Tom Pigott-Smith is a London-based violinist who leads orchestras and plays solo violin on film and television scores, records for artists across pop and classical music, and writes and arranges for the stage and screen.
Tom was a scholar at the Royal College of Music, where he studied with Itzhak Rashkovsky and won all the college's major prizes. On leaving he won the Myra Hess Award, which led to an acclaimed debut recital at Wigmore Hall.
He has since played as a recitalist and concerto soloist at festivals across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. He has given premieres of works by Huw Watkins, his duo partner for several years, and by Judith Bingham. Anthony Payne wrote Storm Chorale for him. His recordings include Janáček's Violin Sonata with Huw Watkins and a Sibelius disc with Chamber Domaine.
Tom has led the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Continuum, and the Heritage Orchestra at the Barbican, the Royal Albert Hall and in the studio. He has led Chamber Domaine at Wigmore Hall, most recently in a marathon day of three concerts: all of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, with new works by contemporary composers either side of each concerto movement. He has played guest principal with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, including on tour with Pinchas Zukerman, and with English National Opera. He has led live shows for Shirley Bassey, Kylie, Lil Nas X, Jeff Beck, Squeeze and Sparks. He also recently played “Eight Seasons” (Vivaldi's Four Seasons alongside Piazzolla's Four Seasons of Buenos Aires) at Music at Malling.
Tom is a regular orchestra leader and featured soloist on film and television scores, working with composers including Hans Zimmer, Alexandre Desplat and Tom Holkenborg. His credits include Wonka, Rocketman, Good Omens, Sherlock and Abominable. He has played on records by more than a hundred artists, from Adele and Elton John to Robbie Williams, and runs his own studio for remote recording.
As an orchestrator, Tom's work includes ITV's Endeavour and Nitin Sawhney's Heart Suite. He has arranged for McFly, Nakhane and Chrissie Hynde. He wrote the music for Bleak Expectations, which played at the Watermill Theatre and the Criterion Theatre in the West End, and his production music album Nordic Noir is used on television worldwide.
For the reopening of the Union Chapel, Islington in 2006, Tom translated poems by Pablo Neruda and set them to his own arrangements of Astor Piazzolla, read by Charles Dance and played by his group Soundstage. The programme has been performed several times since.
“Full of passion… I'm sure he'll make a great impact.”
“A wonderful performance.”
“Relaxed and assured, especially in his sublime slow movement.”
“A fearsome test of technique which seemed to offer no problems to the soloist.”
“The playing was exquisite and full of eloquence.”
Ready-made biographies for concert programmes, festival listings and press. Use whichever length fits.
Tom Pigott-Smith is an award-winning London-based violinist. A Royal College of Music scholar, he won the Myra Hess Award and made his debut at Wigmore Hall. He has led the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, and Chamber Domaine at Wigmore Hall, and is orchestra leader and soloist on film and television scores including Wonka and Rocketman.
Violinist Tom Pigott-Smith studied as a scholar at the Royal College of Music with Itzhak Rashkovsky, winning all the college's major prizes. He then won the Myra Hess Award, which led to an acclaimed debut recital at Wigmore Hall, and has since performed as a soloist across the UK, Europe and the Middle East, giving premieres of works by Huw Watkins, Judith Bingham and Anthony Payne.
Tom has led the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Continuum, and Chamber Domaine at Wigmore Hall, and has played guest principal with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and English National Opera. He is a regular orchestra leader and featured soloist on film and television scores, working with composers including Hans Zimmer, Alexandre Desplat and Tom Holkenborg, on credits including Wonka, Rocketman, Good Omens and Sherlock. He has led live shows for Shirley Bassey, Kylie, Lil Nas X and Jeff Beck, arranged for McFly and Chrissie Hynde, and wrote the music for Bleak Expectations in the West End.