Thomas Kemp

Thomas Kemp is a highly acclaimed musician and one of the most versatile and eclectic conductors of his generation, acclaimed for his innovative programming and passionate advocacy in concerts, ballet and opera. The Guardian recently commented “…an extraordinary performance…with a fluency that came over brilliantly under the baton of Thomas Kemp.” The Gramophone praised his conducting for “a wealth of timbral subtlety…utterly magical…a tremendous sense of vitality and commitment."

Thomas is the Music Director of the internationally acclaimed ensemble Chamber Domaine, which is at the forefront of ensembles focusing on 20th and 21st century music. He made his conducting debut in a series of concerts celebrating Sigmund Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, which The Financial Times described as “exceptional musical events.” He has directed Chamber Domaine in festivals and concert series in the UK, Europe and North America and has an acclaimed discography with the ensemble.

He is Artistic Director of Music@Malling – an international festival that promotes the works of contemporary composers alongside masterworks from the Classical and Romantic periods. The Festival has an outreach programme that engages over 2000 young people in contemporary music and cross arts projects.

In 2012, he made his operatic debut in a new production of Cosi fan tutte for Opera Holland Park with the City of London Sinfonia to widespread praise. “Cosi fan tutte was conducted with real shape and nuance by Thomas Kemp…Altogether this was the most original and idiomatic attempt on this ungraspable work London has seen in a long time.” Opera Now.

Thomas is a recording artist for the Resonus label. In January 2012, The Times praised his recording of Mark-Anthony Turnage with Chamber Domaine and Tenor Nicky Spence for its “superb artistry” and a recent release of world premiere recordings of Benjamin Britten was CD of the Week in The Guardian. Forthcoming releases on the label include works by Jean Sibelius and Mark Simpson.

Thomas made his recording debut as a conductor in 2009 with world premiere recordings of Henrik Gorecki, which received universal five star reviews. Fanfare described the recording as: “…utterly fascinating…One cannot say enough for the musical sensitivity as well a the virtuosity… Chamber Domaine is the British equivalent of Eight Blackbird…”

Thomas has conducted and performed at many leading festivals in the UK and overseas including the Edinburgh, Cheltenham, City of London, Huddersfield Contemporary, Wien Modern, Kuhmo, The Proms, Vale of Glamorgan, Aldeburgh and Brighton Festivals. He has broadcast regularly on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, ORF (Austria), ABC (Australia), WNYC (USA), RNZ (New Zealand) and SR (Sweden). He is a guest artist at Bargemusic, New York and since his debut in 2000, Thomas has been a regular performer at Wigmore Hall, South Bank Centre and Carnegie Hall, New York. He is regularly in demand as a guest conductor with orchestras and ensembles in the UK and Europe.

Thomas has given many world premieres and has worked closely with composers such as Arvo Part, Thomas Ades, Julian Anderson, Mathew Hindson, Brian Ferneyhough, Judith Bingham, Judith Weir, Najii Hakim, Piers Hellawell, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Brian Elias, Henrik Gorecki, Haflidi Hallgrimson, Charlotte Bray, Ned Rorem, Ulijas Pulkis, Aulis Sallinen and Stuart MacRae.

He has conducted and collaborated with leading singers such as Elizabeth Llewellyn, Nicky Spence, Andrew Staples, Anna Grevelius, Yeree Suh, Stephen Wallace, Wendy Dawn Thompson, Jonathan McGovern, Marcus Farnsworth and Sara Fulgoni.

From 1989-92, Thomas read music at St.Catharine’s College, Cambridge and went on to study violin and chamber music at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. From 2003-2007 he studied conducting at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm with Jorma Panula, Paul Magi and Alan Gilbert enabled by a Swedish Academy Award.

Thomas enjoys a worldwide career as a guest concertmaster and chamber musician with many renowned orchestras and ensembles and has led numerous session orchestras for TV and Film score recording.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. From 2000-2014, he was a professor at the Royal Northern College of Music and has given masterclasses worldwide.

www.thomaskemp.eu