ABOUT
From a young age, cellist and composer Thomas Prechal (2004) has been engaged is many aspects of music. Playing the cello, composing and conducting, he is fascinated by music analysis, improvisation and traditional folk music; always focused on bringing people together with strong musical experiences.
In 2026, Thomas is invited to play at festivals such as the Storing Festival, Cello Biënnale Amsterdam, Festival International de Violoncelle de Beauvais and Festival d’Entrecasteaux. Furthermore, he will also perform with the North Netherlands Orchestra and participate in a chamber music residency at the Festival de la Chaise Dieu. During the year, Thomas will be working on commissions for the Cello Biennale Amsterdam and Nederlands Vioolconcours.
First and audience prizewinner of the Cello Biënnale Amsterdam competition 2024, Thomas is prizewinner of the 'David Popper', 'Gustav Mahler' and 'Edmond Baert' international cello competitions. In 2021, Thomas received the Verbier Festival Academy Special Prize of Merit and the Special Prize of the Zlín Region (Czech Republic).
Regularly invited for solo or chamber music performances, his concerts has brought him to the Netherlands (Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Amare Den Haag) but also to France (Salle Cortot, Folle Journée de Nantes, Festival International de la Roque d’Anthéron), Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain (Auditorio de Galicia), the Czech Republic (Rudolfinum Prague) and Hungary.
As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras such as the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Orchestre Consuelo, Real Filharmonía de Galicia, North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra and the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra. Continuously composing his own works, Thomas has received commissions by the Pražák Quartet, Kamermuziekfestival Eibergen and Festival Jong Talent Schiermonnikoog.
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Thomas began playing cello at the age of five with Lenian Benjamins and later with Jan-Ype Nota at the Academie voor Muzikaal Talent and Michel Strauss at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague. Currently, he is a student at the Conservatoire de Paris (CNSMDP) in the cello class of Raphaël Pidoux and, from September 2026, in the conducting class of Alain Altinoglu. In addition, he follows intensive education in chamber music, analysis, harmony and improvisation. He plays on a cello made by Jacques Bocquay (1726) on loan from Talents&Violon’celles.