About

British conductor Thomas Payne is establishing a reputation both at home and abroad in both operatic and symphonic music. Described as ‘Clearly a name to watch‘ by Seen and Heard International, his performances are gathering extremely favourable reviews and repeat engagements.

I’m 2025 he made his debuts with the Changsha Symphony Orchestra and Opéra de Baugé and was invited to give talks on western opera and its evolution in Hunan, China. This year he will return to France to conduct a double bill of Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica and will make his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and tour with the Hunan Musicians Association to several European countries.

From 2018-20 Thomas was on the prestigious Jette Parker Artists Programme at the Royal Ballet and Opera, Covent Garden and worked on productions of Otello, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Manon, Mayerling, Don Quixote and many others, touring with the latter with the Royal Ballet to Japan.

He has been on the Music Staff of Grange Park Opera since 2019 with productions including Madama Butterfly, Aleko, Gianni Schicchi, Otello, La fille du Regiment and Der fliegende Holländer and Don Carlos. 

Often in demand as an assistant conductor, Thomas has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra and will work as assistant for Monte Carlo Opera on Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and Malmö Opera on Ethyl Smythe’s The Wreckers.

Thomas is passionate about both community and youth music making and has been Principal Conductor of London City Orchestra since 2020 conducting  performances at Cadogan Hall, Sinfonia Smith Square and Duke’s Hall. He has conducted several productions for Hampstead Garden Opera and British Youth Opera, nurturing young voices on works such as Hänsel und Gretel, Le nozze di Figaro, The Rape of Lucretia, Agrippina and Savitri. Thomas also holds workshops on introducing opera to young people for Scherzo Ensemble.