Current Work
Lewis Gaston works as a conductor and assistant in the UK and abroad. His work has been recognised in international competitions, masterclasses and he enjoys a schedule of work that combines performance, education and research. As well as conducting across the UK he has worked with the Brasov Philarmonic (Romania), Toscana Classica Orchestra (Italy), Berlin Sinfonietta (Germany), Camerata di Fiorentina (Italy) and the State Opera Rousse (Bulgaria). Lewis is currently Music Director/Assistant Music Director to a number of orchestras and opera companies across the UK performing at venues such as the Cadogan Hall (London).
Lewis makes his debut with the English Schools' Orchestra this year with a celebration of the Coronation featuring Elgar's 1st Symphony at the Cadogan Hall, London. Having accepted the role of Assistant Musical Director to the Easter Orchestral Society in 2022, he looks forward to focussing on Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin Suite and Busoni's Turandot Suite with them this year. As Guest Conductor Lewis has upcoming engagements with the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra and Farnborough Symphony Orchestra, including performing the Stravinsky Violin Concerto with legendary violinist So-Ock Kim.
Lewis specialises in Opera conducting with a repertoire of around 50 operas and is conducting La Traviata, La Cenerentola, Faust and La Boheme in the coming months. As well as the core repertoire Lewis is particularly passionate about less performed works and is delighted to be conducting works such as Fuchs' Symphony No. 2, Casella's Symphony No. 2, Ives' Symphony No. 1 and orchestral works by Dukas, Massenet, Macdowell and Ruth Gipps in 2023.
As a lecturer and conductor for Opera Prelude, Lewis has given the UK premiere of Mercadante's opera Don Chisciotte alle nozze di Gamaccio and lectured on a wide variety of opera subjects such as how monarchs are portrayed in Verdi's operas, a three-part series of lectures devoted to the operas of Bizet, and a series of lectures entitled 'After Bel Canto’, focussing on the German operas being produced at the same time as the Italian 'Verismo' movement.
Lewis makes his debut with the English Schools' Orchestra this year with a celebration of the Coronation featuring Elgar's 1st Symphony at the Cadogan Hall, London. Having accepted the role of Assistant Musical Director to the Easter Orchestral Society in 2022, he looks forward to focussing on Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin Suite and Busoni's Turandot Suite with them this year. As Guest Conductor Lewis has upcoming engagements with the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra and Farnborough Symphony Orchestra, including performing the Stravinsky Violin Concerto with legendary violinist So-Ock Kim.
Lewis specialises in Opera conducting with a repertoire of around 50 operas and is conducting La Traviata, La Cenerentola, Faust and La Boheme in the coming months. As well as the core repertoire Lewis is particularly passionate about less performed works and is delighted to be conducting works such as Fuchs' Symphony No. 2, Casella's Symphony No. 2, Ives' Symphony No. 1 and orchestral works by Dukas, Massenet, Macdowell and Ruth Gipps in 2023.
As a lecturer and conductor for Opera Prelude, Lewis has given the UK premiere of Mercadante's opera Don Chisciotte alle nozze di Gamaccio and lectured on a wide variety of opera subjects such as how monarchs are portrayed in Verdi's operas, a three-part series of lectures devoted to the operas of Bizet, and a series of lectures entitled 'After Bel Canto’, focussing on the German operas being produced at the same time as the Italian 'Verismo' movement.
Biography
Lewis Gaston began as a Music Scholar and Chorister at Brentwood School and Cathedral, going on to read music at Royal Holloway University of London where he gained a BMus Hons. As well as conducting at Royal Holloway he studied conducting in the UK and abroad with notable conductors including Lev Parikian (UK), George Hurst (UK), Roberto Paternostro (Austria), Giuseppe Lanzetta (Italy), Yoav Talmi (Israel) and the opera conductor Dejan Savić (Serbia). Lewis studied trombone, bassoon and piano.
Lewis co-founded Opera Holloway, a charity dedicated to providing young musicians with paid opportunities to perform in opera at the early stages of their careers. The company now tours the UK annually having performed at Buxton,Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a number of other Music Festivals around the country. Opera Holloway has achieved a number of awards for its work on and off the stage - www.operaholloway.co.uk.
Lewis co-founded Opera Holloway, a charity dedicated to providing young musicians with paid opportunities to perform in opera at the early stages of their careers. The company now tours the UK annually having performed at Buxton,Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a number of other Music Festivals around the country. Opera Holloway has achieved a number of awards for its work on and off the stage - www.operaholloway.co.uk.
