Tom Blomfield
Oboe
Tom grew up in North Wales where he began learning the Oboe aged 10. He studied at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music where he was taught by Rachael Pankhurst and was a member of both the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for a number of years.
He graduated the Royal Academy of Music in the summer of 2017 shortly before joining the Philharmonia Orchestra as their new Joint Principal Oboe just a couple of months later at the age of 22. While at the Academy he studied with his predecessor at the Philharmonia, Christopher Cowie and London Philharmonic principal Ian Hardwick. He became a professor of oboe at the Royal Academy of Music only a year after completion of his own studies there.
Tom is now principal oboe with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, taking part in their critically acclaimed BBC Proms performances and as well as a regular player having been involved in several recording projects for John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London.
He made his professional soloist debut with the Philharmonia and former principal conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, in a performance of Strauss' Oboe Concerto at the Philharmonia's London home, The Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre.
Tom enjoys a busy freelance career, having played Principal with the majority of the UK orchestras. He also performs and tours regularly with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and has played Guest Principal Oboe with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.