Ben Thomson

Ben became the Principal Tuba player with the London Symphony Orchestra in 2019. Prior to this appointment he also held the same position with the Orchestra of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden since 2013, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra from 2011-2013.

Ben studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester with Ewan Easton (Hallé), Brian Kingsley (Opera North), Robin Haggart (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic) and James Gourlay (International Soloist).

He won the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist of the Year in both 2006 and 2007. Since winning the prizes, Ben has performed concertos with such ensembles as the Ulster Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and Black Dyke Brass Band, and has given recitals for the Manchester Midday Concert Series in the Bridgewater Hall, the Leeds International Concert Season and the RNCM’s international Festival of Brass.

In November 2022, Ben will perform the UK premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Concerto for Tubist with the LSO at the Barbican Centre, London.

Ben was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the European Union Youth Orchestra. He has since performed with most of the UK’s orchestras and has also worked abroad including a trial with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra based in the Sydney Opera House and a long-term contract with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra.

Ben is the Professor of Tuba at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and a tuba tutor for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.