Alison Balsom - Caprice

Whilst represented by the Young Artists Concert Trust, Alison caught the ear of EMI Classics, who released her debut CD in 2002 and have recently renewed their commitment with an exclusive three disc contract. Her following CD, an all-Bach programme, was released in September 2005.

A trumpet concerto by Joby Talbot, whose recent commissions include his Proms debut and music for the Disney Film The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, commissioned for Alison by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Turku Philharmonic orchestras, will be premiered in late 2006.

Alison is currently a member of BBC Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme, under whose auspices she has already given concerts at the Wigmore Hall, and with many of the BBC orchestras, including the BBC Symphony and Sir Andrew Davis, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Recent performances have included the Stuttgart Radio Symphony with Sir Roger Norrington, Bamberg Symphony with Mikko Franck, Munich Chamber Orchestra with Christoph Poppen, the BBC Proms, and the Barbican's Mostly Mozart Festival. Alison performs regularly with the London Chamber Orchestra, and her future engagements include the Belgian National Orchestra with Mikko Franck, and her US debut with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, followed by concerts with the Colorado Symphony and IRIS Chamber Orchestra.

Alison studied trumpet at the Guildhall School of Music, the Paris Conservatoire, and with Håkan Hardenberger. She was a concerto finalist in the BBC Young Musicians Competition in 1998.

"The young British trumpeter Alison Balsom is a real star: resplendent and well-varied tone, crisp attack, absolute ease of production throughout the range." BBC Music