Biographies of Soloists
Brian Thomson
Brian began playing cornet in brass bands at the age of 10, taking up the trumpet later in high school. Further studies include a Bachelor of Music degree at Goldsmiths College, University of London, followed by a postgraduate Diploma at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. During this period he was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra for two years.
From 1993-6 Brian was principal trumpet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, during which time he was professor of trumpet at the Hong Kong Institute of Arts. After returning, Brian was appointed co-principal trumpet with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998.
Solo performances include the Haydn, Hummel and Vivaldi double concertos and Shostakovich`s Concerto for Piano and Trumpet. Brian also freelances with all the orchestras of London and others such as the Orchestra L'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. In early 2005, Brian was promoted to principal trumpet with the RPO. In his youth, Brian raced motorbikes.
Oleg Kogan
In 1989 Oleg Kogan won the All-Soviet Union Cello Competition. He has performed with orchestras including the Moscow Philharmonic, the State Symphony Orchestra of the USSR, Latvian State Symphony Orchestra, Geneva Chamber Orchestra and London Soloist Chamber Orchestra and has given numerous recitals in France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Switzerland and the UK.
From 1994 to 1999 Oleg was a member of the Shidlof Quartet with a busy performing and recording schedule in Britain and abroad. In 1998 he became founder and artistic director of the Razumovsky Ensemble, a group of dynamic soloists and section leaders from world-class orchestras.
He worked with artists such as Murray Perrahia, Bernard d’Ascoli, Yuri Bashmet, Iona Brown and Jack Brymer among others, recorded for Doron DRC in Switzerland, Opus 111 in France and Linn Records in the UK and broadcast on Radio France, Swiss Romande, Israel Radio, Classic FM and BBC Radio 3.
Oleg Kogan has appeared as Guest Principal with several British orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. At the age of 25, Oleg was the youngest Associate Professor at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. Since 1996 he has been teaching at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Many of his students have distinguished careers and have won many major awards and prizes at National and International competitions including the YCA in New York, the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow, Lutoslawski Competition in Poland, Geneva International Competition and ARD International Competition in Munich. Oleg Kogan is a Professor of Margess International of Switzerland and gives regular masterclases in Norway and Belgium.
Oleg plays a Rugieri Cello of 1685.