Alun Thomas, a native of Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, gained his first professional appointment at the age or 20 as Co-principal 2nd violin in the Bournemouth Sinfonietta during his final year as a student at the RNCM in Manchester.
At the RNCM he was the leader of the college symphony orchestra during his final year, soloist with the college chamber orchestra and concurrently, leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (conductor Arthur Davison) for four years, appearing on Welsh TV as a soloist in Vivaldi violin concertos.
After lessons with Terry Strachan and Neville John while a pupil at Cyfarthfa HIgh School, several years with James Barton (founder member of the Allegri string quartet) at Cardiff University and later with Israeli violinist Yossi Zivoni, in London, he continued under Zivoni’s tutelage at the RNCM and, in his final year, with Russian violinist Lydia Mordkovitch – a student of the great David Oistrakh.
During his time at college Alun was joint recipient of the Cowen Prize for Violin.
Subsequently, as a professional musician he has played worldwide in many capacities with major orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Northern Sinfonia Philharmonia orchestras, Britten Sinfonia and London Mozart Players and continues to perform as a leader, principal and section violinist, also recently, as soloist with various professional freelance groups, including a performance of the Beethoven violin
concerto and other solo works with the Buckingham based, Orchestra of Stowe Opera.
He has given numerous recitals and chamber music concerts throughout the UK including a solo recital with piano for BBC Radio 3 in music by Bloch and Fritz Kreisler and was a founder member of Triptych Piano Trio, commissioning several new works as well as taking part in a jazz cross-over project with local school children.
Alun has also played with several well-known chamber groups including projects for the contemporary music ensemble, Smith String Quartet.
He ran his own group – Chamber Spectrum Ensemble for several years, giving recitals in lesser-known formats, including one with Italian harpist and teacher Gabriella Dall’Olio, alongside more traditional pairings. He also gave many recitals throughout Wales and Southern England with the Welsh, Hastings-based pianist Francis Rayner, mainly in the great German, Russian and French sonata repertoire.
A lover of the Bach solo violin works, Alun has also given performances of the full set of these six works in Cambridge, combining them in several recitals with Bach -inspired solo violin works by Ysaye and duos for violin and cello by Kodaly and Ravel.
Alongside his solo work and chamber music projects he has developed a growing reputation as an insightful pedagogue and committed teacher – as a faculty teacher and coach at Trinity Laban Junior as well as helping to develop string projects in state schools.
Writing about his work for various periodicals as well as giving many workshops at leading schools and colleges has helped him develop a practical means of passing on his years of experience as an Alexander Technique teacher and violinist.
Some of his particular interests areas have been featured in articles for the STRAD magazine – highlighting his work as an Alexander teacher in ‘a psychophysical approach to playing’; the psychological and pedagogical aspects of ‘inheriting other teacher’s pupils’; the importance of ‘musicians’ preparation’, and an appearance as a guest on the STRAD ‘podcast’ talking about his work, generally.
He also writes occasional concert reviews for ‘Musical Opinion’ magazine and is currently putting the finishing touches to two books detailing, in different ways, the evolution of his approach to string playing.
Alun often seeks out advice from inspiring mentors from the older generation including among others, sessions with musicians such as violinist, the late Michael Davis, Adam Han-Gorski – one of the very few remaining students of Jascha Heifetz and, over the last several years, regular visits to see violinist and quartet leader, Kenneth Sillito.
He has adjudicated in several international competitions including the semi-finals of the Windsor International String Competition and, recently, for the finals of the Berkshire Young Musician of the Year.
Alun was head of the Alexander Technique teaching department at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of music and Dance for seven years until 2019 and during this period he also hosted, organised and presented his work at an international weekend conference at Trinity Laban for Alexander teachers worldwide working in music education.
For over thirty years he has been developing this psychophysical approach to playing and teaching while developing a deeper understanding of the use and development of bow technique and sound production – hopefully helping others gain a more rounded grasp of the fine art of violin playing – especially as exemplified by the celebrated violinists of the earlier part of the 20th century.
Alun is based in Windsor where he lives with his partner, daughter and two black cats.
