sound:

The guitarist Alan Thomas was born in Atlanta, and completed his studies at Indiana University and the University of California at San Diego. Based in the UK since 1997, he is much in demand as a recitalist and concerto soloist in music ranging from the Renaissance to the present day, but has been particularly dedicated to contemporary music and the exploration of new sonic resources of the guitar.

He has given world premières of over fifty works, including pieces by Laurence Crane, Gabriel Erkoreka, Michael Finnissy, Christopher Fox, and Bryn Harrison, and in 1997 became the only guitarist ever to win first prize in the International Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition in Holland. His further competition successes include top-prizes in the American Artistic Ambassador, MTNA and Guitar Foundation of America competitions.

Alan has performed extensively throughout the UK, Europe, the United States and Asia, and has been featured at international festivals including Aldeburgh, Spitalfields, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Bath Guitar Festival, Gaudeamus Festival, Ultima, Berlin Festival and the Guitar Foundation of America Festival. His performances have been broadcast on radio worldwide, and he has recorded compact discs on the Accord, Métier, Matchless Records, NMC and Guitar Classics labels, including a critically acclaimed recent release of his own Lennon/McCartney arrangements called The Long and Winding Road.

In recent years he has become increasingly active as a composer, focusing on solo and ensemble works for guitar. Highlights of 2007-08 include the world premiere of Alan's concerto Rhapsody on a Spanish Theme, as well as new works commissioned by the Cavatina Duo and the Midlands Fretted Orchestra.

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The Graham Fitkin Ensemble are: Simon Haram - soprano/alto saxes +ewi | Nick Moss -sop/alto/tenor saxes + bass clarinet | Noel Langley - trumpets, flugel horn | Adrian Spillett - percussion, vibraphone, drums | Joby Burgess - percussion, marimba, drums | Graham Fitkin - piano | Alan Thomas - guitars, mandolin | Ruth Wall - wire strung, bray and lever harps | John Lunn - bass

• website link for Alan Thomas: www.alanthomas-guitar.com
• other artists and composers involved in sound 2010
• sound events in 2010