Biography

Candida Thompson is known for her extraordinary musical communication and honest musicianship. Her curiousity and research led her to pioneering programmes and collaborations crossing boundries of culture, time and genre.

Candida studied violin with David Takeno at the Guildhall school of music in London and completed them at the Banff center for the Arts in Canada. An invitation for a series of masterclasses and concerts with Isaac Stern played an important role in her musical development. Candida has been invited in a play/direct role with groups such as the Chamber orchestra of Europe, City of London Sinfonia, Guildhall string ensemble, Camerata Nordica, Moscow chamber orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Saltzburg Camerata. In 2005 she became artistic director of Amsterdam Sinfonietta; a top notch string ensemble with an international focus and reputation. Play/directing the ensemble she has established a well attended adventurous concert series in the Netherlands which frequently tours Europe, South America, China and Australia and has recorded cds for Deutsche Gramophon, Sony, Decca, ECM and has a long relationship with Channel Classics.

Chamber music is always at the core of her musical activities. Performing with kindred musical spirits like Bruno Giuranna, Fazil Say, Xenia Yankovich, Victor Julienne Laferriere, Iris Juda and Janine Jansen she shaped her musical taste and standard. Candida is invited to festivals such as the Kuhmo festival in Finland, Ernen festival in Switzerland, La musica Sarasota in the US, ‘Harriet & Friends’ in Austria and also performed at the Utrecht Kamermuziek Festival.

Most recently Candida, Harriet Krijgh and pianist Magda Amara also performed at the the Schubertiade in Hohenems. In 2022 Candida and Harriet founded a festival Heuvelrug Chamber Music in Holland where they are joint ‘Artistic leaders’.

As a stong advocate for the heritage of classical music but also with a keen interest in todays cultural developments Candida seeks artistic dialogue. This leads to compelling projects involving living composers such as Jorg Widmann, Thomas Larcher, Michel van der Aa, but also involving philosophers, photographers, urban dancers, actors and light designers. Because Candida values the development of younger musians highly, she is a regular guest at institutions like Villa Musica Chamber Music in Germany or the Guildhall School in London to coach and play with young talents.

Candida plays on a Guarneri, del Gesù (1698-1744) kindly on loan from a private collector.

Candida Thompson BIOGRAPHY (English PDF)
Candida Thompson BIOGRAPHY (Dutch PDF)
Candida Thompson BIOGRAPHY (German PDF)
Candida Thompson BIOGRAPHY (Italian PDF)