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Stuart ThomsonDouble BassBorn in Edinburgh, Stuart spent most of his childhood in Southampton on the South Coast of England. He began playing double bass at the age of 9 and spent his teenage years as a member of the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra. It was this that inspired him to become a professional orchestral musician Stuart studied with Duncan McTier and the late Corin Long at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where he was awarded the Eugene Cruft prize for double bass. Whilst at the RNCM Stuart began working professionally with the Hallé and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras in Manchester and the Liverpool Philharmonic. As a busy freelancer Stuart also worked with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, London Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras as well as the Philharmonische Werkstatt Orchester in Switzerland, and was the Principal Double Bass player in the European Opera Centre Orchestra. In 1999 Stuart left the UK to join the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra where he stayed for two years. As the son of an Australian mother he has always been keen to explore his Australian heritage so in 2001 he moved to Australia to play with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Stuart worked with the Queensland Orchestra as Associate Principal Bass in late 2003. Since taking this role he has been invited to guest as principal bass with the Adelaide and Western Australian Symphony Orchestras. In 2005 he made his solos debut with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO) in Bottesini's Passione Amarosa for two double basses and orchestra with Alex Henery. As well as performing with the orchestra, Stuart also enjoys chamber music with various groups such as Virtuosi Tasmania and is a founding member of the Elanée Ensemble along with Josephine St Leon, focussing on the repertoire of the viola and double bass. Teaching is also a passion and Stuart has a private studio, teaches at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music and is double bass tutor for the Australian International Symphony orchestra Institute held annually in Hobart. |
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