Artists

Biography:

Born in Paris in 1988, Thomas Dunford discovered the lute at the age of nine, thanks to his first teacher Claire Antonini. He completed his studies in 2006 at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris (CNR).

Thomas continued his studies at the Schola Cantorum in Basel with Hopkinson Smith, and participated in several masterclasses with Rolf Lislevand and Julian Bream, and in workshops with Eugène Ferré, Paul O’Dette, Pascale Boquet, Benjamin Perrot and Eduardo Egüez. He was awarded his Bachelor’s degree in 2009.

From September 2003 through to January 2005, Thomas gave his first performances playing the role of the lutenist in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on stage at the Comédie Française. Since then, Thomas has played recitals in New York’s Carnegie Hall and London’s Wigmore Hall, and made numerous solo or ensemble appearances in European festivals including Ambronay, Arques-la-Bataille, Bozar, La Chaise-Dieu, Nantes, Saintes and Utrecht. He has also performed further afield in England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Austria, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, Romania, the United States, Israel, China, Japan and India.

Thomas’ first solo CD Lachrimae, recorded for the French label Alpha in 2012, was unanimously acclaimed by critics, with BBC Music Magazine calling him the ‘Eric Clapton of the lute’. His extensive discography includes recordings with La Capella Mediterranea, the Clématis Ensemble, Monica Huggett, La Serenissima, A 2 Violes Esgales, Cappricio Stravagante, Marsyas, Arcangelo, Pygmalion, lestyn Davies and La Fenice.