Catherine Thompson, violin

Catherine Thompson initially studied the violin, aged ten, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama before gaining a scholarship to study with Emanuel Hurwitz at the Royal Academy of Music.  She went on to win a scholarship from the Countess of Munster Trust to study in Austria with the Haydn Trio of Vienna. 

On her return to London Cathy became leader of the Orchestra of Opera ’88, (now English Touring Opera), and joined the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields. 

In 1993 Cathy was invited to join the Medici String Quartet touring and recording all over the world with the group.  Highlights include an acclaimed recording of Schubert’s quartet in G major D 887. 

In 1996 Cathy was made an associate of the Royal Academy of Music and currently lives in London.  She is a much sought after session player in the London recording studios, participating in the recording of many film scores and albums. She has performed in concerts for a great variety of artists - most notably with the Michael Nyman Band, Peter Gabriel, Sting and the Stone Roses.

Cathy now lives in London. She is the proud mother of two talented daughters both of whom are budding actors and she is an enthusiastic Yoga practitioner, sometimes even persuading her less flexible colleagues to join her in a class or two of her own devising.