Alan Thomas Returns to the CBSO
The CBSO are delighted to announce that trumpeter Alan Thomas, former member of the CBSO and Principal Trumpet of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, will re-join the CBSO this November as Section Leader Trumpet.
Alan first joined the CBSO in 2004, performing with the brass section for 9 years before leaving the Orchestra in 2013 to take up the Principal Trumpet position at the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Alongside his playing, Alan has recently been appointed as Associate Head of Brass at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – where he was an undergraduate student himself from 1996-2000 – and is also a Trumpet Professor at the Royal College of Music.
Away from orchestral life, Alan is a member of both Onyx Brass and Septura, two of Britain's leading brass chamber groups. He maintains a keen interest in the psychological aspects of performance and is a keen educationalist, visiting and coaching various schools and ensembles.
CBSO Chief Executive Stephen Maddock OBE said: "We are so excited to have Alan returning to Birmingham and the CBSO's Trumpet section. I am sure there are many concertgoers in our audiences who will remember some of his excellent past performances with the Orchestra, and we hope they all will join us in giving him a very warm welcome back."
Commenting on his move back to Birmingham Alan said, “After five thoroughly enjoyable years with BBC Symphony Orchestra I will be returning to the CBSO in the autumn and combining this with assisting my great friend Amos Miller in his new position of Head of Brass at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
“I’ve been so fortunate in my career to have been a part of two wonderful orchestras and especially trumpet sections. I’m looking forward to many exciting times ahead, however I will always look back on my stint with the BBCSO under Sakari Oramo with great fondness.”
Alan will return to the CBSO full-time in November – but in the meantime he will also be performing with the orchestra at this year’s BBC Proms on 15 August.
