Tomoya Forster

Tomoya Forster is a London based musician working as a saxophonist, producer, teacher and electronic musician. He musical life started as a chorister in Gloucester Cathedral from 2001, the same year he first picked up a saxophone with lessons from Jill Beddoe. After his time as a chorister Tomoya studied under Andy Tweed, professor at Birmingham Conservatoire and Wells Cathederal School. Following this he won a bursary that allowed him to study with Sarah James at the Birmingham Junior Conservatoire. Tomoya studied music at Kings College London, his course allowed him to study saxophone performance at the Royal Academy of Music, where he has studied with Richard Addison and Simon Haram, and world music at SOAS. Although primarily a saxophonist, Tomoya is equally at home in the world of electronics. His passion for the fusion of live electronics in music consistently brings about interesting new musical ideas which make their way into the various projects he is involved in. This coupled with the wide range of experience gained in musical styles varying from Renaissance Choral music to Drum n’ Bass, Contemporary Jazz to Gamelan, Orchestral to Pop as a either a performer, leader, composer or producer has resulted in an extremely open minded and broad approach to music. Tomoya plays in a number of bands and ensembles spanning a wide range of genres. His current projects include Puma Rosa, https://soundcloud.com/pumarosamusic , Drop Velvet, https://soundcloud.com/dropvelvet , General Skank, https://soundcloud.com/general_skank Wax/Wings https://soundcloud.com/wax-wings-1 Another Material https://soundcloud.com/another-material and solo work. (Some of which can be found here). https://soundcloud.com/tomoya-forster Other bands and ensembles he is or has been a member of include; The National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain, Goucester Cathederal Choir, Gloucester Cathederal Youth Choir, Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Sinfonia and Saxophone Choir, European Youth Music, Kings College Jazz Orchestra, University of London Swing Band, Kitty Finer, The Jupiter Club, yoB, Mizizi, Vibe Machine. He is also busy working as a session musician and producer. Musicians he has been involved with include; The Pogues, Copyright, Cinematic, Billon, Sasha Keable, Moya, Context MC, Sam Smith, MNEK, Katy B, Todd Edwards. In 2013 he won Gloucester Young Musician of the Year and in 2008 he was a runner up. Tomoya has won a variety of other competitions including the Keith Nutland Award, Classic FM’s Two Moors Festival young musician platform and various Cheltenham Competitive Music festival competition. Tomoya has made solo and concerto performances with Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra, The Serlo Consort, Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra, Gloucestershire Sinfonia, Gloucestershire Youth Wind Orchestra.