Testimonials

“As a composer I consider myself to be very privileged to have had a number of my works performed under the baton of Neil Thomson. Neil has great insight into the inner workings of a composition and an inspired perception in conveying the spirit of the music to the musicians. He is one of the finest orchestral trainers in the world, but over and above this he projects wonderful artistry in performance.”

EDWIN ROXBURGH, Conductor and composer. Professor at the Royal College of Music 1967-2004

“Neil Thomson is a born teacher. This rapidly became clear during the 2005 London Conducting Workshop at the Royal College of Music where we were both tutors. Neil has the ability to correctly assess a conducting problem and simultaneously articulate a solution. It is clear that Neil has thought deeply about the conductor’s art and is devoted to passing on his knowledge.”

JOHN FARRER, Director of the London Conducting Workshop; Music Director of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and the Roswell Symphony Orchestra

“Neil Thomson is an uncommonly committed and supportive teacher. His approach is at once practical and methodical whilst always springing from the music itself and the individual needs of the student. When on the podium ourselves Neil’s encouragement and guidance ensured that we felt as comfortable as possible whilst still steering us in the right direction. Neil does not aim to produce ‘clones’, but his own conducting was a consistent source of inspiration to all of us at the RCM and answered so many of the conducting questions that can only be resolved by example.”

MICHAEL YOUNG, former student and Finalist and Prize-winner at the 2005 Leeds Conductors’ Competition.

“Neil Thomson is an outstanding conductor with a huge repertoire and the outstanding ability to combine a highly effective rehearsal technique with a wonderful sense of sonority, phrasing, style and musical interest in his interpretation.”

JORGE ROTTER, Professor of Conducting, the Mozarteum, Salzburg

“It is often said that there are defining moments in one’s life where, in an instant, everything becomes clear. I experienced one of those moments as a young first year undergraduate at the Royal College of Music sitting at the back of Neil Thomson’s orchestra. I knew as soon as he started conducting that I not only wanted to be a conductor myself but also to study with him."

TIMOTHY HENTY, former student and Guest Conductor The Royal Ballet

“One of the main reasons for my applying to the Royal College of Music to study conducting was the chance to have tuition from Neil Thomson. He is an inspiring and immensely practical teacher with so much experience from conducting world-class orchestras to talented student ensembles.”

THOMAS BLUNT, former student and Chorus Master of Glyndebourne Festival Opera

“I studied with Neil Thomson at the Royal College of Music for three years. I not only learned a conducting technique based on phrasing and sound but also the real ability to rehearse an orchestra efficiently. Furthermore his inspiring musical approach was perfectly balanced between a sheer passion for the music and a clear analysis of the score. These important aspects have been indispensable in my conducting career.”

CLAUS EFLAND, former student and Finalist in the Donatella Flick Competition 2004

“His baton technique is excellent! Clarity and expressiveness have always been of great importance to me and that is something I got from Neil’s teaching. The way of approaching a score, how to memorise it, the preparation of rehearsals and how to make them enjoyable were some of the many crafts Neil offered me at the RCM that have helped me in my conducting career.”

NATALIA LUIS-BASSA, former student and Finalist and Prize-winner in the Maazel-Vilar Competition 2002

“It was genuinely inspirational to watch Neil at work; his rigorous attention to detail and unusual thoroughness in rehearsals, his deeply personal and considered interpretation of the work at hand and, most significantly, the ravishing, warm, glowing string sound he drew from his players — surely the life blood of any orchestral performance. Those of us who were privileged enough to attend the resulting concerts will never forget the impact they made on the audiences.”

JOHN WILSON, former student