Nicholas Bootiman enjoys a dual career as conductor and violist, having recently been appointed principal violist of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Prior to this, he held a principal position with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London for over a decade, and currently as principal viola in Cercle de l’Harmonie.

 

In the last few years Nicholas has been shifting his focus to follow his true passion of conducting. Whilst playing under many of the world’s most celebrated conductors, Nicholas developed a unique perspective on the role, guided by musicians such as Esa-Pekka Salonen and Jérémie Rhorer.

 

Born in Germany, Nicholas was given a scholarship to study at the Purcell School in England and the Royal College of Music in London. Further studies took him to Prague and New England Conservatory in Boston, with Milan Skampa and Kim Kashkashian respectively, followed by conducting studies with Neil Thomson in London and Paris. 

 

Alongside his orchestral posts he is in high demand as a guest principal with many orchestras in the UK and abroad.

 

As a conductor, Nicholas has a particular affinity for the classical and early romantic repertoire which has led to a particular interest of historical performance practice of these periods. He has assisted Jérémie Rhorer on major opera productions at Aix-en-Provence Festival, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg. 

 

Nicholas is co-founder and Artistic Director of Echor Music, a groundbreaking new chamber orchestra and arts charity based in the Chiltern Hills.