Anthony Thompson, trumpet
Anthony Thompson began his musical training at The Salvation Army in Castleford, Yorkshire, progressing through a music scholarship to Ackworth School and then to Hull University where he graduated with an Honours Degree in Music. Following a year of post-graduate trumpet studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and two years as Music Director to the Salvation Army in Texas, he is now one of the busiest trumpeters in the North of England.
Anthony enjoys a successful career as an orchestral trumpeter. He has played frequently (including performances as guest principal trumpet) with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hallé, Manchester Camerata, Manchester Concert Orchestra, Northern Chamber Orchestra, New European Orchestra and the Royal Northern Sinfonia, and occasionally with the C.B.S.O, Opera North, English Northern Philharmonia, the Royal Shakespeare Company, North of England Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Northern Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet. He has also played principal trumpet with Orquestra Nacional do Porto and been a member of the Britten-Pears Orchestra and Baroque Orchestra.
In April 2008 Anthony was appointed principal trumpet of Sinfonia ViVA and since 2002 he has also been principal trumpet and soloist with the New English Orchestra.
In live performance, Anthony has performed with the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, Lesley Garrett, Hayley Westenra, The Sixteen with Harry Christophers, Liam McNally, London Community Gospel Choir, Steve Winwood, duetted with Sting and played for Pope Benedict XVI!
In his own recitals, Anthony is known for the wide range of instruments he plays - everything from didgeridoo and conch shell to coaching horn, cornet, soprano, bugle, flugel horn, ramshorn and antelope horn shofars, natural and piccolo trumpets!
