten Sinfonia at the 2023 BBC Proms
Directing from the violin, Gould is also soloist in Max Richter's Recomposed Read more
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Ikon Arts-Edition Peters
A round up of all the music you can catch up with and watch live virtually over the festive period Read more
Ola Gjeilo new single – Luminous Night
Decca single release featuring Tenebrae and Thomas Gould Read more
“The guiding star”; excellent review of Thomas Gould with Britten Sinfonia and Benjamin Grosvenor from The Times
The latest concert from Britten Sinfonia lead by Thomas Gould and featuring Benjamin Grosvenor has received a fantastic review from The Times. Read more
Ikon Arts-Edition Peters announces new additions to the artist list
To coincide with the beginning of the 19/20 season, Ikon Arts-Edition Peters is proud to present four recent additions to the artist list for worldwide management: Thomas Gould, Fenella Humphreys, Rebecca Miller & Melvyn Tan. Read more
Photos —
Reviews —
The brilliant young Thomas Gould...a soloist of rare refinement.
The Sunday Times
Thomas Gould sailed in splendour through its multiple moods, aggressive, hushed, folksy, or forlorn.
The Times
...played with angelic sweetness and airy grace by Thomas Gould...penetrating and radiant, though he has plenty of drama and fire in reserve.
The Telegraph
…the superb playing skills of Thomas Gould, who made the instrument sing like a nightingale and growl like a bear.
The Times
The remarkably talented violinist Thomas Gould...[his] playing is full of breathtaking shifts of perspective and colour.
Evening Standard
Selected Discography —
Related Media —
Thomas Gould leads Omega Ensemble
Thomas Gould and Australia's Omega Ensemble play Philip Glass's Violin Concerto No. 2 'American Four Seasons' live at Melbourne Recital Centre View on YouTubeString Break in Les Illuminations
Moments before the violin solo in Benjamin Britten's Les Illuminations, leader Thomas Gould's string breaks. But the show must go on... View on YouTubePiazzolla 'Oblivion': Live at Chester Town Hall
Thomas Gould, Ksenija Sidorova, and Gwilym Simcock perform their arrangement of Piazzolla's 'Oblivion' live at Chester Town Hall View on YouTubeThomas Gould plays The Lark Ascending
With the London Firebird Orchestra conducted by Achim Holub View on YouTubeJohann Sebastian Bach, transcribed by Dmitry Sitkovetsky: The "Goldberg" Variations, BWV 988
View on SoundCloudDownloads —
Contact —
Name
- Costa Peristianis