Music graduates include...

Thomas Adès, Junior Guildhall 1982
FGS 2008

Between 1993 and 1995, Tom Adès was Composer in Association with the Hallé Orchestra. His first opera, Powder Her Face (1995), has been performed all round the world. His second opera, The Tempest, was commissioned by the ROH and premiered there to great acclaim in February 2004. In 2007 his work was showcased in a Radio France festival which was then followed by a two-month festival in the Barbican entitled 'Traced Overhead', which included the British premiere of Tevot, commissioned by the Berlin Philharmonic and won the Classical Music Award in the 2008 South Bank Show Awards. Other recent prizes have included: the 2000 Grawemeyer Award for Asyla, the Hindemith Prize (2001), and the 2005 RPS Prize for The Tempest.

Alison Balsom, Trumpet 2001

From 2004-6 Alison was a member of BBC Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme, under whose auspices she gave concerts at the Wigmore Hall, and with all of the BBC orchestras, including the BBC Symphony and Sir Andrew Davis, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In 2006 Alison won Young British Classical Performer at the Classical Brits and recent performances include her debut with the LA and Hong Kong Philharmonics, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen while 2008/09 highlights include concerto appearances with many British and European orchestras.

Joby Burgess, Percussion 2001

One of Britain's most diverse percussionists, Joby is best known for his virtuosic, often lissom performances, daring collaborations, and extensive education work. Founded in 1999 his duo New Noise, with oboist Janey Miller, has given well in excess of two hundred performances, whilst creating an entirely new repertoire and founding its own record label NNL. In 2001 Joby joined Britain's leading percussion quartet, Ensemble Bash, replacing founding father Richard Benjafield. In 2005 Joby founded the multimedia collective Powerplant, a collaboration with sound designer Matthew Fairclough and visual artist Kathy Hinde, and in 2006/07 they were awarded a major ITEM Arts Council Research Grant.

Sir James Galway, Flute 1960
FGS 2003

Sir James Galway, nicknamed "the man with the golden flute," is widely regarded as both a supreme interpreter of the classical flute repertoire and a consummate entertainer whose appeal crosses all musical boundaries. As the most televised and recorded classical artist performing today, Sir James has made himself a legend, a modern musical master whose virtuosity on the flute is equalled only by his limitless ambition and vision. Through his extensive touring, over 30 million albums sold and his frequent international television appearances, Sir James has endeared himself to millions worldwide.


Paul Lewis (photo: Harmonia Mundi/Eric Manas)

Paul Lewis, Piano 1994
FGS 2004

Paul Lewis is now well-established as one of the most sought after artists of his generation, appearing regularly in recital, chamber music, and as a concerto soloist at the world's major musical venues and festivals. His career has also taken him all over Europe, Australia and the US, and Paul has a particularly strong relationship with London's Wigmore Hall. In recent seasons he has also appeared at the Salzburg Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, the Schubertiade Festival, the La Roque d'Antheron Festival, both the Risor and Vancouver Chamber Music Festivals, and at the BBC Proms, appearing at the televised "Last Night" in 2005. His discography includes two award winning Schubert CDs, a compete Beethoven series for Harmonia Mundi, as well as the Mozart Piano Quartets and Schubert's Trout Quintet with the Leopold String Trio for Hyperion Records.


Tasmin Little

Tasmin Little, Violin 1986
FGS 1998

Tasmin Little is a household name in the UK. Her reputation is growing on the international concert circuit following a high profile tour with the Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle and she has performed in the world's most prestigious venues. In 2008 she became Artistic Director of the annual Orchestra of the Swan 'Spring Sounds' Festival and was also the subject of the South Bank Show, which followed her ground-breaking project, The Naked Violin.

Anthony Marwood, Violin 1987

In May 2006 Anthony Marwood was named Instrumentalist of the Year at the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards, confirming him as one of the leading violinists of his generation. He has a growing reputation as soloist/director and is Artistic Director of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and of the Shannon International Music Festival. He has inspired some exciting projects with the major British orchestras, and is in increasing demand internationally. Works written for him include concertos by Sally Beamish and Thomas Adès. He is a member of the Florestan Trio and has made over 20 recordings.

Sally Matthews, Voice 2000

In 1999 Sally Matthews won the Kathleen Ferrier Award, in 2001 she was awarded a place on the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme and in 2002-4 she took part in the BBC Radio 3 New Generations Artists scheme. Her various credits include: Nannetta Falstaff, Flowermaiden Parsifal, Pamina Die Zauberflöte, Iris Semele, Sifare Mitridate Royal Opera House, Lauretta Gianni Schicchi Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Pamina Die Zauberflöte Deutsche Staatsoper, title role La calisto Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, Handel Solomon, Salzburg, Carmina Burana, Berlin Philharmonic under Rattle, Elijah, Japan with Seiji Ozawa, Mahler's Symphony No 8 with Kent Nagano, Mahler Symphony No 4 with Rattle, Fiordiligi Così fan tutte Netherlands Opera, Anne Trulove The Rake's Progress and Calisto Royal Opera House, title roles Rusalka Opera Australia, Mahler Symphonies No 2 and No 4 with Michael Tilson Thomas, title role Paradies und die Peri Schumann with Daniel Harding, Haydn The Creation with Sir Colin Davis.

Lucy Parham, Piano 1989

Lucy Parham first came to public attention on winning the 1984 BBC TV Young Musician of the Year Piano Class, since when she has performed extensively throughout the UK and abroad. In 1989 she made a highly successful debut at the Wigmore Hall, and has since appeared regularly at all the major London venues and with most of the British orchestras. In recent years, Lucy has established herself as one of the leading interpreters of Robert and Clara Schumann. Her unique recording of their piano concertos, with the BBC Concert Orchestra/Wordsworth won the prestigious BBC Music Magazine 'Critics' Choice of the Year'. She has been a guest presenter on BBC Radio 3 as well as a contributor for BBC Music Magazine and Pianist Magazine. In February 2006 she was the Director of the 150th anniversary Schumann Festival at Cadogan Hall, London and her recent project, 'Liszt - An Odyssey of Love' premiered in February 2008 in the Piano Series at the Wigmore Hall.


Kate Royal

Kate Royal, Voice 2003

In 2003 Kate Royal won a place at the prestigious National Opera Studio, in 2004 she was the winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Award, in 2006 she signed an exclusive contract with EMI Classics and in 2007 she won the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award. Her various credits include: Pamina Die Zauberflöte Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Countess Almaviva Le nozze di Figaro and Governess The Turn of the Screw (Glyndebourne on Tour), Helena A Midsummer Night's Dream Glyndebourne and Teatro Real, Madrid, concerts with Mackerras, Rattle and Rilling, recitals throughout Europe. Future plans: Micaëla Carmen Glyndebourne Festival, Countess Almaviva Le nozze di Figaro Aix-en-Provence and La Monnaie, title role L'incoronazione di Poppea English National Opera, Pamina Die Zauberflöte Royal Opera House, concerts with OAE and Rattle and Berlin Philharmonic and Christie.

Toby Spence, Voice 1995

Toby Spence has appeared in major roles with Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, Bavarian State Opera, La Monnaie, Brussels, Netherlands Opera, Deutsche Staatsoper, Berlin, San Francisco Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera at the Chatelet, Paris, Royal Opera House and Paris Opera. Forthcoming engagements include Tom Rakewell The Rake's Progress Paris, Theater an der Wien and in Madrid, Male Chorus The Rape of Lucretia Madrid Kudrjáš, Katya Kabanova, Ferdinand The Tempest by Adès and Don Ramiro La cenerentola, Royal Opera House and Gluck Iphigénie en Aulide in Hamburg.


Bryn Terfel

Bryn Terfel, Voice 1989
FGS 1996

Bryn Terfel has performed in all the great opera houses of the world, and is especially recognised for his portrayals of Figaro and Falstaff. He has now made the transition into the Wagner repertoire as Wotan in Das Rheingold and Die Walküre. Bryn has an impressive discography of opera and lieder recordings and many solo albums. His most recent album Simple Gifts, recorded with London Voices and the London Symphony Orchestra, won the Best Classical Crossover Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards. In 2003, Bryn was awarded a CBE for services to Opera in the Queen's New Year Honours list and in 2006 was awarded the Queen's Medal for Music by HM The Queen. In 2008 he appeared at the Welsh National Opera, the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam; the Wigmore Hall, London; he toured North America and Scandinavia; and performed in Denmark, Germany, Gran Canaria. In 2009 he returns to the Royal Opera House as the Flying Dutchman.

Cleveland Watkiss, Jazz 1988

One of the world's great jazz singers, Cleveland co-founded the vastly influential Jazz Warriors big band in 1985 alongside Courtney Pine and his amazing vocal experiences have seen him perform with many diverse artists from around the world including: The Royal Philharmonic Or-chestra, Bob Dylan, Jackie Mittoo, Keith Richards, James Taylor Quartet, Stevie Wonder, Patife, Carlinhos Brown, Robbie Williams, Joe Cocker, Bobby Mc Ferrin, Branford Marsalis, Sir George Martin, Art Blakey, Bocato Big Band, Lisa Stansfield, Janet Kay, Maxi Priest, Soul ii Soul, The Who, London Chamber Orchestra, Kassa Mady, Goldie, Cassandra Wilson, Kenny Wheeler big band, Sugar Minot, Talvin Singh, Bjork, Pete Townshend, London Community Gospel Choir, and many more.

Debbie Wiseman, Composition 1984
FGS 2007

Debbie's television work includes programmes such as "Timewatch", "My Uncle Silas", "The Churchills" "P.O.W.", "Judge John Deed" and "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries" and she also presented the series "Backtracks". She won critical acclaim for "Wilde" starring Vanessa Redgrave and with Stephen Fry playing the title role. Debbie was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Honours List in 2004.