David Adams

Violin

David Adams is the Concertmaster of the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, co-Artistic Director of the Penarth Chamber Music Festival and teaches at RWCMD. From September 2025 he will take up a new position as Concertmaster of English National Opera. David was proud to be a recipient of Fellowship of RWCMD in 2024 and was also invited to be a trustee of Countess of Munster Musical Trust a role he has taken up and is enjoying immensely. 

Equally at home on violin and viola David has made guest appearances, recordings and broadcasts with the Nash Ensemble, Endellion String Quartet, Gould Piano Trio and Hebrides Ensemble including recording the Brahms Piano Quartets (Gould Piano Trio) and the Beethoven String Quintets (Endellion String Quartet). Previously a member of the London Bridge Trio and the Raphael Ensemble, his recordings of Schumann and Mendelssohn Piano Trios were received with critical acclaim and the London Bridge Trio’s live broadcast of Fanny Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio was selected to be the cover disc of BBC Music Magazine. He has appeared as guest leader with most of the major orchestras in the UK, most recently with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and earlier this year appeared as Guest Principal Viola with Orchestra of Royal Ballet and Opera. 

This year David will appear at the Winchester and Wye Valley chamber music festivals including appearing in the Wye Valley 25th anniversary concert at the Wigmore Hall, sharing the stage with his wife and daughter in a performance of Huw Watkins String Trio no 2. He was honoured to be invited to participate in the IMS Prussia Cove 50th anniversary celebrations at the Wigmore Hall in 2022.

David belongs to a musical family – his father, John Adams, was Principal Viola of the Halle Orchestra and his wife is cellist Alice Neary.