Tony Lewis, 'cello 

Anthony Lewis was a member of the Medici String Quartet since its formation in London in 1973, joining the quartet whilst still a student at the Royal Academy of Music and remaining the ensemble’s highly esteemed cellist until the quartet’s disbandment in 2006.  At the Academy his teachers included such legendary names as Derek Simpson and Amaryllis Fleming.  

Following the Medici’s highly praised Wigmore Hall debut the ensemble won the Young Musicians of the Year Award and were awarded a recording contract with EMI.  Anthony performed in the quartet’s critically acclaimed recordings of the complete Beethoven cycle of quartets and also, over the years, took part in numerous other recordings for the EMI, Nimbus, and Koch International recording labels.  The Medici also gained a reputation for their interpretation of English music, notably Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Gerald Finzi, Michael Tippett and John Taverner, giving the world premiere of the latter’s ‘Towards Silence’ in 2012.   Anthony toured widely with the quartet and has given concerts in over 35 countries around the world including Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Nigeria.

The quartet created an acclaimed series of concerts entitled ‘Words and Music’ working with leading actors John Thaw, Derek Jacobi, Timothy West and Prunella Scales, in concerts which presented the letters and lives of the composers as well as their music.  “Hymn”, a piece written for them by Alan Bennett and George Fenton was performed at Buckingham Palace in 2009.

Born and brought up in Leicestershire, Anthony is a fine golfer and is a proud founder member (since 1970) of CAMRA, the campaign for real ale.

He has two children; Victoria, an actress, and Dom, a film composer now living in Los Angeles.  He now spends much of his time in the London recording studios.