This month we welcome a new member to the Orchestra, Thomas Beer, who joins the Viola section. He opened up about his early musical memories, his inspirations, and what he’s most looking forward to in the year ahead with the LSO.
Tom started playing the viola at the age of 13 after originally focusing on the piano. He then went on to study at Trinity College of Music with Elizabeth Turnbull, where he was awarded several prizes both as soloist and chamber musician.
After meeting celebrated English viola player Roger Chase at a masterclass, Tom won a scholarship to study with him for two years at Oberin Conservatory in the United States.
On his return to Europe, Tom was appointed No 3 Viola in the Hallé Orchestra, where he worked for eight years, before becoming Principal Viola of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for a further eight years. Tom is regularly invited to play as Guest Principal for several orchestras in the UK.
At what age did you start playing your instrument, and what made you choose it?
Tellingly, it was my piano teacher who suggested I try the viola. I had no concept of what it sounded like except a nasty sample on a very old synthesiser I had as a kid. It was the sound of the viola in chamber music in particular that convinced me that this was a lovely instrument, and incredible players like Tabea Zimmerman or Veronika Hagen that inspired me.
I remember being hooked on music as a small child, and stumbling across a bunch of cassettes of classical music my grandad had optimistically made for my dad. I can’t honestly say that I ever consciously chose to pursue music as a career, even in the later stages of my postgraduate studies, I just knew I wanted to play all the time. Earning money doing it was an afterthought.
What are you most looking forward to in the rest of the LSO’s 2023/24 season?
I’m really looking forward to the tour in October. Touring is a fantastic way to get to know people. I’m also looking forward to repertoire like Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra, which is great to play.
If you could go back, what advice would you give to your younger self as an aspiring musician?
I would tell younger me to eat more slowly and spend less time telling himself he wasn’t any good – it wasn’t helpful!
Are there any other interesting things about you we should know?
I love learning languages, which is the main reason (possibly only) I ended up as the singer in a Tango band whilst living in Manchester. Besides that, I love being out in nature, whether running or listening to birdsong.
If you had to pick, what is your favourite piece of orchestral music? And what is your favourite piece of non-classical music?
My favourite pieces of music change all the time but pieces by Ravel such as Daphnis and Chloé, a big romantic tone poem by Strauss, or any of Brahms’ symphonies are incredible.
Aside from that, I currently can’t stop listening to Nina Simone singing For All We Know, and Stevie Wonder, Caetano Veloso and Tom Jobim also keep me coming back for more.
