Biography
"Thomas' music is compositionally sophisticated, but without any sacrifice of power or urgency." [Soundboard magazine]
Whether performing the complete lute works of J.S. Bach, sharing the stage with artists as diverse as Alfie Boe and Aphex Twin, or composing genre-bending music with live computer interaction, Alan Thomas has been devoted to exploring the guitar’s many personalities and sonic possibilities. He can trace the source of his eclectic tastes and interests to simultaneously discovering Ozzy Osbourne and Julian Bream in his Atlanta boyhood, followed by innumerable obsessions with musical heroes from Pat Metheny to Gyorgy Ligeti.
Following his studies with Ernesto Bitetti and Scott Tennant, Alan won top prizes at the Guitar Foundation of America, USA Music Teachers National Association and American Artistic Ambassador competitions. Moving to England in 1996, he quickly established himself as one of Europe's foremost new music soloists and ensemble players after winning first-prize at the Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition in Holland (becoming the only guitarist ever to do so). Since then he has appeared in concert series and festivals throughout the U.K., Europe and the USA, releasing several acclaimed CDs and playing with groups such as the Graham Fitkin Band and Apartment House as well as with artists including Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins.
Alan’s compositions focus on the guitar in solo, chamber and concerto settings, drawing freely on a broad range of styles and techniques to create music that is both rigorously constructed and accessible and leading Classical Guitar magazine to praise his work as “the best of what’s being written for the contemporary guitar”.
For more info, please visit www.alanthomas-guitar.com
