London Symphony Orchestra Appoints New Cellist

Spanish cellist Salvador Bolón will step into the role

The Spanish cellist Salvador Bolón has recently been appointed to the cello section of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) and begins in the role this August.

Bolón has appeared as Principal Cellist with a number of orchestras, including the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Solistes Europeéns Luxembourg, Basque National Orchestra, Orchestre National de Cannes, and the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra.

Hailing originally from Valencia, Spain, he learned the cello at age eight, and first studied with Salvador Novejarque. He continued his education in Switzerland and Spain, where he studied with Ivan Monighetti and Sol Gabetta at the Hochschule für Musik Basel and the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofia.

Bolón won the First Prize at the Jeunesse Musicales Spain and at the Primer Palau competition in Barcelona. As a soloist, he has played with the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, Radio Nacional de España, and the National Youth Orchestra of Spain, among others.

Salvador Bolón plays on a cello by Benjamin Banks, which was made in 1790.

"I am really excited about all the tours and repertoire planned," Bolón said of the LSO's upcoming season. "If I were to choose, I am very excited about the programs with Sir Antonio Pappano, especially La rondine and Mahler 1."

"I am also excited to play Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring with Klaus Mäkelä, and I think it will be very special for me to play in Spain, my home country, with the LSO and Dudamel. As a trialist, I was very lucky to travel to Japan and Korea with the LSO, and I am very much looking forward to going back, since I have such lovely memories."

"I am very happy that this will also be my first tour as a member of the LSO."