Leader

Joshua Hugo Gustav von Bohlen began playing the piano at the age of six, the violin and tuba at seven. He won a Lady Dacre Major Music Scholarship to attend Emanuel School. His musical education continued at Trinity Conservatoire, where he gained his Performance Degree and LTCL in instrumental teaching with Distinction.   He completed his Master of Music Degree at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music, where he studied with Yossi Zivoni and received support from The Humphrey Richardson Taylor Charitable Trust and The Kathleen Trust.  Since graduating Joshua has studied with international soloist Remus Azoitei.

As a violinist and chamber musician Joshua has performed throughout the UK and Europe.  In partnership with Saki Matsumoto he received First Prize in the Chamber Virtuoso Competition at the Musikverein in Vienna in 2016. As an orchestral musician Joshua enjoys playing with a variety of orchestras, including performances alongside members of the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and a live broadcast on BBC Radio 3 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.  Currently Joshua holds the position of leader with Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra, Dorking Philharmonia and Kingston Third Age Orchestra.

Joshua is much in demand as a violin teacher holding positions at City of London School, Ewell Castle School, Surrey Strings Academy and Kingston Music Services where he is Music Director of the Kingston String Sinfonia.  Joshua’s efforts with the ensemble have been acknowledged by Kingston Music Services with a successful nomination and gaining a Jack Petchey Foundation Leader Award.

Over the past year (2023-4) Joshua has delighted audiences as a soloist, showcasing his talent with performances such as the Beethoven Violin Concerto alongside the Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra and the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Dorking Philharmonia and with K3AO.  He has also been invited to perform the Bruch Violin Concerto in May 2025 with the Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra.