Biography

 

Born in Suffolk, Lewis Braham began playing the double bass at the age of fifteen.
 

​He is a graduate from the Royal College of Music in London and studied with Tony Hougham, the Principal Double Bass of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
 

​Lewis has performed in concerts with the English National Ballet Philharmonic, London Concert Orchestra, Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra, Orpheus Sinfonia, Kaleidoscope Orchestra, Urban Soul Orchestra, The House and Garage Orchestra, Symphonica featuring Mr Switch, Wilderness Orchestra, One Orchestra, Aurelian Symphony Orchestra, Backing Musician on the X Factor, Commonwealth Cantata and the London International Chamber Orchestra.

 

He has also performed in many prestigious venues across London and the UK including the Royal Albert Hall, O2 Arena, Royal Festival Hall, London Coliseum, Barbican Centre, Symphony Hall Birmingham, Cadogan Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, O2 Academy Brixton, Cliffs Pavilion Southend, St David's Hall Cardiff, Latitude Festival, Wilderness Festival, Maida Vale Studios, Fountain Studios Wembley, Snape Maltings and St Paul's Cathedral.
 

​Lewis is an experienced session player, he has played in recording sessions at Abbey Road Studios, Angel Studios, Metropolis Studios, and records remotely. He has recorded for the ABRSM, Kaleidoscope Orchestra, One Orchestra, Rick Wakeman, Joanna Forest and Omar Pendrini. Whilst studying he was also in demand within the Royal College of Music, recording new works by its student composers.
 

He has worked with many internationally renowned conductors and musicians such as Bernard Haitink, Vladimir Jurowski, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Roger Norrington, Edward Gardner, Nicola Benedetti, Jennifer Pike, Emma Johnson, Michael Collins, Milos Karadaglic, Deep Purple, Rick Wakeman, Laura Mvula, Lucie Jones, Joanna Forest, Omar Pendrini, Liane Carroll and Will Young. Lewis has also performed in masterclasses with distinguished double bassists Joel Quarrinton, Enrico Fagone, Gabriele Ragghianti, Dan Styffe, Paul Ellison and Donovan Stokes.
 

​Lewis was selected to record the Double Bass backing tracks for the ABRSM’s new Initial Double Bass Exam Pack for 2020 – 2023 which is designed to help beginners measure their progress and celebrate their achievements.

 

​In 2015 Lewis premiered 'Leaving St Kilda' a piece composed for him by renowned bassist David Heyes. Leaving St Kilda depicts the last few days and the evacuation of the island St. Kilda in the 1930's after centuries of inhabitation.

 

​As well as performing Lewis holds many teaching posts around the country including Visiting Teacher of Double Bass at Uppingham School, Visiting Teacher of Double Bass at Kings Ely, Visiting Teacher of Double Bass at the Stephen Perse Foundation in Cambridge, Visiting Teacher of Double Bass at St John’s College School in Cambridge, Double Bass Tutor for Saffron Centre for Young Musicians and he also teaches privately.
 

​Lewis also tutors on orchestral courses including the NLMS Music Summer School and he tutored on Musicale Summer Course in Cambridge where he co-directed the main orchestra and conducted the string orchestra in 2018.
 

​Lewis is a budding conductor, having studied under Peter Stark and Natalia Luis-Bassa. He has conducted various orchestras and string orchestras including Thurrock Youth Orchestra, Thurrock Youth Training Orchestra, Thurrock Beginner Strings and SCYM Intermediate Strings.