Widely acknowledged as one of the UK's leading virtuosi, Thomas Bowes began learning the violin with Lee Ken Kok at the age of 7, but it wasn't until he was 17 and had begun to study with the renowned Hungarian pedagogue Bela Katona, that he realised music had become his true vocation, and his chosen career.

Passion and integrity, without extramusical gimmicks, are fundamental to Tom's playing. Leading recent audiences and critics to describe him as "just awesome.". "In everything he played, Bowes revealed an exacting and deeply felt musicianship."

After graduating from Trinity College of Music, Thomas became the founder leader of the Maggini String Quartet,then concertmaster of the London Mozart Players, with whom he made his BBC Proms debut under the direction of Jane Glover. This acclaimed leadership resulted in numerous invitations to guest lead some of the UK's greatest orchestras. These include the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, working closely with the late Sir George Solti, Sir Colin Davis, Michael Tilson Thomas, Joseph Swensen and Kent Nagano.

As a soloist, concert highlights include a performance of Szymanowski's 2nd Violin Concerto with Takuo Yuasa and the Ulster Orchestra, followed by a specially commissioned recording of this work for the BBC 1998 Proms season. In 1999 Thomas made his debut with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, giving the world premiere of John Metcalf's Violin Concerto "Paradise Haunts..". Last season saw performances of Mozart and Tchaikovsky concertos with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra during its tours of The United States of America and again with them at New York's Town Hall. Early in 2001 he gave 2 performances of the Elgar Violin Concerto in San Francisco and Montana, leaving critics struggling for superlatives and audiences ".in rapt silence" ".. 900 listeners leapt to their feet in (a) show of admiration..."

With his wife, the composer Eleanor Alberga, Tom formed the duo Double Exposure, traveling extensively, performing and recording a wide range of music, to great critical acclaim and outstanding audience reaction. In May 1997 the duo toured China, and after a sensational concert in Beijing, was hailed by the Beijing News as the "British Golden Couple" praised for ".dazzling performances (which) left the audience with infinite wonderment". A televised recital in Shanghai, as well as concerts and masterclasses in Nanjing, Kunming and Qingdao, completed a ground breaking tour.

The 1999/2000 season included over 40 concerts in the USA, ending with a triumphant recital in Carnegie. A rave New York Times review by eminent critic Paul Griffiths appeared together with a picture taken mid performance. This was a fitting finale for Double Exposure, as both Tom and Eleanor decided to dedicate themselves to their individual careers - Tom as solo violinist and Eleanor as composer. Tom's engagements in 2001/2 will include performances of the Britten and Metcalf, as part of a long and ongoing association with Richard Hickox (Elgar, Brahms, Walton and Mendelssohn concertos). Plans to record Metcalf's "Paradise Haunts.." are in an advanced stage of negotiation; meanwhile, Tom is currently collaborating with Eleanor Alberga on her composition of a Violin Concerto - commissioned by Joseph Swensen and The Scottish Chamber Orchestra - which Tom will premiere in Dec 2001. Overseas tour plans include Tom's continued and very successful association with the United States together with visits to France and Turkey.

Tom's repertoire encompasses the widest range of violin concertos and solo works, while his passionate advocacy of pieces such as the Szymanowski Violin Concertos and Schumann's violin sonatas underline his strong belief in exploring music beyond the dictates of fashion or convention. As an Englishman Tom feels completely "at one" with the great works of Elgar, Walton and Britten. His deep affection for their wonderful concertos extends beyond the concert platform to embrace in-depth research and studies of their context and creation. Tom truly believes he has something unique to offer to the interpretation of the Elgar, Walton and Britten concertos.

Thomas Bowes is also deeply committed to music as a living, developing art, and feels that commissioning is vital to the growth of not only present day composers but also artists and audience alike. He is constantly seeking new works to perform and avenues to explore the creation of fresh commissions.

Tom plays a 1659 Amati.