Tom Fetherstonhaugh Assistant Conductor
Tom has conducted concerto performances with leading soloists including Alena Baeva, Alim Beisembayev, Julian Bliss, Danny Driver, Jess Gillam, Thomas Gould, Richard Hosford, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Tasmin Little, and Laura van der Heijden.
Some of his recent projects include conducting Tasmin Little’s final concerto performances, a concert for peace in the Korean Demilitarised Zone, and the world premiere of Kate Whitley’s Falling, a groundbreaking work for inclusive ensembles and orchestra jointly commissioned by Sage Gateshead and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
He has been a member of The Grange Festival’s music staff team for the past two years, working on productions of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, and Verdi’s Macbeth. In 2023 Tom returns as Assistant Conductor for the world premiere of David Matthews’ Anna, conducted by Jac van Steen.
Tom founded Fantasia Orchestra in 2016, at its inception being a group of budding young musicians from junior Conservatoire departments. It has grown into an orchestra of exciting talent who have a busy schedule at festivals and venues across the country.
At the invitation of the Kanneh-Mason family, Tom conducted the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2022, and is delighted to be working with the orchestra now on an ongoing basis.
Tom started his musical journey with the Suzuki method of violin playing, and was a chorister of Westminster Abbey. He trained with conductor Roland Melia, of Ilya Musin’s school. Tom read music at Merton College, Oxford, where he held organ and academic scholarships and graduated with a First. He then studied conducting with Sian Edwards at the Royal Academy of Music where he held the Julien Award. Tom graduated in 2021 with Distinction, winning the Norma Simpson award for his contribution to the Academy and a DipRAM prize for an outstanding final performance.
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The Assistant Conductor role in 2023/2024 has been generously funded by 172 supporters of The Big Give Christmas Challenge. Special thanks go to Terence and Annette O’Rourke, David and Julie Edyvean, John Seldon and The Reed Foundation.