Conductor
“…superbly conveyed by Thomas Kemp who conducts with unerring perfection.”
Musicweb
BIOGRAPHY
Thomas Kemp is an acclaimed conductor and artistic director renowned for his passionate advocacy and ground breaking programming that places contemporary music into its historical context. The Guardian recently commented “…an extraordinary performance… with a fluency that came over brilliantly under the baton of Thomas Kemp.”
Thomas is regularly in demand as a guest conductor in the UK and Europe. Recent and forthcoming
engagements include concerts with BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, RTE National Symphony Orchestra, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Fretwork, London Sinfonietta and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
Thomas is the Music Director of Chamber Domaine, which is at the forefront of ensembles focusing on 20th and 21st century music. He regularly conducts Chamber Domaine in festivals and concert series in the UK, Europe and North America. In 2022, the ensemble received five star reviews in the national press for Six Brandenburgs: Six Commissions – giving world premieres of new works by Brian Elias, Michael Price, Deborah Pritchard, Daniel Kidane, Joseph Phibbs and Stevie Wishart alongside the Brandenburg Concertos.
The Artsdesk described the concerts as “metaphysical brilliance…a colossal achievement made up of seemingly effortless and joyous playing meeting with an equally joyous audience response.” The Observer described the performances as “superbly performed.” Musical Opinion praised the concerts as “a true continuation of the energising, restorative effect of Bach’s music, crisply and spontaneously rendered by members of Chamber Domaine under Thomas Kemp’s alert direction.”
Six Brandenburgs: Six Commissions will be toured to festivals and concert series in the UK and Europe including Deal Festival July 2024 – with additional new works by Aaron Holloway-Naham, Luke Styles and Florence Anna Maunders and Wigmore Hall in June 2025.
In June 2023, Thomas conducted world premieres by composer Deborah Pritchard in a series of immersive concerts featuring art by Maggi Hambling CBE and Marc Chagall.
He is the Artistic Director and Founder of Music@Malling which brings world-class music to people’s doorsteps through concerts and outreach. Music@Malling has an annual festival held each September and a summer series held in historic venues in and around West Malling, Kent. Music@Malling has year around outreach which engages hundreds of people in creative activities and reaches many people who would not otherwise engage with the arts. Acclaimed for its innovative programming, Music@Malling promotes contemporary music alongside classical and jazz. Featured composers in 2024 include Brian Elias, Gavin Bryars, Deborah Pritchard, George Benjamin and John Woolrich. Music@Malling was featured in The Guardian – 10 Best Concerts and Operas of 2022 described as “a rewarding and uplifting hit.”
Thomas has an award winning discography with Resonus and Signum Records. Forthcoming recordings include world-premiere recordings of music by Brian Elias, Eleanor Alberga, Ye Xiogang and Richard Strauss.
An acclaimed exponent of late nineteenth and early 20th century repertoire, recent engagements include. groundbreaking concerts in the UK and Asia with The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment conducting the 1925 film version of Strauss – Der Rosenkavalier. The critical edition he prepared for these performances is published by Schott and centenary concerts with Chamber Domaine and a recording are planned for 2025/2026.
Thomas was a featured artist at the Oxford International Song Festival conducting Mahler and Strauss with outstanding vocalists Toby Spence, Dietrich Henschel and Louise Alder. The Spectator commented “It’s supremely, exhaustingly virtuosic writing…the OAE conducted by Thomas Kemp gave their all…” Seen and Heard praised the performances for their “marvellous sweep.”
Other recent highlights include a tour of Ireland with the Fidelio Trio and the RTE National Symphony Orchestra and conductingworld premieres of Mark-Anthony Turnage – Concertino and Howard Skempton – Hinterland with The Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.
In September 2023, Thomas conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a recording of world premieres by Eleanor Alberga including Strata – Symphony No.1; Mythologies and Tower – featuring the Castilian String Quartet. Thomas 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.
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 where from 2000-2014 he worked as a professor. He has given masterclasses, conducted and coached ensembles in conservatoires and universities worldwide.
From 2003-2007, he studied conducting at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm with Jorma Panula, Paul Mägi and Alan Gilbert sponsored by The Swedish Academy.
Thomas has enjoyed an international career as a soloist, concertmaster, and chamber musician with many renowned orchestras and ensembles and has led many recording sessions for TV and film in London. The Strad recently commented: “He displays a remarkable variety of tone in playing that’s lyrical yet assertive, and there’s a real sense of sincerity to his glowing interpretations.”
Mar 2024
Thomas Kemp is represented worldwide by LoganArts Management Ltd.
For more information, please contact Andrew Logan, Director at +44 (0) 7841 582 851 or at info@loganartsmanagement.com
More also at www.thomaskemp.eu
PRESS QUOTES
Thomas Kemp
Press Quotations
“Thomas Kemp strongly projected the solemnity that permeates here, reinforcing the sense that it’s the following movement, “Dirge,” that’s the primary trajectory of all the music in This Silence.”Dirge” was so engrossing that minutes seemingly passed in moments, one becoming lost in its immersive, compelling, dark trains of lyrical thought. Its ending was genuinely spine- tingling…hinting at something transcendent.” 5:4
“Turnage’s brilliant use of limited orchestral resources is superbly conveyed by Thomas Kemp, who balances his Chamber Domaine players with unerring perfection.” MusicWeb,
“Kemp created an exciting sound world….The strings played with great rhythmic vitality amidst the swirl of excitement of the first movement while the brass blazed forth… Kemp captured the whimsical alongside the raucous energy of the finale. Crashing symbols and scurrying strings brought the symphony and the concert as a whole to a convincing close.” Bachtrack
“This very beautiful recording of Jean Sibelius takes risks that are perfectly calculated under the baton of Thomas Kemp. The result is profound and unforgettable.” ResMusica,
Recording of the Month, March 2019
“Committed performances from Chamber Domaine, definitely an ensemble from whom much can be expected, under the incisive leadership of Thomas Kemp.” The Gramophone
“The OAE and Thomas Kemp gave their all, delivering salon-Strauss with half the orchestral fat but no real loss of flavour.” The Spectator
“Thomas Kemp conducting the City of London Sinfonia gives the singers sensitive support, while keeping the score and the action racing ahead to its dark and uneasy conclusion.” The Times ****
“The sound under the baton of Thomas Kemp was superb…Kemp lifted the lyricism of the orchestral poem into a world of fantasy, exactly as the composer had intended. The audience rewarded the performers with well-earned rapturous applause.” Pohjolan Sanomat“Thomas Kemp goes for vivid contrasts, maximum clarity…This is a polished and paced display.” The Stage
“He directs highly persuasive performances…drawing precise, elegant playing thats high on expressivity.” The Strad
“The playing by Chamber Domaine conducted by Thomas Kemp was all one could have wished for.” The Yorkshire Post *****
“The players conducted by Thomas Kemp capture its fragile essence perfectly…The performances are full of exuberance…” The Guardian ****
“Superb sound and superb artistry too with pungent playing from Chamber Domaine con- ducted by Thomas Kemp.” The Times *****
“Thomas Kemp makes an exceptional debut as an opera conductor and coaxes a ravishing blend of colours and expression.” Classical Source
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