Dvořák 6

Thomas Wilson
CONDUCTOR

Conductor, composer, and trumpeter Thomas Wilson is one of the most active and diversified musicians today.

He has an extensive catalog of compositions and arrangements that have been performed around the world, unlocking new performance opportunities for orchestras and artists and making him an in-demand orchestrator and arranger. This season, his arrangements will be played by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Gothenburg Symphony, and dozens of others.

As Associate Conductor of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Thomas conducts nearly half the season in Pops, Classical and educational concerts, playing in the trumpet section when he is not conducting.

As Music Director of the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, Thomas has made it one of the most vibrant chamber orchestras in the country, with an expansive season of diverse programming that has won accolades from leading foundations, including the NEA. Under his leadership, the Chamber Orchestra weathered the pandemic extremely well.

Thomas is a strong advocate for music education. He conducted for the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony program, founded the Young Concert Artists orchestra, and is an active guest conductor and clinician for school and honor orchestras. He teaches at Colorado College and Colorado Springs Conservatory.

Thomas has led countless projects in dance, opera, theater, film, and virtually every genre of music. His recent performances of Blind Injustice and Glory Denied illustrate his dedication to keeping the arts relevant to our time.

Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado, where he graduated summa cum laude and received the School of Music’s highest honor—the Departmental Scholar Award. He has a master’s degree in Conducting from Colorado State University and has supplemented his education by studying with leading conducting mentors like Lawrence Leighton Smith, Gustav Meier and Michael Tilson Thomas, who called him “someone to watch.”

In his free time, Thomas finds happiness in friends, fitness, and learning. He is a voracious reader, a classic car enthusiast, and is always happiest on Colorado trails with his adorable dog, Ella.

Maximilian Hornung
CELLO

Maximilian Hornung has established himself as one of the leading cellists of his generation. Today, he regularly performs as a soloist with renowned orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Czech Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony, amongst many others.

Hornung’s chamber music partners include renowned artists such as Anne-Sophie Mutter, Hélène Grimaud, Daniil Trifonov, Joshua Bell, and Yefim Bronfman. He has performed at prestigious festivals like Schwetzingen, Salzburg, Lucerne, Verbier, and Hong Kong. His concert appearances span major venues including the Berlin and Cologne Philharmonics, Vienna Musikverein, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and London’s Wigmore Hall.

His impressive and versatile discography includes solo concerts as well as recordings with prominent chamber musicians. He received the ECHO Klassik Prize for his first album (Sony 2011) – for which he was designated as Young Artist of the Year – as well as for his recording of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with the Bamberg Symphony under the direction of Sebastian Tewinkel the following year (Sony 2012).

Born in 1986 in Augsburg, Germany, Hornung began taking cello lessons at the age of eight. The teachers with whom he studied most intensely were Eldar Issakadze, Thomas Grossenbacher, and David Geringas. As cellist of the Tecchler Trio, in which he played until 2011, he won the First Prize of the ARD Music Competition in 2007. At 23, he became first principal cellist of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and held this position until 2013. Maximilian Hornung has been supported and sponsored by the Anne-Sophie Mutter Circle of Friends Foundation and Borletti-Buitoni Trust London. Since the spring of 2022, he has been Artistic Director of the Traunsteiner Sommerkonzerte.