Paul Silverthorne has combined a busy solo career with the position of Principal viola of both the London Symphony Orchestra from 1991 to 2015 and Principal viola of the London Sinfonietta since 1988
He has performed as a soloist with such conductors as Sir Colin Davis, André Previn, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Christopher Hogwood, Oliver Knussen, John Adams and Kent Nagano, with the LSO and other major orchestras in the UK, USA and Europe. After a performance at the BBC Proms, The Times described him as “a virtuoso in sensitivity and technique”.
His recordings cover a wide range of repertoire and appear on EMI, Naxos, Chandos, Koch International Classics, ASV, Meridian, Albany and other labels to widespread acclaim. His recent CD, Beethoven by Arrangement with pianist David Owen Norris, a collection of works arranged for viola and piano was issued on the Toccata Classics label and widely praised.
He has taught at the Academy since the early 90s and he returned to his Alma Mater in 2018 after three rewarding years as Professor of Viola at the School of Music at Soochow University in Suzhou, China. Many of his former students are in prominent positions in orchestras in the UK and abroad.
Image: Sim Canetty-Clarke