"Lewis Gaston conducted the entire opera with a sure sense for detail, theatrical pacing and the idiom of middle-period Verdi" - Opera Magazine
Current Work
Lewis Gaston (www.lewisgaston.co) works as a conductor in the UK and abroad. His work has been recognised in international competitions, masterclasses and he enjoys a schedule of work that combines performance 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 within the UK.
In 2023 Lewis made his debut with the English Schools Orchestra at the Cadogan Hall and subsequently accepted the role of Music Director. Having accepted the role of Assistant Musical Director to the Easter Orchestral Society in 2022 he conducts a large amount of repertoire with them. As a Guest Conductor in 2024 Lewis is also working with the Farnborough Symphony Orchestra in a programme 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 performances of La Traviata, La Cenerentola, Faust, La Boheme, Aida, Turandot, Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci across 2023-2024.
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 the portrayal of monarchs in Verdi's operas, the operas of Bizet, and a rare focus on the German operas being produced at the same time as the Italian 'Verismo' movement. He is currently working on a number of lecture performances based around the soprano Nancy Storace and architect John Soane.
In 2023 Lewis made his debut with the English Schools Orchestra at the Cadogan Hall and subsequently accepted the role of Music Director. Having accepted the role of Assistant Musical Director to the Easter Orchestral Society in 2022 he conducts a large amount of repertoire with them. As a Guest Conductor in 2024 Lewis is also working with the Farnborough Symphony Orchestra in a programme 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 performances of La Traviata, La Cenerentola, Faust, La Boheme, Aida, Turandot, Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci across 2023-2024.
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 the portrayal of monarchs in Verdi's operas, the operas of Bizet, and a rare focus on the German operas being produced at the same time as the Italian 'Verismo' movement. He is currently working on a number of lecture performances based around the soprano Nancy Storace and architect John Soane.
"Infusing that operatic greatest hit with fresh brio is Lewis Gaston, whose conducting consistently marries musical insight with theatrical flair. He knows how to lift a Verdian phrase." - The Stage
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.