Nicholas Thompson. MA, ARCM, Dip RAM.
Nicholas Thompson has been the Principal Trumpet with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe since 1988.
He began playing the cornet at the age of five, and became the British Junior and Open Cornet Champion aged 11. In 1972 he was the winner of the first BBC Young Musician Competition, which was initially for brass players only.
After studying with the late, great, John Wilbraham (then Principal Trumpet of the BBC Symphony Orchestra) he entered the Royal Academy of Music in 1976.
After graduating he built a busy freelance career, working in the UK and mainland Europe, with work ranging from the major symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras and small chamber groups, performing as Guest Principal with The London Symphony Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra, The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, The London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Modern, (Germany), The Hilliard Ensemble, The Esbjerg Ensemble (Denmark), Gabrieli Brass Ensemble, and a substantial portfolio of commercial film credits.
He has also worked extensively with several period instrument groups such as The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The English Concert and The English Classical Players.
In 2004 he was invited to be a member of the ‘International Celebrity Trumpet Ensemble’ for the ‘Proclamation’ double CD, and was privileged to work with some of the world’s great trumpeters.
The group members:
Ryan Anthony – Principal, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Canadian Brass.
Paul Archibald – Former Principal, BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Ian Balmain – Principal, Orchestra of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden.
Andrew Crowley – Principal, English Chamber Orchestra and London Sinfonietta.
Rod Franks – Principal, London Symphony Orchestra.
Hans Gansch – Former Principal, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Florian Klingler – Principal, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra.
Maurice Murphy – Principal, London Symphony Orchestra.
Gabor Torkovi – Principal, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Nicholas Thompson – Principal, Chamber Orchestra of Europe
www.brassclassics.co.uk
In October 2000 he was appointed Head of Woodwind, Brass and Percussion at the London College of Music, and he now divides his time equally between performing with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and academic responsibilities.
In September 2007 he completed a Masters Degree in ‘Performance and Media Health’ and believe strongly that this, and the experience he has gained from working with the COE and conductors such as Claudio Abbado and Nikolaus Harnoncourt, along with the geographical, cultural and historical diversity of his musical experiences, has enabled him to bring a unique perspective, and broad knowledge base to both his teaching and performance careers.
Nicholas Thompson has been the Principal Trumpet with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe since 1988.
He began playing the cornet at the age of five, and became the British Junior and Open Cornet Champion aged 11. In 1972 he was the winner of the first BBC Young Musician Competition, which was initially for brass players only.
After studying with the late, great, John Wilbraham (then Principal Trumpet of the BBC Symphony Orchestra) he entered the Royal Academy of Music in 1976.
After graduating he built a busy freelance career, working in the UK and mainland Europe, with work ranging from the major symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras and small chamber groups, performing as Guest Principal with The London Symphony Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra, The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, The London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Modern, (Germany), The Hilliard Ensemble, The Esbjerg Ensemble (Denmark), Gabrieli Brass Ensemble, and a substantial portfolio of commercial film credits.
He has also worked extensively with several period instrument groups such as The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The English Concert and The English Classical Players.
In 2004 he was invited to be a member of the ‘International Celebrity Trumpet Ensemble’ for the ‘Proclamation’ double CD, and was privileged to work with some of the world’s great trumpeters.
The group members:
Ryan Anthony – Principal, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Canadian Brass.
Paul Archibald – Former Principal, BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Ian Balmain – Principal, Orchestra of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden.
Andrew Crowley – Principal, English Chamber Orchestra and London Sinfonietta.
Rod Franks – Principal, London Symphony Orchestra.
Hans Gansch – Former Principal, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Florian Klingler – Principal, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra.
Maurice Murphy – Principal, London Symphony Orchestra.
Gabor Torkovi – Principal, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Nicholas Thompson – Principal, Chamber Orchestra of Europe
www.brassclassics.co.uk
In October 2000 he was appointed Head of Woodwind, Brass and Percussion at the London College of Music, and he now divides his time equally between performing with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and academic responsibilities.
In September 2007 he completed a Masters Degree in ‘Performance and Media Health’ and believe strongly that this, and the experience he has gained from working with the COE and conductors such as Claudio Abbado and Nikolaus Harnoncourt, along with the geographical, cultural and historical diversity of his musical experiences, has enabled him to bring a unique perspective, and broad knowledge base to both his teaching and performance careers.