{{short description|French-Belgian cellist}} {{about|the Franco-Belgian cellist|the Canadian musician|Carmen and Camille}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{BLP sources|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Camille Thomas | image = Pastorales d'été par l'OSB, Soirée symphonique, Grand Air 2014, Rennes-3.jpg | caption = Thomas at Rennes in 2014 with the Brittany Symphony Orchestra. | birth_date = {{birth-date and age|May 1988}} | birth_place = Paris, France | website = {{URL|camillethomas.com}} | instrument = 1730 ''De Munck-Feuermann'' Stradivarius | genre = Classical }} '''Camille Thomas''' (born May 1988 in Paris, France) is a Franco-Belgian cellist.
== Biography == Camille Thomas began studying the cello at the age of 4. At 10 years old, she studied under Marcel Bardon at the ''Conservatoire national de région de Paris'', where, at 16 years old, she was awarded her first competition prize for cello performance. She then studied under Philippe Muller at the national music school at Aulnay-sous-Bois, before heading to Germany to study under Stephan Forck and then Frans Helmerson at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. She subsequently studied under Wolfgang-Emmanuel Schmidt at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar. She participated in numerous masterclasses and was able to learn from many renowned cellists, among them David Geringas, Steven Isserlis, Wolfgang Boetticher, Natalia Shakovskaya, Ralph Kirschbaum, Boris Baraz, and Tabea Zimmermann.
Having been noticed by Seiji Ozawa and Steven Isserlis, Thomas was invited to participate in their respective festivals in 2012,.<ref name="ozawa-academy.ch">{{cite web|title=Étudiants|website=Seiji Ozawa International Academy|language=fr|url=http://www.ozawa-academy.ch/index.php/francais/etudiants/#liste|access-date=3 May 2020|archive-date=14 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114101347/http://www.ozawa-academy.ch/index.php/francais/etudiants/#liste|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.i-m-s.org.uk/courses/participants/|title=Musicians : International Musicians Seminar|website=International Musicians Seminar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716063904/http://www.i-m-s.org.uk/courses/participants/|archive-date=16 July 2013}}</ref> She has performed throughout Europe, notably at the Gaveau Hall in Paris, the Victoria Hall in Geneva,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://orchestredesnations.com/en/opening-of-the-general-assembly-of-the-international-federation-of-red-cross-and-red-crescent-societies-2/|title=Opening of the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies|website=Orchestre des nations|language=en-GB|access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref> the Palais des beaux-arts de Bruxelles,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bozar.be/fr/activities/2865-camille-thomas-beatrice-berrut|title=Camille Thomas & Beatrice Berrut|website=BOZAR Brussels|access-date=3 May 2020}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> the Jerusalem Music Center{{Inconsistent|date=January 2026}}, and the Konzerthaus de Berlin. She has performed in various festivals such as the festival Pablo Casals<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prades-festival-casals.com/ca/artiste/593-0-0-0/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130630041919/http://www.prades-festival-casals.com/ca/artiste/593-0-0-0/|url-status=dead|title=Festival Pablo Casals|accessdate=6 January 2021|archivedate=30 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="solistes-de-demain">{{cite web|url=http://solistes-de-demain.com/artistes/camille-thomas/|language=fr|website=Les Solistes de Demain|title=Camille Thomas|access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref> de Prades, the Strasbourg festival,<ref>{{cite web|title=Festival de Strasbourg|url=http://festival-strasbourg.com/classiques74/19juin.php|website=Festival-Strasbourg.com|access-date=19 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221236/http://festival-strasbourg.com/classiques74/19juin.php|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Encuentro de Musica de Santander, and the Amsterdam Cello Biennale.
Thomas has performed as a soloist alongside the Sinfonia Varsovia, the Baden Baden Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre national de Lille, the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg, the Picardy Orchestra, the Slovak Philharmonic, the Slovak Radio Symphonic Orchestra, the Lucerne Festival Strings, the Young Belgian Strings, the Brittany Symphonic Orchestra, the Orchestre philharmonique royal de Liège, the North Czech Philharmonic, the Orchestre Lamoureux, the French Republican Guard Band, the United Nations orchestra, La Baule Symphonic, and the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Nayden Todorov and Charles Dutoit. <ref>{{cite web |title=Камий Тома и Александър Улман – две горещи имена от световните сцени, с концерт в София |url=https://sofiaphilharmonic.com/%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%B8-%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%8A%D1%80-%D1%83%D0%BB%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D0%B4%D0%B2%D0%B5-%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B5/ |website=Sofia Philharmonic |language=bg |access-date=15 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nayden Todorov & Camille Thomas |url=https://sofiaphilharmonic.com/en/events/nayden-todorov-camille-thomas/ |website=Sofia Philharmonic |access-date=15 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Camille Thomas & Charles Dutoit |url=https://sofiaphilharmonic.com/en/events/camille-thomas-charles-dutoit/ |website=Sofia Philharmonic |access-date=15 May 2026}}</ref> She has performed with the Junge Sinfonie Berlin under the direction of conductors Kent Nagano, Theodor Guschlbauer, Arie van Beek, Darrell Ang, Fayçal Karoui, Mathieu Herzog, Jean-Christophe Ferreaux, Pavel Baleff, Kriistina Poska, Debora Waldman, Giedre Slekyte, Charles Olivieri-Munroe, Antoine Marguier, Rastislav Stur, and Aziz Shokhakimov.
== Prizes and honours == Thomas has been awarded numerous prizes at national and international competitions such as the Léopold Bellan competition in Paris, the Edmond Baert competition in Bruxelles, and the 7th international Antonio Janigro competition in Croatia.<ref name="laphil-profile" /> She was also selected for the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.<ref name="forbes">{{cite web|title=Camille Thomas|website=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/camille-thomas/|access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref>{{Resume-like|date=January 2026}}
In 2010, Thomas was awarded a number of distinctions. She was awarded the title of "Classical revelation" ({{lang|fr|Révélation classique}}) by Adami<ref>[http://www.adami.fr/promouvoir-la-culture/les-talents-adami/revelations-classiques/les-revelations-classiques-2010.html Révélations classiques 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804134043/http://www.adami.fr/promouvoir-la-culture/les-talents-adami/revelations-classiques/les-revelations-classiques-2010.html |date=4 August 2012 }}, Adami.fr</ref> and became laureate of the Bleustein-Blanchet vocational foundation, the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe, the DAAD, Villa Musica, Live MusicNow,<ref name="laphil-profile" /> the Carl-Flesch Akademie,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.philharmonie.baden-baden.de/cfa/cfa-index.htm |title=Carl Flesch Akademie Baden-Baden |access-date=19 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506225121/http://philharmonie.baden-baden.de/cfa/cfa-index.htm |archive-date=6 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Mannheim Sinfonima Stiftung,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mannheimer.de/privatkunden/sinfonima/stiftung/ |title=SINFONIMA Versicherungsschutz rund um die Musik - Mannheimer Versicherungen |access-date=19 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807031538/http://www.mannheimer.de/privatkunden/sinfonima/stiftung/ |archive-date=7 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the AMOPA Berthier Prize.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amopa.asso.fr/bourse_berthier_2010.htm|title=AMOPA : Bourse Raymond Berthier 2010|website=Amopa.asso.fr|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-date=10 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010192254/http://www.amopa.asso.fr/bourse_berthier_2010.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2012, she was awarded a prize from the Fondation Banque Populaire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fnbp.fr/29-nouveaux-laureats-en-juin-2012.html|website=Fédération Nationale des Banques Populaires|language=fr|title=Juin 2012 : les 29 nouveaux lauréats!|date=June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807174458/http://www.fnbp.fr/29-nouveaux-laureats-en-juin-2012.html|archive-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>
In May 2013, her first album, ''A Century of Russian Colours'', was released under the Fuga Libera record label. The album, dedicated to 20th century Russian music, was recorded in collaboration with the Swiss pianist {{ill|Beatrice Berrut|fr}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rts.ch/info/culture/arts-visuels/9904234-beatrice-berrut-le-piano-poete.html#chap05|language=fr|website=RTS Culture|last=Buser|first=Catherine|title=Béatrice Berrut: Le piano poète|date=9 October 2018 }}</ref> It received accolades from international press.
In 2014, Thomas was awarded the title of Revelation, Instrumental soloist, at the Victoires de la musique classique. She was selected by the Musiq'3 – RTBF radio station to represent Belgium at the European Broadcasting Union competition, where she was awarded first place and declared "New Talent of the Year".
In 2015, she was invited to appear on ARTE "Les Stars de Demain" by Rolando Villazón.<ref name="les-stars-de-demain">{{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkg89ne7mMg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/tkg89ne7mMg |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live| people=Villazón, Rolando | date=7 March 2016| title=Popper Hungarian Rhapsody – Camille Thomas / Stars von Morgen – Rolando Villazón / ARTE TV| medium=Television production | location=Berlin, Germany}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
In 2016, her second album, ''Réminiscences'', was released on the Dolce Volta label. Themed on an imaginary recital of late 19th and early 20th century music, the album revolves around the cello transcription of the Franck violin sonata and Eugène Ysaÿe sonata for solo cello, accompanied by pieces by Fauré and Duparc.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.francemusique.fr/musique-classique/reminiscences-julien-libeer-et-camille-thomas-151|language=fr|website=France Musique|title=Réminiscences – Julien Libeer et Camille Thomas|date=26 September 2016|access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref> It received a CHOC prize from Classica and an ECHO Klassik PREIS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.francemusique.fr/emissions/l-invite-du-jour/la-violoncelliste-camille-thomas-et-le-compositeur-jules-matton-sont-les-invites-de-musique-matin-59787|language=fr|title=La violoncelliste Camille Thomas et le compositeur Jules Matton sont les invités de Musique Matin|website=France Musique|date=2 April 2018|access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref>
In 2017, she signed an exclusive international contract with Deutsche Grammophon,<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Cellist Camille Thomas signs to Deutsche Grammophon |url=https://www.thestrad.com/cellist-camille-thomas-signs-to-deutsche-grammophon/1369.article |magazine=The Strad |date=26 April 2017 |access-date=3 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/camille-thomas|title=Camille Thomas|website=Deutschegrammophon.com|language=en|access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref> the first female cellist to sign with the record label. Her first recording with them was released in October 2017, consisting of works by Saint-Saëns and Offenbach, performed with the Orchestre national de Lille under conductor Alexandre Bloch.
== Other work == In addition to her work as a soloist, Thomas is a passionate chamber musician. In 2011 and 2012, she was selected to participate in the Seiji Ozawa International Academy in Switzerland. She has performed regularly with them alongside musicians such as Beatrice Berrut, Julien Libeer, Frank Braley, and Gérard Caussé.
In 2011, Thomas appeared in the film ''Un baiser papillon'', taking on the role of a cellist and performing Vivaldi concerti accompanied by the Orchestre des Solistes Français.<ref name="solistes-de-demain"/>
== Instruments == Thomas has played a 1788 Ferdinand Gagliano cello, dubbed the Château Pape Clément, loaned to her by Bernard Magrez, along with a bow by Eugène Sartory on extended loan from the King Baudouin Foundation – Bollandsee Fund.<ref name="laphil-profile">{{cite web|title=Camille Thomas {{pipe}} LA Phil|url=https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/artists/6719/camille-thomas|website=Laphil.com|language=en|access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref>
Since 24 September 2019, she has played the De Munck-Feuermann, a 1730 Stradivarius cello, loaned by the Nippon Music Foundation for a period of one year.<ref name="thestrad-feuermann">{{cite web|title='De Munck, Feuermann' Stradivarius cello is loaned to Camille Thomas|url=https://www.thestrad.com/news/de-munck-feuermann-stradivarius-cello-is-loaned-to-camille-thomas/9506.article|website=Thestrad.com|language=en|date=24 April 2019|access-date=19 April 2020}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120422082103/http://www.fondationvocation.org/la-communaute-des-laureats.html Bleustein-Blanchet Vocational Foundation] {{in lang|fr}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120627025007/http://www.fnbp.fr/-Notre-philosophie,40-.html Fondation Banque populaire Natixis] {{in lang|fr}} {{Portal bar|Biography|Classical music}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Camille}} Category:French women classical cellists Category:Belgian classical cellists Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Paris Category:Deutsche Grammophon artists Category:21st-century classical musicians Category:21st-century French musicians Category:21st-century French women musicians Category:21st-century French cellists