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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 postgraduate trumpet studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and two years as Music Director to the Salvation Army in Texas, Anthony is now one of the busiest trumpeters in the North of England. This includes work with the Manchester Camerata and Northern Sinfonia (including principal), Aldeburgh Music Society (including soloist), Opera North, English National Orchestra, North of England Chamber Orchestra, Manchester Concert Orchestra, Northern Ballet, London Gala Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, joining Orichalcum Classic Brass, Harlequin Brass and the English Brass Consort, and the European Concert Orchestra which has involved recording sessions with Don Lusher, Kenny Baker, Claire Sweeney and Shirley Bassey amongst others.

In addition, he has been a member of the Britten-Pears Orchestra and Baroque Orchestra, and has performed with the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, Lesley Garrett and The Sixteen with Harry Christophers. As a soloist, Anthony has toured extensively throughout the UK, USA and Brazil, and has also appeared in Holland, Norway, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico. In addition to his own solo work and masterclasses, Anthony appears regularly on BBC Radio 4's Daily Service and BBC Television's Songs of Praise. He has recorded a solo album of varied Classical works.

With organist Gordon Stewart he gave the first performance of Andrew Carter's Petite Suite, which they then took on tour in the United States. Anthony is becoming well known for the wide range of instruments he plays in concerts everything from didgeridoo and conch shell to comet, flugel horn, natural and piccolo trumpets!

Gordon Stewartwas born in Dundee, Scotland and studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music and the Geneva Conservatoire, gaining a performers' diploma with the distinction from the former and a premier prix de virtuosité from the latter. His teachers included Gillian Weir and Lionel Rogg. He was, for eleven years, organist of Manchester Cathedral and has, for the past thirteen years, been Borough Organist of Kirklees, where he plays the magnificent Father Willis organ in Huddersfield Town Hall.

Organ playing has taken him to countries across Europe and to the USA, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. His repertoire is large and covers all the major schools of organ composition including works written for him by Lionel Rogg, Noel Rawsthorne, Michael Ball, Dick Koomans and Alan Spedding.

He is Director of the Royal School of Church Music Millennium Youth Choir and one of the regular musical directors for BBC Radio 4's Daily Service and television's Songs of Praise. Gordon has appeared as concerto soloist with the BBC Philharmonic, the Halle, Northern Chamber and Camerata orchestras, and has recorded on the Lammas, Priory, Ambient, Foxglove and OxRec labels.

Gordon is much in demand as a teacher and adjudicator and has given Master Classes for the Royal College of Organists, the St Giles Organ School, the Royal College of Music, the IAO, the Oundle Organ School, and Gothenburg University. He is a Past President of the Incorporated Association of Organists and was recently elected a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music.

Programme

Martini Toccata

Telemann Concerto in D

Bach Prelude and Fugue in G

Andrew Carter Petite Suite
Festival - Wisteria - Scherzo

Rawsthorne Fantasia on Wachet auf!

Hartmann Theme and Variations on La Belle Americaine

Louis Vierne Impromptu

Stephen Bulla Blessed Assurance

On November 26th we relocated to Spalding Parish Church where we welcomed the fine trumpeter Anthony Thompson, who has performed in this area once before. His partner was the celebrated organist, Gordon Stewart, and they played a programme of varied classical and modern works. The church was well warmed for the evening, but the audience were advised to bring a cushion for extra comfort! The performers provided their own video link so that the audience could see Gordon Stewart on a large screen.
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 postgraduate trumpet studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and two years as Music Director to the Salvation Army in Texas, Anthony is now one of the busiest trumpeters in the North of England. This includes work with the Manchester Camerata and Northern Sinfonia (including principal), Aldeburgh Music Society (including soloist), Opera North, English National Orchestra, North of England Chamber Orchestra, Manchester Concert Orchestra, Northern Ballet, London Gala Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, joining Orichalcum Classic Brass, Harlequin Brass and the English Brass Consort, and the European Concert Orchestra which has involved recording sessions with Don Lusher, Kenny Baker, Claire Sweeney and Shirley Bassey amongst others. In addition, he has been a member of the Britten-Pears Orchestra and Baroque Orchestra, and has performed with the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, Lesley Garrett and The Sixteen with Harry Christophers. As a soloist, Anthony has toured extensively throughout the UK, USA and Brazil, and has also appeared in Holland, Norway, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico. In addition to his own solo work and masterclasses, Anthony appears regularly on BBC Radio 4's Daily Service and BBC Television's Songs of Praise. He has recorded a solo album of varied Classical works. With organist Gordon Stewart he gave the first performance of Andrew Carter's Petite Suite, which they then took on tour in the United States. Anthony is becoming well known for the wide range of instruments he plays in concerts everything from didgeridoo and conch shell to comet, flugel horn, natural and piccolo trumpets! Gordon Stewartwas born in Dundee, Scotland and studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music and the Geneva Conservatoire, gaining a performers' diploma with the distinction from the former and a premier prix de virtuosité from the latter. His teachers included Gillian Weir and Lionel Rogg. He was, for eleven years, organist of Manchester Cathedral and has, for the past thirteen years, been Borough Organist of Kirklees, where he plays the magnificent Father Willis organ in Huddersfield Town Hall. Organ playing has taken him to countries across Europe and to the USA, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. His repertoire is large and covers all the major schools of organ composition including works written for him by Lionel Rogg, Noel Rawsthorne, Michael Ball, Dick Koomans and Alan Spedding. He is Director of the Royal School of Church Music Millennium Youth Choir and one of the regular musical directors for BBC Radio 4's Daily Service and television's Songs of Praise. Gordon has appeared as concerto soloist with the BBC Philharmonic, the Halle, Northern Chamber and Camerata orchestras, and has recorded on the Lammas, Priory, Ambient, Foxglove and OxRec labels. Gordon is much in demand as a teacher and adjudicator and has given Master Classes for the Royal College of Organists, the St Giles Organ School, the Royal College of Music, the IAO, the Oundle Organ School, and Gothenburg University. He is a Past President of the Incorporated Association of Organists and was recently elected a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music. Programme Martini Toccata Telemann Concerto in D Bach Prelude and Fugue in G Andrew Carter Petite Suite Festival - Wisteria - Scherzo Rawsthorne Fantasia on Wachet auf! Hartmann Theme and Variations on La Belle Americaine Louis Vierne Impromptu Stephen Bulla Blessed Assurance