Lewis Banks
Lewis Banks is a Scottish saxophonist praised by the Herald for his ‘virtuosity and blinding characterisation’. No stranger to diverse and adventurous concert programming, Lewis is rapidly developing a reputation as an exciting soloist who thrives on traversing genre borders.
Winner of the Sussex Prize at the Royal Overseas League Music Competition, Lewis made his London recital debut at the Purcell Room in 2019, and regularly appears as a soloist across the UK, including recent performances on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Scotland.
As a concerto soloist, Lewis recently appeared as a soloist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in a performance of the music of John Williams. Also in 2023, Lewis premiered Inscriptions in Granite by composer Electra Perivolaris, with the Glasgow Barons. Previously, he gave the UK premiere of the orchestral version of Santiago Baez’s L’Arlesienne Fantasy Concerto in 2020, and also appeared as concerto soloist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 2016, performing Ibert’s Concertino da Camera.
As an orchestral saxophonist, Lewis is a frequent guest with ensembles such as The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Opera.
Previously, Lewis studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he won most performance prizes, was awarded the highest attainable recital marks in both his final degree recitals and graduated with The Principal’s Prize for Excellence in 2018. Future projects include a series of recital releases on Eleven Kinds and the premiering of a new saxophone concerto by Jay Capperauld.
Discography
