ABOUT
Thomas Foster is a London-based composer.
He has worked projects with the National Portrait Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts and the Lontano Ensemble among others. He studied with Alison Kay at the Royal College of Music, earning a distinction for his master's degree in 2020.
His compositional approach takes off from spectralist thinking, exploring the limits of human perception as well as perceived depth in music. Indeterminacy and improvisation also contribute to his work.
Making Light (for alto flute and bass clarinet) was described as an "excellently written, brilliant piece" by BBC Radio 3's Sara Mohr-Pietsch.
Thomas won the 2020 Royal College of Music Concerto Competition with Reflections in Moving Water for wind orchestra.
In 2019 he launched the Unheard Concerts series. With support from Arts Council England, these concerts aim to rescue contemporary music from the concert hall and present it to new audiences, made up predominantly of non-concertgoers.
ARTICLE
"It is time to question the role conservatoires should be playing beyond training instrumentalists and operating as substandard concert halls.” - Read my article for Arts Professional here
ARTICLE
"How can music possibly progress if it is being held hostage in such a restricted environment?"
Listed in Arts Professional's #GoodReads, I discuss why relevance should be a priority when devising new formats. Read my article for Orchestras Live here
CONTACT
PORTFOLIO
Scores available on demand
Sound Installations
Ortolan
2020
Opera
The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody
2020
Large Ensemble
Forever Unfolding
(for orchestra)
2020
Reflections in Moving Water
(for wind orchestra)
2019
Chamber Ensemble
Prismatic Transformations
(for flute, alto flute, tenor saxophone, harp, viola, and cello)
2019
Penseroso/Smorzando
(for viola and cello)
2019
Making Light
(for alto flute and bass clarinet)
2019
Fault Lines
(for two double basses)
2019
When She Walks
(for mezzo soprano, oboe, tenor saxophone, and cello)
2018
Two Snares
(for two snare drums)
2018
First Breath
(for viola, cello, and electronics)
2017
Solo Instrument
In Succession
(for piano)
2018
Suibhne/Fer Caille
(for violin and electronics)
2018
Electronic
Retired Piano
(electronic)
2018