Justin Pearson is one of London’s busiest and most versatile musicians. He is General Manager and Artistic Director of The National Symphony Orchestra (UK), Guest Principal cellist of the Royal Philharmonic and English Sinfonia Orchestras, and as a cellist for many years was cellist of the English Piano Trio. Justin is also Artistic Director and manager of the Locrian Ensemble of London, one of the most sought after, and often-recorded ensembles in Britain today.
For many years he worked as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s solo cellist, in the original cast of “Phantom of the Opera”, “Evita”, “Whistle Down the Wind” and Bombay Dreams”. He is currently the solo cellist in the RSC’s production of “Matilda the Musical” in London’s West End, and he performs solo cello and contracts musicians for musical scores to BBCTV’s “Wolf Hall” and “Father Brown.” He performed on the soundtracks to films such as “Gladiator” and “Harry Potter”.
Justin has written award-winning scripts for plays with music that have been performed in London’s West End, also at many festivals in both Britain and abroad.
Justin has recorded CDs for many labels: Hyperion (Schubert), Naxos (Malcolm Arnold – a “Gramophone” award winning disc, and chamber works of Martinu), Beethoven Quintets and the complate chamber music of Volmar Andreae (Guild), ASV (Mozart and Schubert Viola and Cello Quintets), Dutton Epoch (5 discs: Rebecca Clarke, Walter Leigh, Richard Arnell, Arthur Benjamin, Clifford and Bainton), Carlton Classics (Piazzolla) and the Limerick-based composer, Osborne, for the Irish Lyric fm label.
Justin has produced independent programmes for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4. Justin served as a Governor for the Royal Society of Musicians, a charity that supports musicians in need, and is Musical Patron of Sunbeams Music Trust, helping children and adults with special needs, through music, in Cumbria.