| Born in Swansea, Thomas studied with Melissa Phelps at the Yehudi
Menuhin School and with Heinrich Schiff in Austria. An exceptionally
gifted cellist, he is one of only two artists who have auditioned
successfully for both Young Concert Artists Trust in London (2000)
and Young Concert Artists, Inc. in New York (2001). At the opening
of the 2004/05 season Thomas made his debut with the Royal Scottish
National Orchestra and Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and returned
as soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and ViVA.
He went on to give recitals at the Louvre in Paris, Konzerthaus
in Vienna, Marianische Saal in Lucerne, the Dubrovnik Festival,
Mecklenburg Festival and The International Chamber Music Festival
in Utrecht with Janine Jansen, Julian Rachlin and Ensemble. Over the last year Thomas has given recitals at the Bath, Presteigne
and Winchester Festivals and appeared as soloist with the Lithuanian
National Opera Orchestra at the Murten Festival in Switzerland
and with the Northern Chamber Orchestra at Buxton Festival. He
also recorded Michael Berkeley's String Quintet with the Chilingirian
Quartet for Chandos and returned to Bulgaria to give a series
of masterclasses and a concerto with the Sofia Philharmonic at
the March Music Days Festival in Rousse. |
| Engagements this season
include return visits to Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room, recitals
at St. Georges Bristol, the Bath Mozart Fest with Michael Collins
and a BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert with pianist Llyr Williams.
Further afield Thomas appears as soloist with the Vienna Chamber
Orchestra conducted by Heinrich Schiff, and gives a series of
concerts in Tokyo, under the auspices of YCA, Inc. In August 2006
he has been invited to the Delft Festival. In April Thomas's piano
trio, DIMENSION won the Parkhouse Award. During the 2005/06 season the Trio give a series of recitals
throughout the UK, a Wigmore Hall recital and a performance of
Beethoven's Triple Concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Over the last two years Thomas has made his Wigmore Hall debut
and New York Concerto debut at the Alice Tully Hall to critical
acclaim, along with debut recitals in New York, Boston, California,
Florida and Washington DC. As a chamber musician he has appeared
with the Belcea Quartet, Chilingirian Quartet, Endellion Quartet,
Ivry Gitlis, Gidon Kremer, Steven Isserlis, Michael Collins, Julian
Rachlin at Wigmore Hall, the Edinburgh and Cheltenham International
Festivals, among many others. His concerto work has included appearances with the London Symphony,
Philharmonia, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, London Mozart Players,
ViVA, Orchestra of the East Midlands, Prague Philharmonic and
Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra. |
| MARCH 2006 REVIEWS: 'The big surprise of the night was the unscheduled
appearance of cellist Thomas Carroll…as soloist in Haydn's Cello
Concerto. Carroll is something else - a big-boned, muscular player
who launched into the Haydn with characteristic virility and strength
and a firm profile that it always needs to have, but not always
receives'. Glasgow Herald RSNO/Royal Concert Hall October 2004 'Thomas Carroll's imperious performance at the Holywell
Music Room last Sunday was surely a wake-up call to any who have
not so far noticed that he figures among the best young cellists
in sight…Carroll is a master of a refined but broadish concert
hall sound whose sharpened edge cuts its articulations through
the angry moments of Schumann's Op.70 Allegro, or certain passages
in Beethoven's late C major Cello Sonata, with all the instant
command of Orpheus amid wild beasts.' Young cellist steps in and shines'. 'One minute Thomas Carroll
was immersed in studying the cello in Vienna, the next he was
on his way to Norfolk - and last night, he took a sell-out audience
by storm…He displayed great stage presence and gave a virtuoso
performance full of confidence and verve'. King's Lynn News Norfolk -
Symphony Orchestra May 2000 |
Thomas Carroll