Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

1970

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Paul Watkins is a renowned classical music artist who has made a significant impact in the world of music. Born on October 2, 1970, in Swansea, Wales, Watkins grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a cellist, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, Watkins showed a keen interest in music and began playing the cello at the age of six. Watkins received his early education at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey, England, where he studied under the tutelage of William Pleeth. He later went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal for his outstanding performance. In 1990, Watkins joined the acclaimed Nash Ensemble as their cellist, a position he held for over 20 years. During his time with the ensemble, Watkins performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including the Wigmore Hall in London, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Lincoln Center in New York. In addition to his work with the Nash Ensemble, Watkins has also performed as a soloist with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has collaborated with some of the most renowned conductors, including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Andrew Davis, and Sir Mark Elder. One of Watkins' most notable performances was his debut with the London Symphony Orchestra in 2002, where he performed the Elgar Cello Concerto under the baton of Sir Colin Davis. The performance was widely acclaimed, and Watkins was praised for his "rich, warm tone and impeccable technique." Watkins has also made a name for himself as a chamber musician, performing with some of the world's leading ensembles, including the Emerson String Quartet, the Takács Quartet, and the Guarneri Quartet. He has also collaborated with some of the most renowned pianists, including Paul Lewis, Ian Brown, and Huw Watkins. In addition to his performances, Watkins is also a respected teacher and has held teaching positions at the Royal Northern College of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He has also given masterclasses at some of the world's leading music institutions, including the Juilliard School in New York and the Royal Academy of Music in London. Watkins has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. In 2001, he was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Young Artist Award, and in 2002, he was named the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist. He was also awarded the prestigious Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award in 2004, which recognizes outstanding young musicians. In addition to his performing and teaching career, Watkins is also a composer and has written several works for solo cello and chamber ensembles. His compositions have been performed by some of the world's leading musicians, including Steven Isserlis and the Nash Ensemble. In 2013, Watkins made his conducting debut with the English Chamber Orchestra, and he has since gone on to conduct several other orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In 2018, Watkins was appointed the principal conductor of the English Chamber Orchestra, a position he currently holds. In this role, he has led the orchestra in several critically acclaimed performances, including a series of concerts at the Wigmore Hall in London.

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