Thomas Leate was born in Norwich 1983. He began his violin training aged nine with Mr. Paul Clarke and later with Mr. Roderick Rose before entering The Royal College of Music in 2002. During his time at the RCM, he studied with Miss Madeleine Mitchell and received chamber music coaching from Dona Lee Croft and the Chilingirian String Quartet. He graduated in July 2006 receiving a BMus (Hons) degree.
Thomas has performed as a soloist and participated in masterclasses at several music festivals both in and outside of the UK and has also enjoyed a wide variety of experience in chamber groups. He has performed in several recitals with the pianist David Neil Jones.
Thomas has won awards such as ‘the most promising young string player' (Michael Badminton Trust, 2001); awards from The Norfolk Youth Music Trust, in 2001 and 2002; bursaries to the Schlern International Festival, Italy (2004 and 2005) and The Norfolk Young Musician of the Year 2005.
Last year, Thomas was the violinist in the UK tour of Acorn Antiques-The Musical for two months. In May 2007, he appeared as soloist playing The Lark Ascending (Vaughan Williams) with the Norwich Mozart Orchestra in Rouen, France. Thomas also visited France for a tour leading the Norfolk County Youth Orchestra with whom he regularly rehearses, performs and gives coaching to. Thomas regularly freelances with many orchestras including; The Mahler International Orchestra, British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, London Irish Symphony Orchestra, Academy of St.Thomas and Norwich Philharmonic. In September 2007 he played two concerts in Germany with The Academy of St Martin-in-the Fields conducted by Sir Neville Marriner with violinist Julia Fischer.
