Tim Gill and Fali Pavri
23rd February 2019
Tim Gill, cello
Fali Pavri, piano
Beethoven: Sonata No.5 in D
Ades: Les Lieux retrouvés
Brahms: Sonata No.2 in F Op.99
+ lollipops + commission by Theo
Tim Gill began learning the cello at the age of 8, studying with Judith Bird at the Mid-Herts Music Centre in Hatfield. At the age of 12 he won a Junior Music Exhibition, but elected to continue his studies with Judy who has since become a lifelong mentor and friend. He benefited from the excellent County music provision of the day, going on to secure a place in the National Youth Orchestra.
On leaving Stanborough school in 1982, he spent a year in Paris at the Ecole Normale de Musique with the eminent Swiss cellist Dimitry Markevitch, where his unfortunate lack of confidence at speaking the French language had the happy side-effect of forcing him to practise for endless hours, hermit-like, in his 6th floor garret.
From 1983-86 he read Music at Cambridge University, coming to London every two weeks for lessons with Christopher Bunting, shamelessly dropping off his washing at home on the way until he met his wife Joely Koos who soon disabused him of that practice. After two years at the Royal Academy of Music with David Strange, where he won numerous solo and chamber music prizes, Tim spent 6 months at the Banff Centre in Canada, playing the Elgar cello concerto with the Calgary Philharmonic and touring Western Canada as a recitalist. It was here that he developed his partnership with Fali Pavri.
In 1990 he won critical acclaim for his performance of a contemporary cello and piano recital in the Park Lane Group series at London’s Southbank, as a result of which he was invited back the following year to give the Priaulx Rainier recital with Fali at the Purcell Room. Soon after this he began working with the London Sinfonietta (where he is now principal cellist) and has since enjoyed a lifelong commitment to contemporary music.
As his freelance career burgeoned, he became more and more in demand as a principal cellist in the orchestral scene, appearing as a guest with all the London orchestras. In 2002 he was made principal cellist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, leaving briefly for a spell in English National Opera before returning to the RPO in 2012. He now freelances again, dividing his time between solo commitments, the London Sinfonietta and film work (such as Kung Fu Panda 3)
Alongside his orchestral career, Tim has always been very active as a soloist, appearing most recently at the BBC proms, the MiTo International Festival in Turin and as part of London’s Kings Place “Cello Unwrapped” series.
He lives in Welwyn Garden City with his cello-playing wife, Joely Koos, and two (delightful) children, Theo and Doraly.
Photo: Niamh Collins